Have broken, dark, characterless living room - help please?
Hello everyone,
**Sorry for some reason is showing photos twice. Not sure how to delete photos** Also there is a 3rd photo showing the fireplace more clearly but it won't let me load.**
I would really appreciate some help with this room. We live in a very small, modern characterless house. I'm in the process of trying to create a living in the style I like within the confined of the house type and the features already there.
My ideal home would be a Victorian terrace with a lovely feature fireplace, book shelves at either side and a classic traditional look.
Ideally I would love to replace the brick fireplace with a 'proper' one but at the moment this isn't possible. It bothers me that the wall is flat all the way across rather than a central chimney breast that juts out and has walls set back on either side!
As you can see it's very open plan, the room is basically a walk through from front to back of house which makes it a bit more tricky. It is also very 'broken' up as regard wall space. Also, as you may see from the photos it is quite dark.
How can I get the look and feel I like working with these elements?
I have bought a large gold framed mirror to go over the fireplace but won't hang until the room is redecorated. I like the wooden floor and I like most of my furniture.
I am also planning to buy two matching wall mounted book shelves for either side of the fireplace.
Keeping chandelier but will get rid of round green glass shade though not sure what to replace it with.
As I'm keeping the room walls quite neutral and plain I will replace the rug with a richly patterned one.
My main questions are:
1 - What colour do you think would work well in this room? I'm thinking of some sort of grey/blue/green soft colour but don't want the room to seem darker or colder.
2- Do you think all my walls should be the same or I should use a different colour or shade on the fireplace wall?
3-What about wallpapering the fireplace wall? I really feel torn about this as feel it might not look so elegant.
4 - I'd like to do something with the 2 little windows next to the back door - you can only see one of them and a bit of the other on first photo. I thought of cream coloured slat blinds and keeping the windows plain. Or alternatively, plain roller blinds but put a leaded window pattern on the windows. Or maybe even do a bit of stain glass effect, not too over the top though. What do you think?
5 - I'm sure there's lots of things I'm missing here so really grateful for whatever ideas you have.
Many thanks for reading my post! :-)
Comments (7)
jemster
8 years ago
PROjemster thanked Cariad Home StylingRelated Discussions
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Comments (6)How about putting the chest of drawers under the window so it is visible when you first walk into the room. Then put the desk where the chest of drawers is currently. I would then get a large storage TV unit for the end wall where the dark furniture is. This would be best in white or taupe to keep it light in that end of the room. You could even get this made in the same units as the kitchen cupboards. I would buy new 3 seater sofas in a traditional or classic style to suit the antiques in a beige colour linen and then two armchairs in a patterned material - floral or stripe to suit your personal taste. I would keep the sofas in the same position and place the two armchairs facing the TV unit, side by side. You would need to make sure the armchairs were placed so they were easy to walk around and they would need to be small but comfortable. Keep the table where it is and update the lamp to a more statement piece. An orchid (fake or real) on the chest of drawers would add a touch of class. I quite like the rug that is there as it goes nicely with the antiques and you could bring out the blues with a few duck egg blue coloured cushions, and a duck egg blue roman blind would soften the window. Just some ideas.... I'd love to see photos when you've finished, it's a lovely space!...See MoreAwkward shape & dark living room. need help please
Comments (13)You have some really good advice from everyone. If you can remove the wallpaper I would paint in Colortrend Goya, it is a green/beige colour that would suit the sofas and compliment your floor. This colour will be warm for your north facing room. A large rug would really lift the room as suggested above. I would recommend the Adum rug from IKEA in 200cm x 300cm. Again as above you need to sort the lighting, I agree with the 5 arm pendants (the spots are very harsh when you are relaxing watching tv). The light should not hang more than 50cm from the ceiling, try the Barcelona 5 light from NEXT, the shades will keep the bulbs from annoying you when relaxing. I would also stretch your curtain pole if it is extendable or replace it so your curtains (which are lovely) sit back further on the wall to let more light in. I would also replace your tv stand and table with a nicer piece and put it centred on the wall (you can angle the tv when people are sitting on both sofas). I suggest Besta Hanvicken White, the white is nice and light in the space and it measures 180cm in width. Add a chair to the corner where the tv is currently to hide the radiator and make the room more beautiful. Try IKEA Strandmon in green or dark grey. Some new cushions will really bring it together, try Voyage Maison from Harvey Normans. For the mirror above the sofa as a great suggestion above try the rectangular Songe mirror from IKEA. Best of luck and post your after photos!!!...See MoreHelp with living room design please!
Comments (7)Lovely fireplace, I think it would stand out better with a bold colour on the wall. I have a similar look to you -windows either side of fireplace and I created a fake chimney breast look by masking straight lines down either side of the fireplace and just painting bold there. You have a lot of curtains there taking up floor space... so I don’t think you can do much in terms of furniture unless you want to stand a low dresser in front of them......See MoreLiving room layout help please
Comments (4)good idea, here’s a few photos that were on my phone. As you can see it all needs updating/redoing etc. the sofa is actually broke and the chair belonged to my dad when he was unwell and I plan to sell it cheaply or donate to someone who needs a rise and recline. im unsure about structural changes, whether I will knock the kitchen and ‘dining room’ (which I’m using as an office currently) into one. depends on budget. I like the idea of a combined social area, but I hate noise and not sure I want to sit in kitchen as such. But for now my next room is this living room. But i do need to consider whether I have a Door into the dining room, or if I do make it one kitchen/diner I wouldn’t need a door really as the one into the kitchen would suffice. so difficult! Because I don’t have a massive budget. And as you can see everything is in need of updating. the kitchen is the same as it was in 1986, and too embarrassing to show photos of....See Morejemster
8 years ago
bookworm987
8 years ago
Feioi