It may just be the photograph but to me it looks as though the floor should have been prepared (sanded down more). It always pays to spend good time on the preparation. The photo also looks like the room might be in shade for some part of the day so might be a bit dark, plus your having a dark sofa by the sound of it. perhaps sand the floors and go for a light or clear coloured sealer not too shiney. Perhaps look out for a large rug as if the room hasn't been soundproofed it could be noisey for the people below and echoey for you. Don't rush and as someone else indicated don't have too much large furniture. Check if you can buy nice blinds off the shelf that would be the right size, you can then get them more reasonably than made to measure.

I agree with Red80 re furniture layout. There are lots of good things in this room, I just personally find the cushions and blinds clash with the chandelier and wallpaper. I would swap the 2 geometric cushions for softer patterns in lighter grey/white/duck egg. I'd get something with different textures as the cushions fabrics look the same atm? Add accessories to your coffee table, maybe just a pile of books, a vase of flowers, and an "ornament" in wood/ceramic/pewter etc again for texture. When budget allows swap the blinds for Roman blinds. Try blinds 2 go or Tuiss which is their sister company if you're in the UK. I can't remember the exact price but I got pure silk Roman blinds for 2 really large windows for c£450 which sounds a bargain to me although not yet up:) I agree the mirror is a little high. If you can, without leaving a hole on show in the wallpaper, I'd lower it as long as it doesn't reflect the tv! I'm not sure the pics to the left of the window work as they're obscured by the curtains. Perhaps also a taller vase/pot in the blue for the tv cabinet to detract from the tv a little more? Alternatively you could change the wallpaper and the mirror to give the room a contemporary rather than classical feel

Hi Claire, You have a lovely space to work with and it’s great to hear that you’re up for doing a bit of DIY! In regards to the coffee table, go for it! It’s a lovely design and will complement the characteristics of the room perfectly. I’d dress the table with a gorgeous green plant - not only will this add vibrant colour, but also adds life to your space and is guaranteed to make you smile. As suggested by Minnie, a floor standing plant situated underneath your fitted wall shelves will add a feature to this corner of your room. If you fancy doing a little bit of painting, why not head to your nearest charity shop and find a sweet side table to place to the left of your sofa or either side of your armchair? Choose your favourite Dulux paint colour (in a Satinwood finish) and paint your table to add a personalised touch to your space! This will create such a lovely statement as you enter the room, especially if you choose a beautiful blue to create that coastal look. Adding a side lamp to the side table will add height and a lovely ambiance to your room, especially in the evenings when you’re snuggled up watching TV. To give your IKEA unit a fresh look, dress it with these lovely storage boxes which will work so perfectly with the scheme you want to achieve: http://goo.gl/zrKf2u Finally, if your budget stretches, take a look at these lovely cushions from Dunelm. The prices are amazing and I think they will finish the look so well. What do you think? · http://goo.gl/4Y4tim · http://goo.gl/KeBgL3 · http://goo.gl/Nne5dO Good luck giving your living room a homelier feel and please get in touch with us at help@amazingspacedesign.co.uk if you need any further help. And we’d love to see your finished room once it’s complete, so please do share some pics! All the best, Jade Dulux Colour & Design Consultant www.design.duluxamazingspace.co.uk

Hi, Would be good if you posted up a picture of the living room? If you have dark flooring you could always try to go for a lighter colour sofa like white or ivory? Have a look on our website if there are any sofas you like? www.strazzia.com If you need any help or have a questions please let us know. Best regards - Strazzia