Design Help for Living Room!

5 years ago

Hello Design Lovers!

We recently purchased this home and were gifted many beige hand-me-downs from family. Beige is not exactly our style, but purchasing all new furniture is not in our current budget, so I am trying to add a few new pieces to liven the up the room! We love fun color, prints, and textures but am struggling on how to incorporate them into the room! We are 20 something’s and feel like we have our grandparent’s living room! All suggestions are appreciated!

Featured Answer

Kicksychick

5 years ago

Michelle's Master Bedroom. · More Info

Like this, but on top of the seat cushion, not under it. Perhaps also paint the walls white to freshen it up. Congrats on the new home, it is a big accomplishment for 20-something's!

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Comments (13)

njmomma
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Not a Pro.

Is this a sitting room? or tv room?

How are you using the space?
jck910
5 years ago
Try the sofa on the wall with the print. Then face the 2 to the sofa. Use the coral from the print in accent pieces. Get pillows that are "younger" prints & stripes. A bright throw.
Lindsey thanked jck910
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Kicksychick
5 years ago
I would place the sofa on the wall and replace picture with something about 3/4 the width of the sofa in colours you love. Pull colours from the picture into pillows, throws and accessories. Chairs should face the sofa. Try adding throws tucked into the chairs (down the center) to liven them up. I’ll try to find a picture to explain. Add a coffee table.
Lindsey thanked Kicksychick
dandyrandylou
5 years ago
A picture wall with bright colors could be used, and use bright colored pillows pillows pillows. How about slip covers?
Lindsey thanked dandyrandylou
MarleneM
5 years ago
Hi Lindsay, I like your sofa in front of the window as I always think it looks better to have sofa on longer side of area rug. I would suggest updating your curtains. The ones you have look too dark and they’re too skimpy. Bringing in the blue colour for curtains would perk up the room, as seen in the photo below, and notice the fullness of them too. As far as furniture layout, I’m wondering if both chairs will fit on the wall you have the art on, then move the small dresser to wall it’s now facing, with that art above it. It looks like it would be good size over that dresser. You could have and end table with matching lamps on each end of sofa, and then add a coffee table that’s not traditional, ie: not wooden.
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Lindsey thanked MarleneM
Lindsey
Original Author
5 years ago
All the suggestions are helping me get a better idea of my options! I appreciate them all! Thank you!
groveraxle
5 years ago
Before you do another thing, pull those two chairs onto the rug, facing each other with one on each end of the sofa. Then we need to find you some bigger and better art. We'll coordinate that with some new pillows and find you a coffee table, and you will be set.
functionthenlook
5 years ago
Neutral stuffed furniture is a plus for a room. You can add any color(s) of your choice to it with accessories. Patterns/prints and bold colors on stuffed furniture goes in and out of style rather fast. A classic neutral stands the test of time. I think your walls are too close to the color of your furniture. It is giving it a sand box look. If you can the first thing I would do is paint the walls. You have a nice start to the room. Experiment, have fun decorating, enjoy, don't always play it safe. I was 20 when hubby and I bought our first house and I played it safe instead of following my gut. The freaking living room looked like a sand box. Beige walls, beige rug, beige furniture. To this day I hate beige.
ilikefriday
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I would ditch those pillows and that rug. I would replace the rug with something bright and colorful. Add some curtains, a lamp, a coffee table, and some bold artwork.
havingfun
5 years ago
I was thinking that if this your formal room, you might not wish to be quite as bright. What do you think of this?
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gotta run, let me know, did not finish pillows.
groveraxle
5 years ago
I think you should invest in a good sized piece of art that you can use when you change out the furniture and that will set the tone for the room. Art.com has their loft art on sale right now.

Since the sofa and chairs are pretty traditional, keep the coffee table simple so it can transition to more modern seating, too.

I moved one chair, but I couldn't square it up, and I couldn't reorient the coffee table either, so I just dumped in your room. New art and a couple of new pillows and a plant are all you need.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You could purchase blank 12" stretched canvases from Michael's and have guests paint their own personalized art that you can display on your bare wall.

You could create art like this below

Or you can do your own in B&W or Color & frame them.

You could create black and creme scrolls for the wall.

You can have fairly traditional furnishings and depending on what you put with them and how you arrange them you can step up the appearance.