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Need help with living room

6 years ago

Hi, we have just recently moved house but kept the laminate/sofas from the old house as we couldn't afford to replace them yet. I feel like the place needs brightened up and would like it to look more modern but don't know where to start. Can anyone offer some inspiration or advice please?

Featured Answer

A B

6 years ago

Wow that doesn't seem fair! Don't they have bedrooms to decorate in whatever style they like?

I think the sofas are fine, and could easily be improved with some cushions.

What kind of bold colours do you like? I'm a huge fan of bold colours, and they work well with brown. Add a rug and curtains, build up your accessories over time, the room will look great.

Do you have the fireplace? I personally would consider it or some other focus like a sideboard under the TV as it is just floating over nothing atm

Good luck!

Comments (20)

Jonathan
6 years ago
Personally I think the magnolia walls are a big part of the problem, I think the TV is too high and I think the space is under furnished and I am assuming your only light is the ceiling light.
I would paint the walls a warm grey or green, lower the TV, put a table or console under the TV, add a patterned rug some pictures and house plants and some additional lights.
Best of luck
Claire Mcqueen thanked Jonathan
A S
6 years ago
Hi,

I think all the colours in the room are all from the same neutral colour palette and therefore lacks interest.

If painting walls is possible, I'd change the colour off the walls to an off-white or light grey to break the colours. I'd also add a rug in a accent colour of your choice with patterned cushions to break up the flooring and similar coloured sofas.

I agree that the room is under-furnished and would add a console, add a larger coffee table and maybe individual chairs/footstools/ pouffs in a different colour/texture/pattern.

I think the light fitting is also out of proportion to the space and would get something which is larger to make it look more balanced and to get an even dispersion of light.

Good Luck
Claire Mcqueen thanked A S
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I think you could make this room lovely Kate. Firstly, the bed you've sourced. Are you planning to sleep on it as a single or pull it out every night for a double? It's just that it seems you might have to move it 45 degrees every night from what I can see of the design. Other than that it seems like a good option for the space. You already have some ingenious ideas for creating hanging space but I would suggest some shelving (not sure if floating shelves would be strong enough?) with hanging rails underneath to give you a bit more space between the top of your 3 chest of drawers ( commodes) and the rail for longer items. There are some pics below for inspiration. I know we don't all only have black and cream clothes!! but you can see how adding a few picture frames, pretty boxes/baskets/ handbags, etc can make it look more like a glamorous dressing room. I'm assuming concealed wardrobe storage is out of your budget at the moment so making the open storage look as good as possible would be the trick here. Could the rabbit hutch be put on legs or onto an appropriately sized coffee table (ebay /gumtree find!?!) it would look more like part of the room, perhaps with a couple of pics leaning against the wall, food concealed in a pretty box/basket etc.) Does your other menagerie (all the cuddly toys) have to stay? If your looking for the style in your inspiration pics (which are lovely BTW) they might need boxing up and going tthrough the square hole into the loft/attic space!! They'll have a ball up there without you. Maybe a couple on the top of your rabbit hutch for old times sake :-) Good luck.
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A S
6 years ago
I know you have blinds, which may do the job In terms of blocking light and providing privacy but I would also consider dress curtains just for added interest.
Claire Mcqueen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the replies, will start looking at curtains, rugs etc today. I've been gifted an electric fire but the only place to mount it would be under the tv so not sure about that yet. I would like to buy a new sofa but they're less than a year old (although cat damaged now) so I'm looking at cheaper options first.
Claire Mcqueen
Original Author
6 years ago
http://www.dfs.co.uk/topic/opc13hrvv#OJIe8KgWIF4LyWlZ.97 I'm looking at this sofa if anyone can offer an opinion on colour? I have 2 teenage kids and we all have quite different tastes. I like bold colours but I've had to tone down my taste because the kids don't like it so we've ended up with a bland house lacking personality!
AMB
6 years ago
The kids can have their own style in their bedrooms and when they move out. It's your house, you pay the bills so whatever you want, you have it.

I think it just needs colour and more furniture. If you can only work with what you've got then move the furniture closer together to make it cosier and pick a colour (and complementary or clashing colours, depending on your style) to accessorise with. Think, curtains, throws, cushions, rugs, pictures on the wall, vases, jars, candles, books, and flowers.
Claire Mcqueen thanked AMB
AMB
6 years ago
I would also say that the focal point in the room at the moment is that large cage in the corner. You might want to move that elsewhere if you can.
Claire Mcqueen thanked AMB
PRO
Paintforme
6 years ago
Hi Claire,

Painting the walls should be marked as priority! Brown floor and blue sofa...shades of grey and green, as well as blue would work well together. If you like bold colours, but the kids don't...use TV wall as feature wall - use bold/bolder, remaining walls do in pale green or grey. You could remove dado rail which doesn't run all around. Ceiling and coving and woodwork in white.

You could possibly change the blinds!

Light fitting could then be adjusted to fulfill the design. It doesn't have to be expensive one, there are plenty of affordable super looking options too. Armchair with round coffee table and a plant would help. Bring all furniture away from walls.

And the TV is definitely too high.

So, is that a good starting point?

Good luck!

Paintforme
Claire Mcqueen thanked Paintforme
A S
6 years ago
Hi,

Maybe the kids can't visualise the bold colours working hence the reluctance.

I certainly think the room needs the injection of boldness/ colour. I like the sofa colour you have selected and think it can work well with the floor and grey walls.

Before making an expensive decision of purchasing the sofa, maybe add colour through rugs curtains cushions, painting the walls and see how you feel about the room.

I too love colour!

All the best!
Claire Mcqueen thanked A S
Claire Mcqueen
Original Author
6 years ago
I like blues/greens/yellows. The kids put together a rough edit to show me what they like. I can't change the blinds as just paid a lot of money for them but could buy some curtains.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
I like slate or sky colour of this sofa. Rug is too small for space. Put at least front legs of sofa on rug.
Claire Mcqueen thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
Carolina
6 years ago
Hi, could you pull the sofa on the right forward, like in the photo shown? That will make your living space cosier and you'll be able to reach the coffee table from the sofa. I'd choose a bold coloured rug with blues and/or greens in it.

The TV is up too high (as mentioned by others too) and it needs something under it.

Clairemont Whole House Renovation · More Info
Carolina
6 years ago
For example...
Claire Mcqueen thanked Carolina
Carolina
6 years ago
Or...
Karen Brown
6 years ago

Cheap ikea units with Ikea bridging cupboard doors fixed on! If on a budget like me!
Carolina
6 years ago
Rug from Ikea
Karen Brown
6 years ago
Carolina, I want your app! Can you tell me what it is, do you recommend it x
Carolina
6 years ago
@ Karen Brown, I use Photoshop. Not an app, but a computer program :-)
PRO
Inkmill Vinyl
6 years ago
How about a statement gallery wall like the one created here by interior designers Topology London with our hexagon wall pattern. Easy to apply with no messy wallpaper paste and creates a great background to your artwork. Have a look a the blog for the full details.

Topology London | How to create a statement gallery wall

Statement Wall by Interior Designers Topology London · More Info

Statement Wall by Interior Designers Topology London · More Info

Statement Wall by Interior Designers Topology London · More Info

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