Need advice for small living room

7 years ago

Hi all! We are new married couple from Turkey and here is our living room. Our room is quite small, 15 m2. .we have large families. so when we decorated room, we tried to have seats as many as possible.

but now i feel that colors are not ok in this room. i guess i need some make up. i want to keep these:
sofas
dining table and chairs
tv

all the other things can be replaced.

A new window treatment, rug, pillows, art, paint color or wallpaper ?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Featured Answer

kaseycoff

7 years ago

1) I love the coffee table: I'd say to keep that. The clean sleek industrial style of it plus the glass keeps it to a minimal impact. The corner stand between the sofas - is it a matching style? - could be useful, too.

2) Totally agree with others in terms of the room color: a soft gray, an off-white, any pale, light wall color would work better than the green. Having one wall with a patterned wallpaper might open the room up a bit too.

3) The rug needs to be bigger. You may end up with what amounts almost wall-to-wall, but the room needs a solid "base," and a larger carpet that fits well under the sofas would be better. The right-size carpet on the sofa end of the room would also help zone it.

4) I'd be tempted to lose the lacy curtains altogether. Blinds would have a neater look, and there are a lot of options. It would also mean your radiators have freer flow of air. If those are patio doors (juliet balcony?) on the long wall, I would try to figure out a way to put one sofa where the TV is now, to unblock the light.

5) An old rule for decorating is that items look better in groups of three or five. The wall where the table is has two floating shelves. Hence, three would look better. Another option would be to use that wall as your television wall. Depending how much TV you watch, especially when the whole family is together, it would be visible from the entire rest of the room.

6) I know you want to keep the dining room table, but I would swap out the table for something smaller that's expandable. I'd get something lighter - white, or even glass top - to make that end more spacious, and what if all the seats are benches? They would fit more neatly under the table yet could be used for extra seating in the room.

7) Lights: I'm guessing there's a ceiling fixture. I would try to put some sort of pendant over the table. If there's a ceiling fixture already on that side, I'd swap it out for a hanging light. I'd add some lamps at the window sides of the room. That would also give some vertical interest between the low furniture and the tops of the high windows.

8) Completely agree with the others that the television should be wall-mounted, especially if you keep it on the long wall: it would clear the floor space on that side of the room and open it up visually. I love Ikea, but the TV stand takes up too much space.

9) To keep things from looking too "busy," I would be tempted to keep everything neutral / simple and use cushions and throw pillows to punch up the color. Several jewel-tones, or a mid-tone palette of blues and greens with a touch of yellow - whatever group of colors you prefer.

10) You're lucky to have some good space for gallery walls. The pictures you already have would make good anchors. Add some smaller items to fill in around them. You could tie them together by having frames of similar color, or use the same type of matting on them.

Last but not least - plants! There are several ways you could add a bit of greenery to the room, and nothing cozies-up a room like some houseplants.

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Comments (23)

strawberry47
7 years ago
If you are looking for more colour in the room look at the fabric covered bench fabric, draw more colours from that. The peach cushions are a lovely soft addition to your sofas, perhaps a couple of lemon patterned cushions. Can I suggest that the tv is moved to the wall with the shelves and the table placed at the other end of the room with the four chairs. The bench could act as your coffee table. This arrangement would open the room at the doorway. You can move the bench to the table as required. A tall plant in a corner near the table, balanced with a standard lamp in the other corner. Lean some artwork on the shelves, perhaps black and white photos. Good luck.
strawberry47
7 years ago
I forgot to add remove the small corner table too.
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With the front of the flat assigned to bedroom and study space it's the three rooms at the back where you could make the most change to enhance the living space. You only ever asked about furniture placement in the lounge but given that you've bought the flat are you open to making some bigger changes to maximise the space? For example, is the wall between the smallest bedroom and the lounge supporting?I'm assuming that's your study but if your partner is at home and working at the front of the house, knocking these two rooms together would give you a much more versatile space with an office area for you, with doors open onto the garden on a nice day. (Replacing with a stud wall if moving on is not a major job). Another idea might be to keep that wall up and see if the kitchen could be opened up to make an open plan kitchen/living/ dining space. The dining table could then be located near to the kitchen area. With either of these options you are losing one of those four doors which are making furniture placement awkward. Another idea (I'm full of them!!) Do you need the storage cupboard in this room? This could be blocked up so access is obtained via the largest bedroom to make a bigger wardrobe/cupboard space in there. If you'e got enough wardrobe space in there that could also be an office area with double doors to be closed off out of sight when not in use. Doing this (and moving the radiator, perhaps for a streamlined vertical one elsewhere in the room) would give you more opportunities for furniture placement. Please feel to tell me none off these are possible or appealing. I watch with interest when someone asks for an opinion on a cushion only to be given advice for the room that will see them spending £5,000!! (I do it myself to avoid getting off the couch and do something with my own house!! Plus, I'm great at spending other people's money) Best of luck and keep the photos coming as you make changes because you have grest potential with this flat and there is some fab advice on here .
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A B
7 years ago
How many people need to sit on the table on a daily basis? I do think that if you swapped your table for a smaller one that seats 4 and but that is still extendable it would make a big difference. Then if you attach the tv to the wall you could put the bench under it and it would be more flexible seating when needed.
A B
7 years ago
Just looking at the photos again- can you make a couple of cushions in the fabric on the bench to add to the sofas? It would tie the room together nicely. I'd also add a pot plant somewhere, possibly on the corner table. Lovely room overall btw :)
Kate
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you for both comments.

Actually we eat daily in the kitchen. i serve on this table to the guests only. i can change it with a smaller table. but i m not sure how it affects furniture arrangement of the room. i think i cant use the sides of the table.

i can move table to the other side of the room. i will try it.

and actually i dont like the colors of the bench. i can change it. any ideas for new bench and cushion colors? i want room to look more elegant and warm. any suggestion for the colors would be great :)
Kate
Original Author
7 years ago
btw i tried to use bench as a coffee table but it was not practical. should i change coffee and corner tables? maybe white or wood can look better. any ideas?
tamp75
7 years ago
What colour are the walls? I can't work out if they're grey or a soft green. I think your table, tv bench & coffee table don't work well together. They don't need to match but they're all completely different in style, material & colour which makes the room a little disjointed. I like the sofas & wonder if they would work opposite each other? How about adding some teal colour to the room? I'm not keen on the bench colour either.
Kate
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi tamp75, thank you for your comment. Wall color is soft green and i think it doesnt work together with sofas.

Teal may be a good choice.

Sofas cant be opposite each other. There is no enough space.
Kate
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
What do you think about these coffee tables?
PRO
Wallsauce
7 years ago
Hi Kate,

Have you thought about a wall mural? Applying the right mural (such as a forest scene, skyline photograph or a large pattern) to one of your walls can create depth in a small room and will add some colour without cluttering. I have attached some example images of the murals in homes for you.

You can find these murals at wallsauce.com

Hope this helps,

Paula from Wallsauce.

If you'd like any more information, don't hesitate to get in touch :)
PRO
Copper Dust
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hello Kate, I am sure you have ample ideas by now, but I would suggest mounting the tv on the wall and losing the cabinet it currently sits on. Change the rug for a more neural block colour. The chairs are lovely, maybe a bold curtain drape and throw for the sofas, should help open the space. Also I think teal would work great as a feature wall.

Best,

Vanessa
Kate thanked Copper Dust
tamp75
7 years ago
Hi Kate, I think you definitely need to repaint the walls. A soft grey / off white. You could have a feature wall in teal / dark blue or just add colour through cushions, curtains, rug & wall art. Next usually have a good range of colour options. I like all the coffee tables. Go white with wooden legs if you're keeping the white tv unit, otherwise the oval wooden one would work.
Kate thanked tamp75
PRO
Cormar Carpets
7 years ago
Hi Kate, light, neutral colours accentuate a feeling of space and
brightness so avoid dark, deep shades that can make a room seem smaller. Team
with mirrors and furnishings with reflective surfaces to make the most of the
natural light. Creams and beiges are timeless when it comes to carpet and there
are many different neutrals to choose from such as our Forest Hills range in
Caraway or Mineral if you’d prefer a subtle moody grey. http://www.cormarcarpets.co.uk/product_foresthills/product_foresthills.php

Let us know what you decide, Cormar :)
Kate thanked Cormar Carpets
PRO
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi, i'm sure you have plenty to go on, as usual i often disagree with a lot going on, and I think a lot of people detract from the original brief.

So, Walls pale grey with maybe a feature wall where the tv is in a dark grey.

Don't put the t.v on the wall, I really hate that, and why oh why would you want a load of wires dangling about. It's fine where it is and the unit t's on is very nice. Plus, you get a crick in your neck trying to watch it when it's on a wall.

Add another accessory colour in such as teal and I agree re-cover your bench. I'd change the peach cushions for mustard, and have teal and Grey. Lots of cushions for plushness

Change the colour of the lampshades to match.

I'd also put another tall lamp between the sofas in the corner.

Add some curtains in the same fabric.

I honestly don't think you need do more than that.
Kate thanked User
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi Kate. It looks a nice room. You only have a couple of pics in your ideabook so there's not much to go on in terms of style and colour. Maybe go for something like the first pic however with a pale grey paint with a blue/lavender undertone on the walls (which your sofas appear to have) and also paint the radiators the same colour. You don't mention if you need privacy, if not, I'd go for Roman blinds hung outside the recess in the wall colour to make the room feel bigger/taller. Similar to the pic id add navy, white and deep mauve cushions and a throw mixing texture (include some velvet!) and pattern. If you add brass for lamps etc it will add warmth in addition to some green for a plant and flowers for the coffee table. This may be a no no (!) but a light grey cowhide rug may work (without markings) to avoid rug "rules". I also like the panelling in the first pic and you could use wallpaper panelling on one wall to the same effect if you're on a budget. The last 2 pics are just really showing how a cowhide rug and panelling could work in an elegant scheme with industrial touches. Depending on layout I might remove the shelves and add a huge mirror over the dining table although ideally it would be on the long wall to make the room feel wider. Dining tables do look good against the back of sofas which may potentially (!) work if your sofas were opposite each other on the short walls and perhaps the door opened the other way but then I'm not sure where the tv would go!
Kate thanked minnie101
Colin Burns
7 years ago
I am sure you have loads to go on already but i couldn't help but comment as i don't think you need to do much. The biggest issue for me is the net curtains ... Remove and replace with shutters. Add some free standing art work on the shelves instead of the bottles and add a couple more geometric scatter cushions and its nearly done. Furniture wise! Only the tv cabinet need changing in my eyes to something not so opposite to the coffee table style. But i think the window dressing first will make a huge difference. Good luck
Kate thanked Colin Burns
vbraid
7 years ago
Get rid of the curtains and use plantation shutters instead; hang 2 fairly large framed pictures of equal size above each other either side of the window, top and bottom of the arrangement to meet the levels of the window, at the far end to re-balance the width of the room, find a lower coffee table the height of the seat of the sofas, probably still keep this glass cf upholstered, make the wall unit 'float' off the wall to increase the impression of the width of the floor, re-cover the bench with a fabric you like and use the colours in that to find 'blending' cushion covers for the sofas (teal/ lemon - whatever pops nicely for you) ; paint the walls a soft grey/beige and have the shutters the same colour. Put the two dining chairs that are against the wall somewhere else in the house until you need them, find a large lamp to put on the table in the corner between the sofas. If you can, put in picture lights above the top picture either side of the window. I think all of this would help increase the sense of space in your room and add a subltle level of sophistication.
Kate thanked vbraid
vbraid
7 years ago
ps maybe not to meet the levels of the window exactly but just within them, positioned just right to mirror their length and take the eye out to the sides elegantly. And keep a wall picture light within these levels too. Any doubts, mock the wall up on Windows to scale and decide the best position yourself.
Kate thanked vbraid
Kate
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thank you all for your interest and ideas. All of these are so inspiring and motivating. I think i will go first with new window dressing and cushions. And wall painting will be my summer plan. Framed pictures on each side of the windows is a smart idea. I will do that also.

Btw sofas color has purple undertone in it. Teal can work with but i m not sure about mustard or yellow.

Sofas color looks different on the pics but this is the closest color of them.

Thank you for all again. This page will be my guide and i will try to realise all this ideas.
PRO
Feature Radiators
7 years ago
You are not far off as it is a lovely room already.

I would suggest swapping the standard radiators for vertical ones. Maybe in a dark grey?
Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info
PRO
Bloc Blinds
7 years ago
Hi Kate,

It looks like a great room. I love the contemporary looking sofas, to tie in with these I would suggest simple roller blinds as they would really help to streamline the look of the windows.

With your colour scheme as it is now, which I really like, I would opt for fresh white blinds like Blossom White (top) dimout fabric or with a slight pattern such as Flower White (below)

With our blinds system you can swap the fabric of your blind in seconds without replacing the complete system so if you change your colour scheme later it's no problem to update the look of your windows!

Best of luck with your project,

Kiera
PRO
Strata Alexopoulou
7 years ago
I agree with Wallsauce on the wall mural, but if it is too much for you, you could try the accent wall. Painting the wall behind your tv with a bold color would give life to the room, plus camouflage a little bit the dark screen of the tv. You could also enhance the feeling by adding objects such as cushions and other decoratives on the same color as your accent wall. The image bellow is just an example from a houzz project.
City Living on the Hudson · More Info