Ideas for family living space please

3 years ago

We decided to use the space near our dining table as a family area. See pictures.
At the moment we have set it up with what we have but I am looking for inspiration/ideas to make this space more cozy snd appealing. Would be great if you can include pics so I can visualise please.

The plan is to:

Place a 65 inch TV above the buffet/ sideboard table.
Get a rug for the lounge area - any suggestions for colour?
Throws and cushions - colour suggestions?

Thank you.

Featured Answer

User

3 years ago

I looked , and focussed on different things to everyone else .

Starting with the ceiling , the grey fan doesn't really do with the rest , and the round dome light definitely doesn't . You have a cane seat that I assume you want to keep , so change the fan to a rattan one , go Hamptons to tie in with the white plantation blinds , terracota and cane . And then stick to the same theme with a light -- something country chic . Or go for 5 or 6 downlights , but that depends on ability to get into the roof cavity .

The 1960's green on the couch just looks dated -- keep the couch , and get new covers done in a woven wheat , or possibly even a similar blue to your 2 chairs . Add some cushions -- personally , I'd go warm red and orange and yellow , but with wheat , you can go blue and teal and a brighter green .

Or sell it and get a new couch -- may cost more , may be similar price -- I guess it depends on your attachment to the existing one .

The 2 chairs IMO are fine , and even looks to tie in with the sideboard , BUT the small table with steel legs doesn't . Move it to another room , or sell it , and a get something with the same toned wooden legs . I'd go timber top , probably in a white to tie in with the shutters , but wood or even charcoal would work .

A rug is the one thing I agree with -- terracotas look cold in winter . Nice , mid-bright , warm colours . Abstract artwork in similar but complementary colours , even brighter , will add that Wow to the room , A bright coloured mid to larger glazed pot with a leafy plant , or a cactus or similar , will add some interest and something living .

So that leaves the one thing I have left out -- the TV . Without seeing the rest of the house , I would actually be tempted to flip the room , have the TV below the aircon unit , the couch back where the sideboard is , OR as others have said , further 'in' , and maybe have a study nook or home office or kids play area there ?

Just throwing some ideas around .

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Comments (31)

PRO
Mytihomes
3 years ago
While it's challenging without measurements the room appears quite large therefore It may work best if the couch/sofa is placed half way along the room, closer to the TV, just south of the window, allowing 2 zones. Find a rug to fit the floor (from the buffet to under the couch) in a darker colour to ground the space. It would be easier to see what else is in the dining room to help with colour selection. A nice colourful rug that you can pull colours through to cushions or a curtain/blind may help. A nice reading chair for 2 with a small bookshelf can fill the other half of the room. Hope it's been helpful.
Kate
3 years ago
Earthy type colours work best with terracotta. Here is one inspiration. Ty typing in rug on terracotta floor in Houzz to see other pics
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Jennifer Bradley
3 years ago
We have terracotta in a couple of places (walls, couch) and some natural Australian bushland colours also go well with it - like washed out eucalypt tones or yellow ochre ones. (I've a book called Decorating with Australian Colours that has a range of actual pant and laminex names as well as pictures of rooms. It's a good source of inspiration.)
Maria Anghel
3 years ago
You have a lot of space, so bring the couch closer to the windows and in the back put a table and some chairs. Brighten up the room with light colors, white, beige, yellow (for the couch throws and pillows) and a light rug is in order.

https://pin.it/A1AoEaT
searle1298
3 years ago
Jennifer Bradley could you give me some more information about the book Decorating with Australian Colours, who is the author, publisher. I would like to purchase it.
Sally Wyatt
3 years ago
You could zone the room into two spaces: the tv-watching space and a desk space. Each zone should have its own large, rust or ochre-coloured rug. Look for real wool, not synthetics. The couch could be relocated to the centre of the room and turned 90 degrees so it faces the buffet unit.

You have large, bare walls. Look for much bigger artworks and perhaps relocate the inspirational quote pictures elsewhere, to smaller walls.
Paresh Kunverji
3 years ago
The wall you want to put the tv I would personally have a timber finish wall so that it creates a different look of the area and will also look welcoming
KK1000
3 years ago
I think buffet is to tall to put Tv above it. Maybe get a lower and longer Tv unit in the same place, bring the sofa closer, get a rug of decent size so it’s not looking small in the place 2 x3 m , and move buffet to where sofa is now. You will need a coffee table to complete the look preferably to match new TV unit/ stand
Mia Kelleher
3 years ago
I agree with the above comments re terracotta. The cool tones of the navy chairs and green sofa clash with the warm terracotta hue.
j450n74y
3 years ago
The plantation shutters will do well with a fresh coat of white paint. Maybe a Dulux lexicon half which will make the space brighter.

The flooring may work well with some luxury vinyl boards without needing to retile or much work.

Distance between couch and wall for TV seems too far. What's the distance?
K Grassi
3 years ago
A decorator once told me to position interesting items in each corner to draw they eye to them, making the room seem larger. For example, a glittery floor vase or a stunning lamp would draw the eye to an overlooked corner, making the whole room fill to capacity.
Pia
3 years ago
There's a lot of things I'd consider which would require asking about 7 million questions, but instead I'll just add some nice pictures :) good luck with it!
Βουλα Ρηγου
3 years ago
Terracotta floor tiles love jute or sisal rugs, easy to care and very affordable too. Also I thing you can change the cushion of the couch using white or off white linen or canvas (much cheaper the second one). Use white as neutral base and add colours as you go.
PRO
Storewall Australia
3 years ago
Here are some more ideas worth reviewing as you work through the options

https://www.google.com/search?q=decorate+a+terracotta+floor+room&tbm=isch&chips=q:decorate+a+terracotta+floor+room,online_chips:interior+design:F9CXIFYXedc%3D&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjc89PDgp7rAhVZTSsKHRBoAQ8Q4lYoBnoECAEQIg&biw=1675&bih=868
josey griffin
3 years ago
Get the app Pinterest. It’s fantastic. Search for anything you want. Lots of decorating ideas on there.
josey griffin
3 years ago
Paint. Use frenchchic paint. Paint the cane setting. Paint the fan. The floor colour doesn’t go with the walls. Paint the tiles if you like, then seal.
Christine Freeman
3 years ago
With a great space like this try to organise by taking the natural view and placing a couple of eye catching favorites only, not clutter. Use the natural flow and separate by rugs and I would add floating shelves to optimise your space. This is where you can place your display items and alter site lines.
Amanda Ruck
3 years ago
Searle1298 I found this for inspiration on Australian Colours

https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/style-and-advice/Using-Australian-Colour-E9915#
searle1298
3 years ago
Thanks Amanda
simonenotsimon
3 years ago
Paint the floor white (special paint), paint the sideboard white and spray paint the wicker in the couch white. Get rid of the ceiling fan or get a white plantation timber fan. Move the couch from the corner and place a lamp table (white or glass), a generous white shade lamp and a couple of decorative pieces such as a small vase with flowers. Replace the ceiling light with a suspended fabric drum style light as large as the room will take. Add a few large indoor plants such as monstera. Include a white or glass coffee table. Key word white. It’ll look great and very plantation style🪴🪴🥂. Choosing white also means you can just paint what you have or paint over treasures from hard rubbish ‘finds’.
searle1298
3 years ago
I would caution about painting the floor tiles white. We did that, with special paint, on a bathroom floor. The frequent walking on the floor wore the paint off in patches and it looked a lot worse than if we had left it as the original blue tiles. Although the same special paint on the wall tiles lasted well.
roseB
3 years ago
You have a wonderfully colourful cushion in the photo, so if you love colour take your inspiration from that. I’d paint 2 walls something cheerful and add colour in your choices for other things. Just start with a colour you love. If it’s to be a family space it needs to be happy not beige.
rna1962
3 years ago
Absunitha, I would love to know what you finally decided. I’ve just noticed you posted this last year. I actually love terracotta tiles. They are a funny fashion. I’m nearly 60 and have watch people embrace them with great enthusiasm, only to pull them all up a few years later, claiming they have no idea why they ever thought to use them. This is usually as people decide to wall to wall carpet everything and so the fashions change again. Tiles of any style are the most durable and easiest to clean. They add colour and texture. I also loved your very comfortably cushioned couch. I thought the blue complemented the the tiles well. I found a picture that proves this, that I’ll include. I also have a design for your living area that you may not have thought of, that would allow for a larger group to gather and watch sport, concerts, or non gender biased movies together. I based my measurements on approximates, by using your tiles as a rough guide.
HU-477105008
2 years ago
We have terracotta tiles too. I really don’t like them but to replace them is out of the question; so I had to deal with them. Houzz gave me help when this rug was suggested. It became the focal point & I am so grateful for that input. I found a great glass bowl & that just completed the “look”. Also I wasn’t one for colour& at 68 I had to just go with it. Not a designer’s room, but it’s fine for us.
HU-477105008
2 years ago
This is the bowl that helped je finalise the room. Good luck with your terracotta tiles.
Lorraine
User
2 years ago
I really like what you have done Lorraine -- classy with a dash of colour .

If it was me , I'd go with a small abstract picture too , maybe 30 x 40 or so , in similar or toned down colours similar to your bowl and rug -- at present the two most interesting pieces are quite low , and IMO it just needs something small but complimentary to lift your eyes too -- you'll find something a bit generic but with the right colours and some knifed on texture on-line for around $50-80 .

Even a black and white print in a black frame ( to reference the tv stand and display unit ) would be good too , or how about both and see which you prefer , for a bit over $100 !
HU-477105008
2 years ago
Oh don’t think I haven’t tried! Lol. I have an intransigent husband. Holes in walls? Nooooo! I’ve done well in the rest of the house, so many “holes” - 🙂. There are only 2 walks I can put art on & you can’t see them in these photos; it’s always going to be a work in progress. Thank you for your advice, I will start looking again.
Lorraine
PRO
Ange Robertson Interiors
2 years ago
Here’s a soft Mediterranean palette that would work for you.
Kam Mick
last year
I would first repaint the walls white, always so much easier with a blank non clashing colours palette (especially for those who struggle in this area) and stick to the navy / timber look you have there, it’s lovely.. against the white shutters, imagine walls too…😍
PRO
Richard
last year
Thanks