Living room too dark?
Help! I think my living room is too dark and gloomy. We have a decent amount of natural light from the bay window, but as the property is terraced and open plan, we don't have much natural light in the middle of the property. Is there anything I can do to lift up the room decor wise? Any advice appreciated!
Comments (12)
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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 MoreDark narrow living room
Comments (11)Hi Daniel. Excuse the quality of the drawings and they're not to scale at all! Is the room just under 10ft wide as I don't know the width of the door at the top? If you go for the option with the sofa across the width of the room it would need to be love seat size. If you like any of the options I will draw to scale.. I think narrow rooms look better with some furniture brought into the middle of the room rather than all round the walls. In terms of the light, a mirror might be good opposite the patio door. Reflective surfaces so mirrors, metallic wallpaper, chrome etc all help with the light. Which way does the room face re paint colour? Your preferred paint looks pure white on screen which doesn't work in dark rooms as it needs light to work so will just cast grey shadows. A light/white colour with a warm undertone should work or embrace the dark and go for a dark colour and you lose the shadows....See MoreHave broken, dark, characterless living room - help please?
Comments (7)Without knowing the dimension of your room it's hard but I would suggest the following: Colours: keep it neutral, try not to choose colours within the yellow spectrum. Although you would think it would make it feel 'warm' they also have a tendency to make it feel quite dark. The room is too small to do anything majorly bold with your walls. I would be tempted to choose a slightly off white colour and use your pictures and a big colourful rug to bring colour into the room. Orientation: put your TV in the wall above the fireplace. Your sofa under the stairs and get two smaller occasional chairs on the wall the sofa is currently on. Also put your large mirror on this wall. The armchair you have could go where the TV is and be used with the standing lamp as a little reading chair. Windows: slated wooden blinds in brilliant white would look great. Lights: change the green to match the chandelier light, the rooms not big enough for two different lamp shades. Or at the very least a different chandelier? You need small tables with lamps on dotted around. Your pictures are hung a little too high to the ceiling. You might want to try grouping them together a bit more. This is just what I would do, but It's a pretty little room, it'll look nice whatever you do....See MoreShould I paint my living room in a new build in a dark colour?
Comments (5)I would avoid painting the whole room this colour, it is very dark. The conservatory takes some light away anyway, so it's not the lightest room. Inchyra Blue is a blue/green, desaturated and dark colour. You could try a blue/green, desaturated slightly light version, it may work better. Here it is on one wall: And here is Oval Room Blue in a different room that looks dimly lit: They look similar due to the amount of light the room naturally receives....See More
Vig
6 years ago
Juliet Docherty
6 years agoVig
6 years agoJuliet Docherty
6 years agoI would think about a working palette for the room that incorporates all materials including painted walls. One thing all of the images have in common below is a balance of colour temperature and tone. Something like a ginger/cognac colour as an accent could really help your scheme (see throw in image two). Cool pale greys seem to work best when teamed with warm natural materials and crucially some dark too. I would add lighter tones with large pale rug, pale natural linen curtains and then cushions in a deep ochre/cognac colour. If this works you could then add more tone on the wall behind sofa/shelves with a much darker charcoal colour. :)
Yachtvägen 17, ENKÖPING · More Info
Yachtvägen 17, ENKÖPING · More Info
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Frödingsvägen · More InfoVig thanked Juliet Docherty
Carolina
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoI agree with colourhappy that a lighter coloured rug will help a lot. And as she and A.S. mentioned, the net curtains. Also the dark curtains aren't ideal.
Do add lights in or on the book shelves. I've put some brighter colours and venetian blinds (these are shutters I think) in your living room, see what you think. Glass table will reflect light too. Also added a floor lamp.
Of course a berber type rug will work too.
Vig thanked CarolinaJuliet Docherty
6 years ago
PROBathroom + Kitchen Eleven
6 years agoHi
Beautiful room. Minor changes needed - I think the wall colour is fine.
To introduce light you could use white shutters - the white will allow the light to bounce through the room while maintaining privacy.
Add a light rug - don't be afraid to add colour!
Change the ottoman to a lighter colour (if budget allows!)
Put a large mirror behind the sofa - this will also bounce light around the room
Add lamps on the shelves either side of your fire place.
Window
Ottoman
https://www.laresidenceinteriors.co.uk/products/upholstered-petit-royal-ottoman-coffee-table-dove-grey-linen
Mirror
http://www.decorativemirrorsonline.co.uk/mirrors/large-metal-framed-mirror.html
Good luck!Shannon
Vig thanked Bathroom + Kitchen Eleven
A S
6 years ago
PROCelery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Juliet Docherty