Need Desperate Help! Very dark living room!
We have a mid terraced house and the living room has very, very minimal natural light. I've taken the photos below with the kitchen light on and it's still very light outside. It can get even darker than this in the day. I need help and advice on colours and paints. We can't afford to change the sofa (brown and beige) but really need to do something!
Not sure how to upload photos so they will follow.
Thank you so much for your help and advice!
Comments (9)
Huw Buckley
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Help! Very odd shaped living room
Comments (1)We get asked this question quite a lot especially with odd shaped rooms. The best idea of using this space would be too zone the area but also keep a coherent theme running through. You also have to ask yourself what would you be using the space for, socialising, reading, tv or even dining? Here at BoConcept we have an Interior Design service to help you make the most of using the space. Contact one of our team to arrange this & we'll help you utilise all the space to make a stylish and liveable living room. We are more than a collection, we are a concept....See MoreVery dark living room
Comments (22)The curtains and blinds will be blocking much more light than the TV. You can see this from how low the shadow comes on the wall below the ceiling. In the third photo you can see light outside just desperate to get in! If you do away with your Roman blind, substituting roller blinds if you need them, you will allow much more light in. Don't let your curtain overlap the window, particularly at the top, it would definitely be worth investing in the longest curtain rail your bay can accept, then make sure you pull the curtains as far back as they can go. Ideally it would be better with a pole the full width of the room straight across the bay, but this won't work if the TV has to sit in the bay. Personally I would paint all your walls and ceilings white and colour the room with accessories. Or if you like coloured walls go for something which has connotations of daylight, perhaps pale blue, pale yellow. It looks as though the wall behind the sofa is grey at the moment and it isn't adding any joy to the room. You can add cushions (or cover the ones on the sofa), in pastel blues/pinks/yellows and this will add the feeling of a summer's day to the room, the colour of your curtains is just right for this. If you can I would change your picture for something the same size but in pastel colours and hang it lower so that it catches the eye as something bright and pretty. At the moment it is sitting in shadow. And one last thought - do you really need all the pieces of your suite in this room? There isn't a law which says you have to keep a suite together - if you don't have room for it all....See MoreNeed 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 MorePlease help - sofa and chair arrangement in a very long living room
Comments (10)My experience for the distance between tv and point of watching is how big the tv is. You could also try and see what distance suits you. In my experience, you as a dweller create how you intend to use the space: watching tv / reading / entertaining / kids playing / guests sleeping / playing an instrument/ plants or a collection exposition / writing / paying bills / printer & IT hub... I am just brainstorming... In my case, I like to create piles: out of my books and magazines for projects, library books to return so separate from the many books we have, so I tend to welcome long shelves or tables. Sometimes it’s convenient to have separate dining and work tables - if you have space - because you can keep the surfaces dedicated for different activities. But again, it all depends on how you (want to) use the space....See MoreRose Smith
4 years agoHi Huw,
unfortunately not we only have the arch ways from the kitchen and the front room. I mean here's th difference in terms of natural light.
As you can see my son is very happy to be in the photo.
Rose Smith
4 years agoThank you for your help the designer, I've currently been looking at the dulux light and space range but have railed to find a grey as they're made with a high reflective value.
The other option i have found is farrow and ball blackened.
At the moment our whole house is magnolia as we have only just moved in.
PROThe Designer and The Decorator
4 years ago
PROUser
4 years agoRose Smith
4 years agoSo far I've cleared off the window space.
Ive also ordered a white TV unit and a personalised toy box to help diffuse the dark.
Ive chosen a very light valspar paint however I've realised we can't order online so it will be a few weeks before that.
Does anyone have any recommendations on wall lights? At the moment the room has three poorly placed spot lights over the fire and two wall lights.
- PRO
The Designer and The Decorator
4 years ago 
PROBrandler London
4 years ago
The Designer and The Decorator