Huge empty space, ugly chairs, pink velvet couch
My boyfriend and I are broke twenty-somethings (he's a server, I'm a teacher) in our first home. We stumbled upon an incredible deal on a mid-century rental home, and we love the place so much. Hardwood floors, giant windows, huge back porch, working fireplace. The issue is the living room... it's so big and all of our current furniture is a mishmash of secondhand stuff, leading to a space that isn't beautiful or even really functional. Every other room in the house makes me so happy but this one is supremely "meh."
Adding to the challenge are two pieces of furniture. The first is a couch that I am completely in love with, pictured below. I found it for $50 at a secondhand store and reupholstered it myself in pale pink velvet. I am so pleased with how it came out, and would love for it to be a statement piece in the room, but right now it is just an awkward anomaly. The style of the couch is more vintage, but my style in general tends towards more contemporary/bold, so I'd love to pieces in that style that complement it.
Next are the giant red upholstered chairs in the middle of the room. My boyfriend and I also live with a roommate, whom we love... but I do not like her chairs. She bought them thinking they went with the couch and now I feel like the whole room looks too dated and formal. I'd love for it have a more casual, cozy feel. But yeah, the chairs have to stay in some regard...
Open to all ideas! We are definitely on a budget, but I love shopping secondhand so I'll take ideas and shop secondhand for cheaper options or DIY them. The photos are quite dark, but the room gets a good amount of light in the daytime. Walls are all white. Another question that I'm struggling with is wall decor... we can't afford the kind of large art that would do these walls justice. Gallery wall? Also, the rug is a really nice piece left by our landlord, and has lots of reds and blues, but really could go with any color scheme.
Oh, and there's the fireplace, which works and is super nice to sit around in the winter, so I'd love to make that more of a focus as well.
This is a tough one, folks!
Comments (32)
7 years agoMost of us have begun like you have ,we will find a solution to make things work for you , begin by making a conversation area things are kept too far apart , keep things close as much that you can , add a few pillows to the sofa and if you can later on get a larger rug too,
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Stuck on UGLY, help pick lamp & table
Comments (45)Hope I can chime in - although I'm not totally comfortable commenting as the pictures are pretty grainy on my screen. I wonder if what is really bothering you is more of a problem with scale and weight/balance. First I should say your curtains are lovely and your sofa and chair with ottoman look so comfy. The table as other's have pointed out did not look or function well behind the chair. However, the chair is rather delicate, and it and the stand next to it are both leggy. This may be partially what is bothering you. Additionally, the lovely picture behind the chair almost overpowers the chair. It's hard to tell from the photos but it might work better if the painting were lowered down to the height of the etegere. I would soften the look on the etegere by substituting the topmost items with one soft and low mounding form like an ivy with some trailing stems...the weight would help balance the heavyish lovely valances, and provide needed contrast to the multiple verticle items on the various shelves. The inside top shelf might look even better empty with the low plant on the next shelf down... Then something to connect the chair to the etegere and painting, which could be a floor plant or a floor vase with some fronds or something with some height but not too cluttery on the floor against the wall to contrast between the stick legs of the stand and the chair, with substantial enough base/weight- not a stick base - but not enough to overpower the delicate chair. Depending on the height of the shelf, you may be able to have a cleared space on the glass near the chair to serve as the place to put a drink and plate and snacks. It might possibly work to substitute a small fat lamp sitting on the shelf for the separate table and table lamp that may just clutter up the room more. Just my thoughts. Whatever you do, have fun! You have such a lovely space!!...See MoreBlue Velvet Sofa
Comments (125)We have to start renoing the upstairs by next summer so we will eventually be using that door. Also the nearest outlet is between the patterned chair and the sofa which is quite far from the tv as it is. We sat in there this afternoon and watched a movie with the kids. It was fine. The person in the patterned chair would either have to turn a little or turn the chair and they are light enough to not make it an issue. I'm hoping to find a small tv stand that is pretty close to the ground. I think it will be fine in the corner. Like k9arlene said, casters will make it easy to move it if I need to. I can't flip the furniture around because I have issues (phobias) regarding beam stability and even though we levelled the floor quite a bit, it still dips slightly toward the doors. It freaks me out even though logically I know it's fine. There's no way I'd be able to sit on the sofa with it so close to where I imagine the house will collapse from. The more furniture I put in, the more bare the walls look. I can't wait to start shopping for art! I want to thank everyone again for the input. It's been a really big help....See MoreNorth facing paint color to go with emerald green velvet couch
Comments (42)Hi again Erina -- When it comes to getting it "right" it's all about testing colors and seeing how YOU feel with them! So much of this comes down to finding a color(s) that work with your home + how you live in it + your innate preferences. [This gets more complicated if you live with someone who has different preferences!] I absolutely think you should explore the blush/pink idea. But I think we've all been there when we can envision something in our head and then have to go to Plan B when our sample is way off and it's not really a matter of choosing a close sibling. So I like to have backups in mind. ;) It's a little funny because a lot of the other color suggestions I have seem to be in line with the art over your sofa (from what I can see of it). The first one is actually for: the 2 blushes/pinks (the medium terracotta and the lighter warm blush) AND the medium taupe color (but is it more or less your current DR color?) ...and I think you could use 2 of the 3 in your LR/DR vs just a single shade for both Here's another example of a taupe (see ceiling!) Here are a few possibilities (grey and cognac already mentioned upthread) -- slate-y blue-grey (you could go with a lighter shade) and butter yellow (I know you nixed the deeper blues upthread but the warm medium blue IS lighter and brighter so I mention it just in case, ha!) Here's a golden brown -- you'd have to evaluate against your floors: Here's that butter yellow and pale blue-grey again in a better example of the colors currently in your rooms (I don't think you're wanting a leaf green but it's here for you if you need it)...See Morehelp with bar stools and empty space?!
Comments (9)it would be a dining zone...unless there is a dining room elsewhere. look for a drop leaf pedestal table.....if you are not in need of it, I would get it anyway...with no light fixture hanging down, and a pedestal base , you can push it to the side a bit. You would end up using it.....and when people are over you will start to use it....you can do things at it with computer/etc. You can lay out food when folks are around, now that you've done a good job and have a place to show off. . It's a light airy space....get a table, but one that is flexible, as it is not a huge space. [lots of tables /chairs on craigs list-very reasonable too] Love the windows....when there is a sale at lowes or similar....look into "top down/bottom up" cellular shades for the windows. I think the light and view can still be enjoyed and you'd get privacy with flexible adjustments they allow....bring some sample books home. ..have a sister or friend or mom help you find the best ones . That is an investment: not super cheap, but would give you benefit....See MoreRelated Professionals
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- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
7 years ago- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
7 years ago
PRO7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoLove that Empire sofa and the pink velvet fabric…love the rug, as well.
The house, as much as you love it, is not yours. The sofa and the rug are yours.
I would build on those two pieces and when you finally own your home, you will have everything you want in your home.
I love Empire… you get beautiful wood and yet you can update it, as you did with the pink velvet, for a 21st century look.
Here are 6 dining chairs for $899.00 on ebay. Wood is gorgeous. Imagine if you changed the fabric on the seats?
7 years ago
7 years agowhat color is that other chair? the odd man out? how do you feel about boho style? we should be able to at least unite the couch and the pinks with pillows. i know there are many pillows, but amazon actually has pillows and covers for under $2, nice looking ones too! they change weekly. and no they are no polyester. eww, that might be an idea
Amazon.com: pillows - Decorative Pillows, Inserts & Covers / Bedding: Home & Kit · More Info
Amazon.com: YITL Nepal Embroidery Pattern Pillow Sham,Handmade Exquisite Embroid · More Info
Amazon.com: YITL Nepal Embroidery Pattern Pillow Sham,Handmade Exquisite Embroid · More Info
Amazon.com: YITL Nepal Embroidery Pattern Pillow Sham,Handmade Exquisite Embroid · More Infodefinitely modern.
Amazon.com: YITL Nepal Embroidery Pattern Pillow Sham,Handmade Exquisite Embroid · More Info- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Try bringing the sofa to where the chairs are now. Then place a chair on each end of the rug so they'd face each other.
Move the clock to near the desk.
Can you show a picture with new arrangement, please?
It will look similar to this when furniture is moved.
- 7 years ago
Would your roommate allow you to upholster the chairs to a lighter less formal fabric?
This would also be really interesting for her chairs. Solid on one side and wild print for the other.
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
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- 7 years ago
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- 7 years ago
PRO7 years ago- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Update! Re-arranged some furniture. No money for anything new at the moment, but I think moving the furniture away from the walls helped a lot. Not sure what to do with that wall without the windows that currently has the New Yorker poster.
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
For the summer, your focal point should be the view out the large window. Ignore the fireplace. I'd align your furniture like this. You haven't given us measurements so I'm guessing that this fits.
decoenthusiaste