I can't decide how to decorate my lounge - help!

[Titsywoo]

We have just extended to make a big kitchen diner and at the same time added another 3 metres to our lounge. The room is 7.6 metres long and 3.7 metres wide (there is a slight divide about 4.6 metres as we kept the old wall where the french door is so there is an arch there.

We will keep the 4.6 metre bit for sofas, tv etc and the end 3 metres by the french doors to the garden will have kids lego, pc etc.

As the room is long the lounge end tends to be pretty dark so I want to keep it light but I want a warm cosy feeling and above all I want practicality from two messy dc and a mucky DH

I like Next sofas and I think I am going for Garda but struggling with fabric and colour. Can't decide on a carpet but I think some pattern is needed as every carpet we have had that is plain ends up with stains from split drinks etc however careful I try to be! Wall colour needs to be pale but definitely not white.

HELP please. We need to start this room in 2 weeks and get it done by xmas and I spent so long designing the kitchen diner I have not thought this room through!

[Ferguson]

We scrapped lounge carpet a year ago, and went for Karndean Sycamore effect; we thought might seem cold, but it doesn't and much easier to keep clean.

[3catsandcounting]

I've had my Garda sofas for around 4 years - still love them - so comfy! The fabric is Harris Natural and is a lovely warm colour, but not dark.
They have survived me (red wine!), Dh, 3 cats, a dog and a couple of teens, no staining and very hard-wearing.
As for the floor, we've got wood and a natural, fluffy rug, but if you're set on carpet, I would go for a 'twist' carpet in perhaps a dark natural? The twist in the pile would be more forgiving against spills and stains. You could add a washable cream rug to brighten it up?
I tend to keep my floorings/furniture neutral, then inject some colour with bright textured cushions and soft throws, a few candles and a couple of big table lamps.

[Nellday]

My only advice would be to do what I do which is to spend way to long on sites like pinterest.com, theroomedit.com and houzz and you will be spoilt for ideas - I went for one a bit like this picture and love it and was lucky enough to find similar comfy looking sofas to this on ebay!

[Mrscog]

Ooh - I have a living room of similar proportion which I redid earlier this year. (7m x3.3m) I will take a pic in a bit when I've tidied!

[suffolkpunch85]

3catsandcounting, we have 4 hairy cats and want new sofas. Does our sofa attract the hair? Do the cats like to claw it?

[3catsandcounting]

suffolk - one of our cats is extremely hairy and loves the sofas - funnily enough they're the only sofas we've ever had that don't get clawed - nor do they attract hair. The textured weave of the fabric is really hard-wearing.

[Titsywoo]

Ooh yes please Mrscog that would be helpful thanks :)