very bland living room
Hi, need ideas to inject life and character into our living room. That’s an electric fire that we don’t like - we are contemplating ripping it out altogether (including fireplace) so there is possibility for corner sofa to move location. I’d like a feature wall but not sure which one and what colour. We are currently up cycling a tall bookcase which will be white/grey. We had a large grey shaggy rug but it was too dark for the room and everything blended into one large palette of grey!! Also I hate the skinny light! All ideas welcome.
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3 years agoRelated Discussions
very bland cream living room with archway
Comments (4)PS are you absolutely sure you can't ditch the carpet? For what you'd spend on covering the sofa you could get an inexpensive beige or tan carpet and immediately lighten up, simplify, and elevate the space. As soon as I saw the photo I knew you were in England! I don't know why there are so many carpets like this over there. I have seen apartments in England where there were two or three different patterned carpets in the same place! It's enough to make your head spin... I watch BBC Canada a lot and I am addicted to the renovation shows, especially the ones where they are fixing up homes to sell, and I've seen over and over how they've ripped up carpeting like this and replaced them with a simple plain style. When it's done it looks like a million bucks (or pounds, excuse me!)... If you did replace the rug, you could keep your sofa 'as is' and paint the walls Farrow & Ball PIGEON No. 25, which is a lovely green-gray. If you go very green it's going to look too Christmassy (red and green) so I suggest this colour which incorporates a grey tone that's very current these days. It would look very fresh with white woodwork. This paint colour would look interesting with the beige/tan carpet too. I have attached two photos showing neutral sisal-look carpeting and a photo of a room painted PIGEON....See MoreRoom too bland??
Comments (22)Thanks again for your comments. I've finally got it how I like it thanks to everyone's help! I realised I was getting away from the style I really like; comfy and relaxed. Everyone's comments and opinions have really helped. By filling out the shelf, your eye is taken off the bare walls either side. The bed in white is lighter, fresher and less formal. The curtains raised off the floor makes the room feel more spacious somehow. The bouquet on the right hand side of the shelf is my silk wedding bouquet and my pearl tiara is up there too, which is nice because before they were stuffed in a cupboard :-) So now, white Venetian blind on order, white duvet and pillows to order and one more blue hydrangea for the window sill :-) Thanks again for all your feedback and help!!...See MoreWhat colour/style of living room furniture would suit my living room?
Comments (4)Going for a white sofa would help create a light and airy living room. The white sofa would match the airy elements you already have in the room: the light pastel wallpaper and blue chimney heart, the white skirting, the light coloured wooden flooring. The black of the fireplace hearth can be tied together with details like black legs for the white sofa, black legs (maybe hair pin legs) for a white coffee table or for a cabinet (cabinets with legs look very smart: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alisoncaporimo/legs-for-days). Black cross legged lounge chair & ottoman in a navy blue would match the navy curtains. See through furniture helps for an uncluttered feel: transparent chairs, glass table, thin furniture legs, x leg ottomans. The window coverings also have to be in light materials. Consider introducing flowy sheer fabric with or instead of the navy curtains. White or light pastel coloured area rugs in the room and avoid choosing area rugs featuring heavy and busy patterns. Braided area rugs in pastel and light colors also make a good selection. Some pictures below:...See MoreHelp bland living room
Comments (7)Grey can look drab, but you’ve added colour with the burnt orange and green cushions, so if you like those perhaps go down that route? How do you feel about deep green walls? It will completely change the feel of the room. Or you could go with a darker grey like F&B Railings and carry on the orange and green with more accessories. The carpet is nice and neutral so a good foil for more colour. Here’s a few ideas, first is Railings, followed by Green Smoke, the last is an unidentifiable green but I rather liked the room, so cosy. If you hate deep colours then just say, and we can look at something lighter....See MoreUser
3 years ago
PROSLC Interior Design
3 years agoUser
3 years agoUser
3 years ago- PRO
SLC Interior Design
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHi Kamc O
My pleasure. Here are a couple of images but if you pop onto Pinterest and search for 'Grey Living Room Ideas' you will find lots of inspiration.
This one uses the same colour palette as yours but you can see the cushions all have different textures, the art work incorporates the rusty colour in the frame and there is tall lighting, just behind the sofa. The round coffee table breaks up the 'squareness' and the rug adds a lovely simple texture.
Again this image has your colour palette but with some added darker variation and of course lots texture - check out the throw! The trick they have used here is to pull the sofa away from the wall and then add a narrow console table behind it, and added lighting and accessories. This not only gives the illusion of space but also adds height, interest and more texture to the room. The rug adds a little pattern, on the diagonal, so that the eye is carried in a different direction to the lines of the furniture.Hope these help!
Sarah
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3 years ago- PRO
SLC Interior Design
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago 
Sonia
3 years agoYou’ve started well with adding mustard yellow, and I think you can build on that with artwork that has yellow in it (see below) and a colourful rug with yellow/orange shades. I know this may be out of your comfort zone! A yellow throw also helps and is lovely and cosy on chilly nights in. You say you are up-cycling a bookcase, so how about adding some contrast by painting it a darker grey, again see below. I personally think fireplaces add character and a focal point so I would keep it. You could remove the electric fire bit and fill the hole with chunky, rustic logs maybe? Another thing you could try is a darker feature wall where the fireplace is. Either graphite grey or navy, which will look lovely with the yellow.
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3 years ago
ebony45