I agree with Stitched that if you want blackout, you need blackout lining; proper darkness is unbeatable for getting a decent night's sleep. Like you, I wanted blackout AND to keep the bedroom curtains looking light and airy, and we solved it by hanging two sets of curtains from the same pole, using the same rings and hooks. The back curtain is a blackout lining in very light beige, just enough to cover the window plus a *little bit* of fold; I think maybe 1.5 times the width of the window. The material is not really very thick or stiff, it's actually quite flowing. In front, we hung very pleated/gathered, gauzy white linen curtains; I think they are 3 or 4 times the width of the window. Because the blackout curtains are less wide, they don't bulk up at the side when opened and sit fairly flat when closed over the window, allowing the white linen, which is very gathered, to billow in front. I hope this makes sense -- it's actually very simple but a bit awkward to explain!

Thank you for your suggestions, I appreciate your advice. I am going to switch the sitting/dining areas around and I like the idea of having the end wall as the feature wall, with either wallpaper or artwork. I hadn't considered arm chairs facing each other at the far end, I like that idea - there is no TV, to be honest the sofa was initially something just to fill the space but because of that, it looks out of place. I love the idea of the colours being greys, duck egg blue or sage - if I could do my kitchen again, I would change the black granite worktops to wood and change the tiles to white or at least something much more calming than red. I think this is where my dilemma stems from - the colours in the kitchen are too dark and I'm trying to counter that by making a calmer space at the other end of the room but then I'm concerned that it won't all work together!

I like both of Carolina's choices, they appear to be linen which I'd also go for. i was looking for a close up of the colours of your wallpaper and came across this ready made moodboard! I also like the idea of a ticking stripe and the sand fabric (on their website it's shown as mustard) is quite nice for cushions. Forgot to say the room looks lovely and very calm :)

I haven't had long to look at it, but that is a tricky lounge. A decent size but an awkward shape. What would really help is knowing the measurements of each and every wall in that lounge. Moving walls and doors can be expensive and you should always consult a structural engineer. By moving the doors and walls, even though it makes the room technically smaller, it'll feel more useable. I moved the kitchen door to the corner, which frees up a bit of wall space to hang the TV. You would need to move some kitchen units, so I've put them against the stairs. You could fit more here anyway. I've moved the hallway door in a bit to square the room. I don't suppose you really NEED to do this, but it will make the room a more standard shape and make better use of the hall storage. Either of the layouts I can think of would equally work with the door where it is though. Sorry I haven't got the software or the time to draw the layouts but hopefully you can get the idea. The two layouts that spring to mind are 1) an L-shaped sofa in the window corner, with a single elsewhere (where the measurements were maybe?) You might fit a small desk by the double doors. OR 2) an L-shaped sofa partly under the stairs overhang, with the TV on the long wall opposite where it is in the photos. You could maybe put a single seat beside the double doors, and a desk in the corner near the window. Without moving walls, I'd maybe put an L sofa in the window corner and a single in the corner by the double doors. You might fit a small desk (110mm?) under the stairs. As I said though, if you could measure every wall, that would help get a better understanding of what could go where.