How shall I decorate my living room?

[SherbetDibDab]

I am completely clueless when it comes to decorating, by which I mean I'm completely clueless as to whether I'll like it or not when it's finished.
I wouldn't mind so much if I was like dh who probably hasn't even noticed what colour the walls are.

Anyway, our living room is fairly big but quite dark - it's North facing.
I want it to be a 'grown up' room and I'd like it to look warm and cosy.

Our sofas are passed it so I can start completely from scratch. I just don't know where to begin.

Are there any kind people out there who can offer any advice.

[lalalonglegs]

Can you post some pictures of what it looks like currently or some pictures of the sofas you intend to buy or whether you like traditional or modern or what you favourite colours are or your budget..?

[SherbetDibDab]

Oo - thanks for replying. Only just seen this.

I'd rather not post pictures but the room is rectangular with a fire place half way down one of the long sides. One of the short sides is completely windowed.
It's a fairly modern house and although the ceilings are a reasonable height, I don't think the room would suit the victorian look.

You're probably right about the sofas, that's where I should start. Need to get dh dragged round the shops

[allluckedout]

Sofas a good starting point although the more neutral they are the less likely you are to go off them.

[LemonDifficult]

It sounds like a good space, with the fireplace and without awkward bits.

Whenever you are starting a room from scratch you should start with the curtains. Fabric can be expensive and you don't want to make mistakes as getting curtain made up is time and cash consuming. So pick your curtains and go from there.

Also, I am flooring obsessed so next I'd go for floor ideas but you might want to choose sofa next.

Are you beginning completely from scratch or do you have a table/pictures/favourite vase you could start from? Do you like a slick finished look or do you want to layer the look with ornaments etc?

[SherbetDibDab]

It is really from scratch, I don't even think I have the inspiration ornament. I think it would be easier if I did.
I do love the more layered look but find you need to be fairly arty to pull it off.
I think I need to hit the shops and carry on looking, I'm just overwhelmed by it. Dh never really has an opinion which makes it all harder.
Thanks for replies.

[LemonDifficult]

this might help for inspiration

or here

You could also try the higher end magazines such as House and Garden or World of Interiors. These might give you more ideas than the more affordable mags. The upper end tend to have slightly more out there or more grand or more quirky looks and this might help you define the kind of style you might like.

IME, it's pretty difficult to make decisions when you've got no restrictions and no imput from DH. The possibilities are too much! Fix on one thing (almost anything, though as below I'd pick curtains) and tell yourself that whatever else you choose you're going to make sure that object/rug/doorhandle looks at home in your new room.

[SherbetDibDab]

Thanks. Those websites are helpful.x

[ChasingSquirrels]

I pretty much did this - had old sofas which needed replacing and first found new sofas I loved - which took me quite a while, but having found them- I do really like them.

I then chose a carpet & wall paint to go with the sofa, and still need to get curtains sorted - although I have picked the fabric, just need to get them ordered.

I already had a couple of bookcases, and brought a couple of new items - tv unit and side tables to replace old worn out stuff.

[lalalonglegs]

Just think about the basics: floor, walls sofa then pick one of those elements, say sofa and get what you really want. Work backwards on the rest: what floor will complement the sofa (that doesn't necessarily mean "go with" as you could then end up with some sort of greige bleurgh) but try to find something that won't be fighting with it. Then a wall colour that will draw the floor and sofa together? Then what to put on the walls etc. Break it down into so that you have something you really like at the centre of it.

[deliakate]

My advice is to start with one thing - in our case, curtains.
I'm pretty indecisive, but when it came to our drawing room, DH had strong ideas about the curtains he wanted. They were an embroidered duck egg blue, so we got them ordered, and then carried a sample around a sofa shop to choose two sofas - one in a toning colour, and one in a floral with the duck egg included in the pattern.
This is a formal room, and I've just done an informal sitting room with a bright red sofa and lots of fun primary coloured objects around for the family space.

[bacon]

Get a Harlequin wallpaper book and see the fab, 'grown-up' wild patterns in there. The feature wall (to the LHS so not the TV wall) is wild with red, blacks and gold leaves, very loud but looks luxurious and everyone love it. Now you have a feature wall you can use lighter paint - I love 'Stone' or Portland stone paint in Matt. Great neutral colour.

Personally, love leather sofas for practicalities, browns work with everything (depends on budget - I like Tetrad). Avoid rash, fashionable colours.

Poles which are not shiny but antique finish. Roman blinds mixed with long curtains.

I'm not keen on the wallpaper exactly matching curtains always looks too contrived, something I find too much. You see it in showrooms and wallls makes the room look flat. Rather something similar perhaps from the same harlequin book but the pattern could be different.

Hence, you want blending not matching.

[Fipa]

I would have a look at the following websites which have big image galleries and copy a look you like

Housetohome

Livingetc

Mydeco
Good luck