Decorating help please

[notarehearsal]

Hopefully I can attach a photo of my mish mash sitting room that I really need to decorate having moved here some months ago. Also the very dark hallway. Please can anyone more artistic than me guide me as to what colours you'd use on the walls? I've tried pin interest but tbh can't really work out how to use it. I'd seen a f&b sort of dark plum colour that I quite liked but unsure if it would be all too glarey? I love colour and don't want grey or cream. Really hoping someone can advise

[NattyTile]

I like the sitting room just as it is, which probably isn't much help, sorry.

Hallway - personally I'd be itching to get the wallpaper off and then I'd either paint it something very light (probably the cream you'd hate, or a very light beige, sorry), or hang a patterned wallpaper rather than the vinyl.

[PigletJohn]

I suppose you could illuminate the hall with wall-washers. LED lamps are very cheap to run. If you had Daylight bulbs for daytime it would trick you into feeling that it was natural light.

Lighter floor covering.

Matching pale throws on the sofas

White dog.

[notarehearsal]

Natty the walls aren't papered or textured. That's the photo. They're just a bog standard pale green throughout as it was a rental property. I want to use colour just haven't got an artistic enough eye to see what will clash and what would match in sitting room. I guess hallway could be anything I wanted it to be. Like the stripped floor boards so they're staying

[lalalonglegs]

I like the walls in the living room too as I think you are getting a lot of colour from the sofas and accessories. I do like a nice dark inky or slate-y blue as well and that could hold all the different elements together.

Regarding the hall, I would definitely work on getting the lighting right as per PJ's suggestions before thinking about colours.

[YelloDraw]

I wouldn't go for colour on the walls in the sitting room - lots of colour from the two sofas, plus there is the exposed brick work and the wood burner.

I really like the floors!

Hallway, um, I'd timeless white it... sorry!

[notarehearsal]

Lots to think about so many thanks. Hadn't even thought of sorting out lighting! Must say I'm now looking at slate blues, thanks lala

[LaurieFairyCake]

I love your dog



How about that Dulux Light and Space paint in the hallway ?

Go for the plum colour or a colour you like on the chimney breast wall with contrasting cushions?

[lifeistooshort]

Hallway: I would get get rid of the wall paper and paint a very pale colour either white, off white or light grey. Homebase of B&Q do some light refecting ones which are good for that sort of space. I would also try to put some mirrors (again to reflect and multiply the light) . Also what does your front door look like? Does it have a glass panel. An interesting rug would probably help modernize the look. The colour of the sofas (and perhaps the size) is too overbearing for the size of the room

For the living room, there is too much furniture for the space. I would replace one of the sofas with two chairs/armachairs. Also the furniture and the floor just look too samey due to the colour. If you can't change the furniture I would at least paint it for more consistency. I would look at scandi style furniture if you can afford them as they have a "lighter look" I would probably also face the sofa the other way to make the most of the feature in the room (the nice fireplace) . I also think the painting is too large for the space you have put it on. It take virtually all the wall space there which makes the room look smaller. I would put it above the sofa on the wall opposite the fireplace.

[Joinourclub]

Google colou palettes to find colours that complement plum colorpalettes.net/tag/plum-color/

[lifeistooshort]

Also if you like colour I don't think I would go for plum as it is quite a dated look. But if you do, don't do the whole room it would be very oppressive.

I like colour too. I have one wall red in my living room which really jazzes it up and them some items to balance it (a geometric rug) , a small yellow table and one bright coloured painting. The rest of the walls are white. the sofa is brown and so are the chairs.

Right enough of me...off I go.

[sorenipples]

If this is a victorian terrace, I would would put a dado rail in the hallway and paint two tone with a darker shade beneath . Mirror above to maximise light. However I like the traditional look, you may not.