Jazz up dull space?!

3 years ago

Hi there, we have recently moved into our new home. I’m pretty happy with most of it, but I can’t get any vision for our formal lounge. Does anyone have any ideas how to spruce it up on a budget? Many thanks in advance

Featured Answer

H A

3 years ago

When/if you have budget, we had a fake chimney breast built in our living room with a gas stove (looks like a wood burner without the hassle). It transformed the room! Your room could handle a lovely big feature fireplace. Some greenery too. X

Comments (16)

Karenza Roy
3 years ago
to spruce it up Id add in some coloured cushions or maybe a rug over the armchair.. tkmaxxx and homesense are usually the best place for this but as the shops are closed there are lots of lovely online stores
you could paint a wall or add a rug?
just some cheap quick fixes for you :)
Ellie
3 years ago
I'd pull a at your furniture from the walls. It all looks like you want the middle empty.

Straighten the coffee table in front of L-shaped sofa so it can actually be used.
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No expertise in this so it's just my opinion - have you considered changing your light bulbs to LEDs which you can get on the white light end of the spectrum - the natural light ones would make it less obvious that it was enclosed. The ones that fit into ordinary light sockets are relatively cheap now! The carpets are a great idea too but I appreciate that can be expensive (@Stairbox - your last picture is pretty much the same as the one I've just got and it did make the stairs feel much more exciting - white walls for light but interest on the floor). My other suggestion would be wall stickers - you've got some lovely blank spaces there - sometimes art can be expensive and if it's too wide it can feel like it's intruding in the hall space but wall stickers are cheap, flat and nobody would notice the stairs as they'd be too busy loving (or hating) your chosen images. Plus you can just take them off if you want a change. I like the ones with nature and movement but there's loads about!
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Hello John! :) October Squash painted on the back wall as a feature wall would look gorgeous and brighten up the room, making it really warm and inviting! Here is a link: http://www.paintbyconran.com/en-GB/collections/kitchen-garden/m/product/view/71/preserve-elements Also, have you thought about purchasing any nice throws for the sofas or bright pillows?! I like your plants, too. Perhaps even buy some more plants and make it a themed room? It would look really cool and the warmth of the orange wall and soft throws would balance out the tone of the room perfectly! Let me know if you need anymore help. Georgie :) x
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keiblem
3 years ago
I agree with Ellie. I would try rejigging your furniture. It is hard to offer suggestions without seeing a floor plan. Are you able to provide one?
Daisy England
3 years ago
A big rug especially under where you have the coffee table.
Jonathan
3 years ago
I think it’s absent pattern. And the walls are plain against the rich floor. I think you should be looking for a patterned rug and some sofa cushions to tie in with the rug.
Wumi
3 years ago
A rug for sure. It will help you to zone the seating area better you can arrange the seating around the rug rather than against walls. Could you swap the corner sofa and plaid armchair around ?
Sonia
3 years ago
You’ve got lots of lovely accessories, but the room is crying out for a nice big rug and as already has been suggested, bring the coffee table in front of the sofa. Here’s some rug ideas, most neutral, but I’ve chucked in a bright oriental rug as I love them!
keiblem
3 years ago
Buying a rug seems to be the popular suggestion. I am inclined to first organise your furniture and then consider if you should invest in a rug. I am not opposed to the idea of a rug but they come in all shapes and sizes and where do you begin unless you know where it is going to go and what size and shape would best fit.
The fireplace is a good place to start. Can you organise the seating around the fireplace with a table in front? Where is the door? You would need to allow free movement in and out of the room. Does the TV have to go in that corner? It is an easy enough job to extend the cables to locate it elsewhere. There is a lot of seating, do you need it all to be in this room? Could the wing chair go in another room or the hall? Is the room big enough to zone? Maybe have seating around the fireplace and the wing chair in another area with a small side table and books for quiet contemplation. I find it easier to draw a quick to scale sketch of the floor plan showing the location of windows and doors then cut out to scale furniture to move around the space. This is much easier than lugging furniture around the room and you can better see how the space works when looking down on it.
PRO
Kingfisher Designs
3 years ago
Colour is what you need, cussions, a nice rug and maybe some bright artwork or wallpaper.
kazzh
3 years ago
You have probably moved furniture a thousand times already, so I hope this is one you haven't tried! I would swap the corner lounge and the wingback chair positions, so the wing back is under the standing lamp in the curtained corner. It would mean moving the painted dresser, which could go under the window opposite the TV. The height and the acessories will help give something in that space under the smaller window and balance the tv. I might also try the mirror over the fireplace in the traditional manner, as the clock 'isn't quite right' in that position. Hope this works or has elements that you can use before making the highly recommended rug purchase!
keiblem
3 years ago
It would be interesting to hear what Gillian Mcmill feels about the suggestions put forward.
keiblem
3 years ago
Ah you pipped me to the post Gillian! May I know what your plans are for your room now or are you still deliberating?
Gillian Mcmill
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you all for your comments! They have been so helpful!! We have taken them all on board. We’ve ordered a lovely rug, which we are hoping will bring a warmth and a hint of luxury to the room. We’ve also ordered some chunky knitted blankets to position on the sofas for extra colour and texture. We’ve ordered some shelves for next to fireplace to add additional texture and bright accessories and we are still searching for something to go above the mantel piece (I just can’t think what?!) and above the arm chair. I’ll send an “after” shot once we’ve completed this room. Thanks again for your help! We are excited to be on our decor journey xx
keiblem
3 years ago
It sounds as if you have been very busy! Perhaps when everything comes together you will find it easier to decide what to put above the mantel piece.
minnie101
3 years ago
I agree re the furniture layout and the rug will be lovely. It just feels to me as if there are too many focal points in this corner with the windows,fire, tv and console?

ignore the really crude photoshop but I’d remove the bits from the windows. Add a larger mirror over the fire and add a vase of stems etc. Ignore the green I used as every colour turned blue (?!) but something a few shades deeper than the wall would be good to disguise the tv and bring focus to the fire.

I’d try the console in the hall 😊 Lovely room

Jazz up dull space?!

H A

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Karenza Roy

Ellie

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Jazz up dull space?!

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