POLL: Where do you start when decorating your living room?

8 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Decorating or redecorating is always a procedure and a half, and apart from the work itself, knowing where to begin is a whole other battle! Living rooms are often one of the first places we look to when decorating, however with so much potential, from painting to lighting, choosing a starting point can be a bit of a dilemma. So when it comes to decorating your living room, where do you begin? Vote in our poll and leave us a comment below explaining why!

Painting

Lighting

Furniture

Flooring

Soft Furnishings

Windows

Other

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Tom, I think we have a psychic connection. I was just thinking about that an hour ago.

I start with the art and the rug.

Comments (23)

Tom Flanagan
Original Author
8 years ago
I reckon it's because we both spend so much time on Houzz ;)
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I have to agree with nudejude regarding the upholstered furniture sizes and positions. The room looks long and narrow, so placing 2 chairs or a 2 seater sofa opposite another 2 seater would allow you to enter through the door and walk, unrestricted, through to the opposite end of the room. An area rug between the sofas, large enough to fit under their front legs and perhaps a clear coffee table in glass or Perspex between would make a great conversation area. There may be enough length to the room to use a console table behind the sofa nearest the double doors with 2 small occasional chairs. A pair of lamps would provide light for the sofa and for the chairs. If the chairs are needed, they can be brought into the main conversation grouping. A Roman blind, with or without the curtains, would set off the window. Throw cushions in a variety of patterns and colour, will add interest to the upholstered pieces. Good luck and enjoy your home.
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User
8 years ago
You may be right, I'm trying to cut back. Maybe Tech has a patch I can wear?

I've had to agree to disagree with a couple of my friends who prefer to choose the paint early on in the process, but I like to choose it last.
teamaltese
8 years ago
We tend to keep a neutral palette for walls and furniture, and I like to use the same colors. Booooorrrriiiinnnng! I know! But my nest, my rules, for my comfort. And I don't consider wall color to be a design statement, in my home, as much as a backdrop for everything else. I know how my go to paint color works in just about every light, and with other colors. So we paint first. We use Behr Silver Tradition or Light French Gray. Tradition is a greige, Gray has a purple undertone. They play well together (I know, I know. "Don't mix warm and cool color tones!"). To our eyes, they are calm and pleasing and a backdrop for our art.
Najeebah
8 years ago
I think furniture, as thats one of the more permanent aspects, as well as flooring. Paint, I agree, Chook, should be towards the end
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James Sherlock Joiners & Builders
8 years ago
i think painting because it opens up the design potential off the room from the very start
Lila 1410
8 years ago
In here I started by painting the skirtingboard behind the computer desk, because I was going to get a new computer and thought it'd be easier if I got it done while there was no computer on the desk.
LouieT
8 years ago
Another vote for painting as to me it sets up the background & may even change according to the final result.

Flooring next if it's changing & then I add in large pieces of furniture & rearrange to get the layout right.

Following that comes the soft furnishings, décor & art which may exist or need to be updated but are far easier & more fun to play around with.

We may all have different approaches but when you get stuck it's great to be able to ask on Houzz for help!
Ann Christmas
8 years ago
STOCKTAKE for probable keepers like
ART WORK, FURNITURE, RUGS, STANDOUT PIECES.
FLOOR (we like pale tiles throughout really and use our precious rugs over them).
PAINTING next and TRIM UPDATE.
WINDOW TREATMENTS. This all pulls together pretty well with the use of accents etc.
Great Fun...!
Noelle Skingle
8 years ago
I am just embarking on redecoration of our living room. It is beamed and has an inglenook fireplace. We have to ultimately consider these first! We also have a very large antique gilded mirror and a baby grand piano, apart from that I have a blank canvas :) I have just decided on a new sofa and it is enormous so colour/style etc., will be matched with that. I can't wait to get started!
User
8 years ago
Having lived through an art fest of whacky colour schemes, I no longer stress about wall colour at all. It's either cream (there's tonnes of different shades) white or murky pale blue. I find it so easy to live with and anything (furniture/artwork) goes with it. I'd like to be more adventurous but have been disappointed too many times when using strong colours on walls. Better to just accessorise with them.
Glyn Thomas Jones
8 years ago
painting first unless you want splatters over everything
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Ensign Accessories
8 years ago
Paint first - it always changes the dimensions of a room, and with fresh colours gives the owners a different perspective as to whether to change other items in the room.
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Design Street
8 years ago
I start with a brain storm and a moodboard :-)
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Hamilton interiors
7 years ago
Furniture and flooring need to be long stay options, so I would choose these first, then introduce colors of walls from curtains and pick it up in cushions and rug.

that way it is easy to freshen up room in a few years without changing the major expenses e.g. new paint color and cushions
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Witchery Rugs
7 years ago
If you're decorating your living room from scratch, choose the rug first. It's the big, impactful piece that ties a room together.
Jane Bateman
7 years ago
I always try to be organised but end up starting everything and never finishing anything! Sitting in my half finished living room. At least I can't see the one unpainted wall behind me but I know it's there!
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Kerry Holden Interiors
7 years ago
I was going to choose painting but of course there is the prep work first and foremost i.e. rubbing down woodwork, filling any holes or cracks (old properties especially!) and making sure everything is ready for that first coat of paint!.
bertin79
7 years ago
Love this colour, can you confirm the name please.
PRO
The Alcove Man
7 years ago
Fitted furniture should be installed first!
Becky
7 years ago
I start with something I love and build the scheme on that. For my current lounge it was based around the curtains!
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21st Century Space Sculpture
4 years ago
Love the choice of colour against the rug. Plus the chandelier looks great too!
E D
3 years ago
Natalia, please don’t advertise here.

POLL: Where do you start when decorating your living room?

User

Comments (23)

Tom Flanagan
Original Author

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teamaltese

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POLL: Where do you start when decorating your living room?

Comments (23)

Tom FlanaganOriginal Author

Related Discussions

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Tom Flanagan
Original Author