Need ideas for redecorating dark and dated living area
Hi,
I'm finally ready to tackle this dark and gloomy room (the photos were taken on a very sunny day!).
It has a very dark and unattractive brick, grey flagstone floors, orange pine everywhere, dark green staircase, small rosewood windows and benches and magnolia walls. I'm desperate to bring light in, but new windows and skylights are not in the budget at the moment, and all the painting would be done by me.
I'd love to go white/grey/natural wood, but it has to tie in with the current magnolia gloss kitchen which is relatively new and can't be tackled at the moment.
I'd like to paint the brick white, but was thinking about maybe leaving one wall unpainted (behind the wood burner in the first photo?).
I wanted to paint the pine grey, but I'm worried that colourwise it may be a bit too cold with the grey flagstone floor. Currently thinking of whitewashing the pine, perhaps Annie Sloane, so a bit of warmth is left and the wood shows through, but isn't as orange.
The windows are rosewood and very small. Should I paint them and if so, what colour? If I leave the wall untouched behind the wood burner, should I leave the windows, as they blend in?
The staircase is dark green, but I want to paint it black or dark grey.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Any ideas gratefully accepted!
Comments (30)
PROAmber Jeavons Ltd
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoHello meanmango,
Well I first want to say that I like the brick.. I think it offers you texture and is I think a nice feature.. One thing to add light into the room is to position large mirrors even oversized so it could lean against a wall... I have one I bought from ebay.. I love it and painted it. It's 8ft by 6ft but you can get all sizes.. Another idea is to paint the banisters and rail at the top of your spiral stairs and the door too! If this were to blend with the wall colour, the eye would not be drawn upwards but then would view the room as a whole. Don't paint the beams though..
Consider a rust colour or brick colour for the curtains as they too would blend with the walls and allow the window to feel more open and have them floor length.. The ones with the shelves underneath perhaps consider a recessed blind for those two windows?..
You could add some greys, creams to the living room to compliment the kitchen... A throw or two in a chosen colour, cream or a grey or both if you want to bring more of this into the scheme here so there's continuity between kitchen and living room.. Textures are nice here too...
A console behind the sofa with something nice like a large vase of flowers such as faux could be lovely! Something nice to see when you come down from the stairs.. Or pile the books onto it in stacks and then something decorative on top.. That too is a nice way to display things you're reading or coffee table books..
That paper floor lamp is it from Ikea? It could be nice perhaps situated where the side table is and something similar in feel to it as a small table lamp situated where the floor lamp is.. perhaps too consider painting the rad to blend with the brick.. Hanging a low dining table lamp could be nice? A few ideas that you may like.. Lastly you can find fabulous up lighters which can sit wherever you want them and illuminate the room or wherever you want to add some mood lighting..... I'll see if I can find a pic : ))
meanmango
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice for a design of a dark living room
Comments (18)Based on the suggestions already mentioned. You might want to consider: Moving the furniture around to get a feel for the layout. Before purchasing the new sofa, cushions, tv wall bracket. Maybe change the pin spot bulbs to a colder tone-if they are LED. This will provide a whiter light. If the entrance door is adjacent to the kitchen, is it worth considering a half glazed door to let in natural light? Assuming their is a hallway leading to the kitchen end of the room. If the TV is wall mounted you will still need the table under it, to house the sky box etc. so the visible viewing angle will reduce if you do not have a swivel wall bracket (mentioned earlier). The extractor hood-is it vented through the wall? If so is their an option to install a small window next to it to let in some daylight? If the room faces North, the hood faces East (I think). So a port hole window would provide light in the morning for the kitchen. Hope this helps with the planning. Good luck....See MoreNeed ideas for small living room
Comments (11)Hi. Have you ever considered a real interesting eye catching piece of art work to really brighten up an area I think a select piece of art would really make the space stand out, add interest, colour, texture and add a great talking point to the room.... Please check out my website if like the idea and please get in contact, commission work is also welcomed so if you like a particular style I can do in a select colour palette and size but with this it can only be done as a original piece and not a print.....but all prints i can do to the same size or smaller than my original paintings, so lots of options. Www.GuigsART.co.uk...See MoreTired, dated, dark living room and kitchen... to open, light & plush!
Comments (12)This is wonderful! Where do you start...? Space: a great use of space, creation of more space and a contemporary relaxed designed space. We particularly like the reserved approach to light fittings and embracing the natural light - how does it look in the evening/night? Well done to all the project team!...See MoreNeed help redecorating my living room
Comments (7)As you sofa is quite a dominant colour in the room, we would suggest toning it down with neutral feature wallpaper (https://www.cole-and-son.com/en/collection-geometric-ii/wallpaper-105/6026/) see below image An eye catching mirror such as this one from Graham and green should be placed above the sofa. (http://www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/950x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/b/rbj8303-gold-roll-mirror.jpg) or https://www.cole-and-son.com/en/collection-curio/wallpaper-107/314 Gold accessories such as a statement mirror above the sofa would look great to add warmth and a touch of glam! check out : (http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Linea+Maria+gold+mirror+103+cm/223669299,default,pd.html) Get a longer curtain rail so when you curtains are open they sit against the wall allowing maximum natural light into the room. A rug such as the one below would tie the whole scheme together (http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-lustre-rug/p1913412?colour=Smoke) cushion: http://www.johnlewis.com/kirkby-design-by-romo-district-cushion/p1953638?colour=Orange grey cushion: http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-silk-cushion/p1697898?colour=Silver%20Grey#media-overlay_show Hope you like these schemes...they will surely freshen up your interior! If you are still having trouble visualising or need more assistance take a look at what we offer www.room-revolution.co.uk we look forward to seeing the finished result!...See More- PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago meanmango
8 years agomeanmango
7 years agomeanmango
7 years agomeanmango
7 years ago
mrsmcee74
7 years agoDefinitely go for the whitewashing, it could look stunning and would make a huge difference.
meanmango
7 years agomeanmango
7 years ago
Flo G
7 years ago- PRO
Burchdaume
7 years ago louisep2012
7 years ago
PROAnna Siodelska
7 years agoHow about one of our handmade 100 cm wooden wall clocks when it comes to final touches in decoration? I attach two examples but many more available.
The clocks I am making are Globally Unique but search for "Extra Large Handmade Wall Clocks" to see if you can find any alternatives.
Thanks for watching
Anna- PRO
Glass Rose
7 years ago 
Grace Bloggs
7 years ago
viv mcc
7 years ago
PROLumen Designers Limited
6 years agoYou will need to move away from small incandescent light sources. Those JLP lights will be like adding candles. If you paint the ceiling white you can use a decent quality linear LED linear light source instead of those low out put spots - it would also save you lots on your energy bill. For example, this linear light comes in any RAL (colour) and a 73W 10000Lm LED version wold cost you around £290 delivered:
This would be mounted where you have your current spotlights but would one of your spots delivers between 420 and 750Lm. If you had this colour matched to the beams they would blend in and your ceiling would become your light source. We do this a lot with RGB for night clubs and theatres - it creates a great ambience.- PRO
Lumen Designers Limited
6 years agoIf you are struggling to see the time - try this illuminating piece of beauty:
Rose Williams
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
minnie101