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need help with my living room

10 years ago

it is a 12 foot x 18 foot room so quite a long narrow room. It has a 3 seater brown leather sofa with 2 matching armchairs and matching ottoman. I have a nest of 3 oak tables and a stove with redbrick surround. The tv is a very large 50 inches. Please help me make this room more decorative and interesting

Featured Answer

PRO

APK Designs LLC

10 years ago

I would paint the walls a very soft green (i.e. BM 498 Glade Green, or BM 505 Hint of Mint). Maybe brown or rust for curtains so you don't have too much green. See attached. I really like the carpet you posted but was too low resolution to use, so I put in a similar to give you an idea. I hope this helps. Best of luck! We want to see "After" pictures!

Comments (37)

Dar Eckert
10 years ago
Can you get photos of the entire room? I'm thinking you have a couple of issues to deal with
1. It looks like the furniture is too large for the room but can't say for sure because I can't see it all
2. Too matchy-matchy.

Some larger sofa pillows will break up the solid brown. Consider a rug with colors coordinating with pillows and upholstery. check out this article on buying sofa pillows

http://www.houzz.com/r/1/21058114/NWVhNGQ4/n418/v1/nllc/g11/u/iL2jFt83akKnRSd03n4BTA

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C G thanked Dar Eckert
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
difficult to get the whole room in one photo
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I think as well as adding life to the room with a different wall colour, you need to add some textures. But you have a great base to work from - well chosen sofa, floor, fireplace, etc. Great! The colour I would suggest you use in this space is called Sedgemoor by a company called Francesca’s Paints. I know you can’t get them over there in Ireland, but I have posted a picture of a room painted in this shade - perhaps you can get Dulux to colour match if you like it? You could then add a few cushions in natural colours, like dark brown, and possibly something like this from John Lewis: http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-luce-cushion/p519627?colour=Blackberry. I would also add some pattern/texture/interest into the scheme through cushions - I really love the idea of layering up a pile of these, like in the photo on the Heal’s website (also posted): http://www.heals.co.uk/content/ebiz/heals/invt/583041/583041_l1.jpg. Then another thing you could do is add a rug, I would probably go for a textured brown one like this tonal rug from Habitat http://www.habitat.co.uk/mohit-large-brown-tonal-rug-170-x-240cm/rugs//fcp-product/24124. Hope this post has helped! Good luck! x
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Hi Emmeline. Have measured as best I could. The room is 9ft wide and 18ft long going right up to the bay window sill.Imagine you are standing in the doorway. The door opens inwards and to the left. The space between the open door frame and the wall perpendicular i.e. facing the bay window is approx 2ft. On that perpendicular wall are cubes for art work, a tv and a flat chrome edged gas fire. The fire is 1ft of the ground.. The cube unit is 2ft off the ground as is the tv. So not much space to play around with there. Still standing in the doorway on the wall to your right is a longish radiator. At a slight diaganonal opposite you is a window. Height from floor is 2ft6in. Length of window is 3ft Distance ofrom fire place wall to window is 8ft4in. . Distance from end of window to alcove wall of bay window is 3ft2in. There are two small alcove wall each 2ft6in in length. The bay window is a square shape rather than curved. The length is 4ft. Depth 3ft. Height 2ft.6in.from floor. We moved house recently so the furniture does not really fit the space. I would like to keep the sofa if possible. It is a standard shape with rounded arms and very comfortable. It is a 2 and 1/2 seater approx 5ft 8in long and 3ft high. In an ideal world I'd like 1920s 30s or mid century scandanavian. But would also like to keep the sofa. The only thing I can think of doing is put the sofa facing the fire and take it from there. What about a window seat which would also provide storage? If the sofa faces the fire what do I do with the rest of the room? Chair angled at small window... ottoman??? As for colours the room is painted chalk white. When you come in the front door ( 1930s with coloured glass) there is a curved polished plaster wall in burnt umber. So am thinking moss green, mustard i.e autumn colours a la Orla Kiely??? Many thanks
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C G
Original Author
10 years ago
That first photo isn't my room
Corinne
10 years ago
If you want to keep your furniture, I would look working with color. New wall color, accent color faux wood blinds (your curtains shorten the window and wall height), and a rug and pillows to coordinate with new room colors. Also, get the big TV up on a moving TV arm to clear the cluttered corner.
C G thanked Corinne
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
People are usually afraid to use more than one color in a room. They choose one color and keep repeating it in a space, just to be safe. Before you know it, you find yourself falling into a boring, monochromatic palette. What colors do you enjoy looking at? If you have some ideas, we can help you create a color scheme and take it from there.
C G thanked APK Designs LLC
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
Like the idea of working with colour . Any ideas on room colour and alternative curtains .. Not sure what you mean about curtains shorten window and wall height .
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
I like greens especially lime green. I also like wine or burgundy.
Dar Eckert
10 years ago
Thanks for the photos. Your arrangement is good. I think the bookcase and tables need to be go. The bookcase and number of tables makes the room appear too crowded. Start by taking them out then II would look for a round coffee table and a rug. Here's a couple of examples.

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C G thanked Dar Eckert
PRO
Interior Trends Remodel & Design
10 years ago
I think the scale of your furniture is to large for the space. But if you intend on keeping the sofa and two chairs I would eliminate the glass front book shelf and have your nesting tables in that corner between the chair and sofa. The TV is also a huge eyesore. I would not have it at an angle. I would get a new piece of furniture to set it on, something wood and have it flush against the wall not at an angle. I would eliminate the drapes around the window seat. It looks like you have simple window coverings already doing the job of privatizing your space. I think if you had two small coffee tables, something with metal legs and some color or a stone top that would be a nice change to the matchy matchy decor. Finally, I think you need a rug to introduce some color and an accent paint color on the wall that is bumped out at the fireplace.
Good Luck!
C G thanked Interior Trends Remodel & Design
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
Okay, so how about soft seafoam or sage walls. Burgundy pillows and green/red rug. Take a look. Just to get you started :-))
C G thanked APK Designs LLC
Corinne
10 years ago
CG, green and red accents work well together...especially with your leather sofas. Orange makes a nice third color. Think a clean taupe for the walls (brighter under tone) depending on ceiling height go lighter, but not too light..egg shell or satin. I would use a lighter base color oriental rug with the accent colors of your pillows in the rich mix of rug colors (you can find beautiful wool, hand knotted rugs for not a lot of money.) You have a lighter floor with oak accents so a lighter rug will bring out the beautiful grains without making them look dated. If you have second hand/consignment shops in your area, they are a great source of accent pieces like lamps, art, ginger jars...fun things to make your space reflect YOU. Don't be afraid of mixing metals.
C G thanked Corinne
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
I love that green cushion and the rusty colour rug. I was playing safe by staying away from colour and thus I left the room boring. Should I paint the bit of wall with the fire place one of these colours too. I could move the 2armchairs to a different room and I have 2 much smaller scale wing chairs that I could bring in and get recovered. Would this be better and what colour sort of material would I cover them with ?
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
The room is a bit longer than it appears in the photo as there is space behind the armchair where the door is
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
how about this rug
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
I would paint the entire room one color (i.e. soft green), without creating an accent wall. If you can replace the 2 armchairs it'd be great, since it's a little too crowded now. The rug is beautiful but the dark blue throws things off a bit (that is if you are doing the soft greens and rusty reds scheme). You can use fabric to re-upholster them. Anything that is for upholstery and resists stains will do and any color from the rust to the greens or a combination will be ok. Here are some samples I pulled from the Knoll website just to give you some ideas.
C G thanked APK Designs LLC
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks I didn't keep the rug as I thought I wantedbsomething more modern and the room still looked boring too ... Those samples are lovely
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
I agree, I'd go with something more modern and lighter on the pattern too. A small room with bulky furniture needs a less busy carpet.
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
Ok I'll keep looking for the right rug
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
Wouldn't the windows look very bare without curtains ?
jessegee
10 years ago
more cushions, throws and a rug . Maybe something that hints at the brown leather and floor but lightens it up?
Praps some more lighting, eg hidden floor lamps, to capture the sheen and enliven it.
A tall plant can give a shot of colour as long as its not to bushy.
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
I would install more formal shades and/or add full-length panels on the sides of the windows , but not necessarily enough to cover them, just for decoration. http://www.jcpenney.com/window/blinds-shades-/cat.jump?id=cat100260228&deptId=dept20022800026&cmJCP_T=G1&cmJCP_C=D3
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
these rugs are scarlet red and green. Would any of these suit my room?
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
this rug is also available in red
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
Either one of the 3 will do. I would get the last one you just posted (green with dark stems)
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
I love the last green rug too with the brown stems to match the couch. If I got this rug what colour curtains should I get an what colour should I paint the walls
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
some cushions and curtains I was looking at. I looked at green and red rather than green and orange. what do ye think and which ones would be best.
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
and some more
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
some of the curtains appear a bit darker in the photo than reality. The red cushions are almost the same colour as the curtains
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
Hello CG, you can buy some of these and try them on site. From the pictures you posted I get the feeling you have 2 colors with similar saturation both fighting for attention. It's a little too much. I would keep the green but go softer on the red (i.e rust). You can also let yourself be inspired by the grey/silver/bordeaux floral and stripe pillows to create a brand new color scheme using these colors instead. For example, a very soft gray on the walls, gray carpet, grey/bordeaux combo in the curtains and for the sofa accents, pillows similar to these 2. It's decision time. Go for what speaks to you, but do it with elegance :-)
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
Yeah Maybe the plain green and red looked a it cheap, the red cushion came in orange but thought the green and orange looked like my national flag. I like the silver and red cushion but it's a north facing room and I feel it needs warm colour on the walls to give the room a feeling of warmth .
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
The grey silver Bordeaux combo cushions are lovely but so hard to decide on curtains and rug
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
What about a plain silver shaggy rug I spotted and the patterned curtains in the pic I posted
PRO
APK Designs LLC
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Very good thinking on wall color vs. the room orientation. If you go with the gray shaggy rug and the red curtains, you will have to paint the walls within the cool blue/gray tones. Since the room is north facing, how about a green and yellow color scheme. You can also do a red and khaki. Red curtains, khaki walls, a combo on the rug.
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
very difficult to choose. what about this rug and cushions with different curtains and colour on walls
sage0807
10 years ago
Here's a sample room I found online that has a nice color pallet with leather and wood furniture. This may provide some additional ideas on colors for you.
C G
Original Author
10 years ago
i got these cushions , rug and damask curtains whick are the same colour as the rug ..mink colour

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