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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

Losing sleep over a BLAH living room

5 years ago

We just bought a home in Long Island, NY. It is a small old colonial but very clean and very well kept. As stressful as the home-buying process was for us, I kept an image of my dream living room in my head to keep me moving forward! Now I have the living room and have no idea what the heck to do with it. I had a painter do the living room walls and while when I tested the paint it looked very pale yellow, when he painted it came out snooze fest off white! I am super unsatisfied and have no idea how to punch up this room which has my blue velvet sofa as it’s main event. The room is small so I want to do whatever will make it feel bigger and i want a modern look. There is also a wooden fireplace that I would like to keep as-is but many have said it will never fit until my contemporary living room vision. PLEASE HELP!!! Lol

Featured Answer

PRO

Home Interiors with Ease

5 years ago

If you want this small space to really be a knock out full of drama....paint the walls navy blue...add lots of white......black and white.....and bold blocks of contrasting color...sometimes a small room is a small room no matter what color it is...so I would just go for it!:)

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Comments (13)

PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
5 years ago
Is your sofa able to face the fireplace?
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My Living Room is Blah -Please Help
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You have plenty of neutrals, so it looks like the rug will provide your color choices....a simple way is to find the dominant color in the rug that is not a neutral and use it in 30 percent of the room, then select the next less dominant color from the rug and add that color to your room.....say curtains, pillows, lamp shades of lamp bases, throws on the chiairs as in a pair over the back of each chair, or one throw on the sofa, accessory pieces in the book shelf area, be it flowers, frames or mats in frames, object d' art, etc. If you want to do curtains, then a solid or geometric print will work nicely. Another thought is to paint the dining room in a variation of your accent color and reupholster your chairs in a fun fabric that works with your paint, add curtains the same as the living area, and then just add pillows and flowers in the main living room as accents with the dining room carrying a completely different color for the whole area.....then the kitchen and the living room would have small areas of color that both relate to the dining room. Finally just add all white to both rooms to lighten it up and keep the colors of black, brown, and charcoal in strong contrast to the white to add drama to the room. neutrals with very slight addition of color in artwork but everything else white grey black charcoal addition of one color in curtains, chairs, pillows, walls......you already have chairs in charcoal, etc., but could add pillows in living room, curtains in dining room in pattern and white in living room, and pale paint in dining room and one wall of kitchen. I think you have a one note room, and it needs some jolts of color in all three areas; easiest to choose one and do all variations of it around the room, or two colors from rug, one dominant and the second one less so. Love your room
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There are a couple reasons your living room might not be working: --You don't have a conversational grouping. To get a cozier feel, move the print arm chair to the end of the coffee table so it faces your other chair. --Everything is too brown/tan and the same tone and very little contrast or pattern. Painting your sofa is nuts! You'll get the same boring tone and not solve your problem. Paint your walls, not your furniture, the cream color of your carpeting. Even if you don't paint it, the suggestions below will bring interest, pattern, and color into the room. --Consider layering an interesting rug 4' x 6' under your coffee table--something about the width of the sofa and a flat weave. Here's an article on how to do it: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-layer-a-rug-over-carpet-pro-design-advice-232179 --The second one is from oversizedart.com where you can choose subject, style, and size you want. I like the unframed look.
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Is it an open or closed foyer? I just saw pics from my childhood home this morning (my parents moved years ago, but neighbors have kept tabs on it and sent all of us the listing when it went on the market... oh, the nostalgia!!!!). It's a Craftsman (more or less) and it's definitely not a fancy house, but I actually loved and *still love* the tiled/mosaic foyer that opened into a hardwood-floor living room. There *is* a leaded glass door separating the two spaces, so that makes a difference -- but still. If I got a chance to renovate another old house, I would seriously consider the tiled foyer. Just have to move back to upstate NY so I can afford it... ;) There should be an upright piano under that window next to the foyer door!! Waaaah....
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Sam, I'm constantly in Florida, they building a few homes near me in the price ranging from 12-25m give or take... Every time I'm down there I walk past them all the time and nothing is moving very little progress in the last 2 years, so if I walk on the street no progress at all, if I walk on the beach in the back of the property you see a few guys on scaffolds doing god knows what. you see some HVAC ducts up, some plastering on the back done and that's it... Some homes have windows in, etc and it's been like this the last few years. Being directly on the ocean we had to replace some windows and sliding doors, it took 1 year to do that from permit to completion, the stickers have to be up for inspection, it's been a month since it was completed and the inspector didn't come out there yet. I guess this is how it is down there, they work the same way they drive...nice and slow and not a worry in the world. I hope things for you move a little faster. Good luck
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hollybar
5 years ago
Can you do a rough sketch? Please note windows and doors. Looks to me like the sofa needs moved.
emmarene9
5 years ago
Measurements and a drawn floor plan are needed. Do you have a rug?
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
Your new home looks like it's a classic and full of possibilities!

Keep in mind that a room is more than the color of the walls. Assuming that you don't want to spend more money on a painter, there is a lot you can do to cozy up a room. First you need to decide what you want to do in the room--entertain? watch TV? Then figure out a furniture layout that accomplishes your needs. Window treatments, area rug, lamps, accent tables, occasional chairs, all are needed to complete a room. Wall decor and accessories can liven up the room even with white walls.

As mentioned above, post a scale drawing of the room, along with more photos and your wish for its function, and you can get more help.
lefty47
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
HI- The first thing I see is the door on the left side of the fireplace ... I think is a bit of a problem . Do you think that door opening can be moved around the corner ? Then close that side off and match to the wood wall . Will the sofa work if you had it coming off the right side of the fireplace ...would that then put it in front of a window ? Then a pair of small modern square chairs can set across facing the sofa .... this is why that door opening has to be closed off. To modernize the fireplace either paint the brick part or put some tile over the brick in some marble or plain tiles in white or black ...which ever looks good with the wood . Have matching bookcases on each side of fireplace backed with mirror - or matching chests or accent tables with large mirror above on each side . A nice moden shiny firescreen . A big round clock or a modern painting above the mantel . A rug that fits inside of the wood border of the wood floor perhaps in a textured wool in a neutral color . Full height side drape panels - back tab on rod with blinds over windows . Keep the room fairly uncluttered with only what you need and a few chosen decor items . You may need to re-paint ... a good warm white is "Greek Villa " by Sherwin Williams ( no yellow in it ) ... or " China White " by Benjamin Moore - this has a slight blue under tone that will work with the sofa .
PRO
Lumar Interiors
5 years ago
We have a lot of designs that feature a lot of blue. Perhaps sharing them with you will inspire you. Take a look below:
Chaplin Crescent Estates · More Info

Royal York Renovation and Decoration: Family Room · More Info

Royal York Renovation and Decoration: Family Room · More Info

Richmond Hill Reno & Decor · More Info

Richmond Hill Reno & Decor · More Info

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Rebecca
5 years ago
Adding artwork in bright colors (like a bright yellow) and a bold rug would help. I think it mostly looks boring because there isn’t much in there besides the couch.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
can you set up the room w/the sofa like this?

Or, can you face the FP w/the sofa?

Yes to rich blue walls, some colorful art, accent pillows, and a rug (and I'd do a rich, camel leather chair or something w/leopard print)
PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
5 years ago
Hey Beth! Happy New Year...

yes Blue walls bold colors!!
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
you too Julie! love the blue walls idea. Would look killer w/that rich wood in the room. have to have this leather chair. I like the rug too.
J J
5 years ago
following
Oliviag
5 years ago
your fireplace, and the wood, are beautiful and appropriate for the home.

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