How to brighten lifeless living room
Esperanza M
10 years ago
Hi! Our living room is lovely, with plenty of natural light, wooden floors and massive windows overlooking the trees. However, it lacks the wow! factor. It looks dull at best…
Now looking at the photos I realised that the tree covering the back window is too dense. I will have it trimmed next week. I am also thinking about adding a couple of indoor plants (on the green dots in the floor plan). But, what else could I do to brighten the space up? What should I add? Large cushions? A splash of colour on the large white wall? Window treatments? Your great ideas would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Now looking at the photos I realised that the tree covering the back window is too dense. I will have it trimmed next week. I am also thinking about adding a couple of indoor plants (on the green dots in the floor plan). But, what else could I do to brighten the space up? What should I add? Large cushions? A splash of colour on the large white wall? Window treatments? Your great ideas would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
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sunnydrew
10 years ago
Maria Smith
10 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (15)When you think of inviting interiors, deliciously soft and snug carpets instantly spring to mind. Warm underfoot, they are especially welcoming – and the height of luxury - when you’re coming in from a dark frosty night or a battering of wind and rain. Have you considered a deeper grey carpet? Team with burnt oranges and reds to create a warmer, indulgent environment, soften harsh edges with tactile and luxurious furnishings. Our Soft Focus and Sensation Twist collections are available in a range of fashionable greys to add interest to living spaces and accentuate the feeling of comfort and calm. http://www.cormarcarpets.co.uk/product_soft-focus/product_soft-focus.php http://www.cormarcarpets.co.uk/product_sensationtwist/product_sensationtwist.php...See MoreHelp with brightening up my living room with accessories.
Comments (23)I think I would try tweaking the layout slightly. Try the sofa flat in the middle of that wall and paint the radiator in the wall colour. Angle one chair in the corner of the room facing the sofa, move the other along and put the smaller table under the other with the lamp on (Art would need to move slightly). I think a tall plant always adds life to a room (other side of sofa to what's shown). I'm not sure if I'm right in saying you don't like the wallpaper? If you don't you could look at Cole and son cow parsley, it comes in a warmish grey Which might be worth trying. If you like that one can look for cushions and a rug to complement. Would you consider a coffee table or larger footstool for the room? Something round could work. Is the inside of the fire just plastered?...See MoreHelp! How would you brighten this East-facing living room?!
Comments (26)Hi Sophie I think your room is a lovely size with great windows - they need some curtains to soften that end of the room I would suggest. I particularly like your floor which is a warm colour. My choice would be to pick up the tones in the floor and use a buttermilk colour on the walls - something like Travertine mid from Little Green on the walls, travertine light on the ceiling and Travertine on the woodwork. If you banish the greyish rug and look for something either with deep pink or burnt orange colours in a pattern and pick that up in a pattern on curtains and some of the cushions together with a lime green and an aqua blue to add some freshness. I agree bigger plants and find a stand for a big plant. Lighting - if you can access the ceiling more downlighters would be great. You could change them all to dimmable and ensure they are warm light. I also use up free standing lighters. The one in the photo has three brightness settings and is great. If you repeat you bookcase on the other side of you door you could use LED light strips above those. We have some under and above kitchen wall cupboards which are on all day in winter in our east facing kitchen. They give a lovely warm glow. Carefully chosen paintings/prints to pick up colour from the sofa and rug and cushions. Have fun....See More5 Savvy Tips For Brightening Up Your Kitchen
Comments (0)Design trends may come and go, but one aesthetic that seems like it's here to stay is a light and bright room. That's because this broad category is similar to a design philosophy or mood rather than a design in itself. You can have a light and bright room with virtually any interior style. This aesthetic is so pleasing because it creates a feeling of openness indoors, according to Brana Designs. Rooms appear larger, and there is a connection with the outdoors. Visit here for more beautiful kitchen design. Many people focus on this style in their living room where they want a wide open space in order to entertain. But it doesn't have to stop there. You can allow the openness to flow right into the kitchen. And one of the best things about this style is that major renovations aren't necessary. Knocking down a wall isn't the first option to make the space appear larger. By using some savvy design tricks, you can give the appearance of a large, airy, and open space. Choosing light colors is the easiest way to bring an airy aesthetic into your home. One of the biggest surfaces in your kitchen is the countertops, so choosing one that's a light color will go far in making the room brighter. All-white kitchens are a very popular design, but if a monochrome look isn't your style, opt for white counters over anything else. The stone can still have some variation to add some depth to the surface. When it comes to choosing the exact color or material, keep the other colors in the room in mind, says Plank and Pillow. Even if you choose a simple white countertop, this detail should complement other design elements in the kitchen. Gray veining on a white countertop, for example, can pair well with cooler tones throughout the room. However, if the veining is brown or tan, warmer tones in the kitchen may pair better. Interior designers will stress how important lighting is for a design. It's often overlooked as a functional element rather than an aesthetic one. Lighting is both and should be considered as such when designing the space. But it's not as simple as placing a fixture and calling it a day. In order to get the most out of your lighting, you have to know how to layer it. There are three kinds of lighting every room should have: ambient, task, and accent, says Degnan Design Build Remodel. Using a combination of the three ensures you have a balanced lighting design. Ambient lighting illuminates the whole kitchen and can come from natural light or overhead lighting like chandeliers or flush mount fixtures. Task lighting provides illumination in specific areas where you may need more light to focus on an action. In the kitchen, this could be lighting under the cabinets or pendants over an island. Accent lighting highlights aesthetic or architectural details by using wall sconces or picture lights. Using a combination of these three lighting techniques won't only make your kitchen look professionally designed but will also help brighten it up. Similar to artificial light, your kitchen should be bathed in natural light if you want a light and bright aesthetic. One of the easiest ways to do this is by adding more or larger windows, says Eco Line Windows. Choose windows with minimal framework to allow the most light to come through. Floor-to-ceiling windows or picture windows will make your space appear larger. Bow and bay windows can bring in more light because they protrude from the side house. If possible, you can also add skylights for the sun to shine in. It's also essential not to block any of the natural light coming through, no matter how large your windows are. Consider sheer curtains for window treatments so light filters through, but you still have some privacy. Also, be thoughtful of items you place in front of or near windows. Large furniture can block the light from filling the space....See More
User
10 years ago
PROAggie dba Aggie Designs
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoI wouldn't hesitate to put color on walls, but I think an accent wall would be too much contrast. I love the serenity of the space.. I agree with the other poster, to move the console away from the window to the other wall, under the painting with a lamp.
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You should leave that window un ubstructed, with maybe a daybed bench for reading in front. Or a bubble chair or two suspended from ceiling
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For the wall color, I would do a classic. Prescott Green from BM
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and a lighter half formula of the same for the ceiling.
I would put a second rug over the other rug, something irregular shaped even and with color and brightness...but an animal hide would look good, too..
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Cowhide Brown and White Rug · More Info
I would use your existing coffee table as side tables, and instead get a different glass coffee table for the center, that will be airier and have some sculptural properties..
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Comfy Chenille or Alpaca Throws in light greens, and pillows...
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And YES! to plants!Maria Smith
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