Please help me decorate my lounge!

[MrsKipling16]

I have chosen this wallpaper, but that's about it!

I have an oak coffee table & tv stand that I can't change, as well as an oak beam above the wood burner (the hearth is black slate and the wood burner is black iron).

There are 2 windows in the room, one north facing, one east.

I have a cream suite that can stay or go, the carpet will be new, along with the window dressings (probably blinds and curtains).

What type of light fitting would you go for (currently have black iron but it feels dated)?

How about a mirror for above the fireplace - what sort of thing would look good?

Can you suggest any curtain poles and/or tie-backs? I'd welcome some advice on both style and colour! And what about a rug/cushions? I think I'll be having a cream/neutral coloured carpet.

And lastly, I think I would like to change the door from painted white to oak, with glass - something like this. What do you think?

Apologies for so many questions - I am feeling a bit clueless . Please share your interior design wisdom!

[Cel982]

Can you post a photo of the room as it is now? It's so much easier to suggest things once you have a visual.

[MrsKipling16]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not at home at the moment, but it is very similar to this - 90's new build, rectangular with no alcoves or unusual nooks and crannies.

The 2nd window is to the left of the dresser as you look at this picture.

A blank, boring box currently!

[justaweeone]

Have you looked at the complementary products on the website
ANOUSHKA PLAINS fabric might be nice for curtains or Roman blinds with cushions made from something like the LILIA fabric and some plain cushions in some of the colours in the wallpaper ie bright blue, pink or the green.
You could get a drum lampshade in bright pink.
Look on the harlequin website and click on the fabrics and it gives you ideas if that makes sense
Will have a think re mirror and rug
Hope that helps

[justaweeone]

Lampshade
www.lampandlight.co.uk/ceiling-lamp-drum-30-round-pink.html?gclid=CKOKsMP-

[MrsKipling16]

Thanks justaweeone. I have looked at the Harlequin website, but couldn't see any obvious colour matches - I have made a note to e-mail Harlequin and check though.

I am glad you suggested picking out the pick, green or blue for curtains/cushions as I was thinking that something plain would be better given the pattern of the wallpaper.

I hadn't thought of a bright pink drum lampshade - I like that idea, thank you

Any suggestions for the curtain poles? I thought maybe white wood, but wondered if that would "disappear"? Mind you, depending on the style of curtain I choose, you might not see that much of the pole anyway....

I don't know why I am finding this room so hard - I've done 3 bedrooms and a bathroom with no trouble!

[justaweeone]

I think maybe champagne coloured poles rather than plain white might work better.

[justaweeone]

This is what I mean
www.harlequin.uk.com/shop/fabric/anoushka-plains/anoushka-plains/?code=HANP130059
Or maybe white poles and white mirror

[MrsKipling16]

Another great suggestion, thank you - off to google now.

Please Keep the suggestions coming (justaweeone and others of course!)

[MrsKipling16]

Yes, I looked at that fabric but it doesn't seem to match the any of the the greens on wallpaper sample I have on the wall! I know it doesn't have to "match" as such, rather "tone" but it doesn't appear to do that either.

I'll contact Harlequin for a sample as it could be looking at it on the screen isn't helping.

[justaweeone]

Poles

www.dunelm.com/product/maine-curtain-pole-1000011698#30079281?cmCategoryId=34169

[MrsKipling16]

I quite like the idea of pulling out the pink since I saw your light shade link so I may get a few samples!

[justaweeone]

Agree that samples are needed!!
Love a decorating project, but can't justify my own for a while as rooms recently done

[MrsKipling16]

Just ordered some fabric samples. The paper is lime, fuscia and aqua but there is only a fabric called fuscia so I picked a few that I hope are in the same tone as the others!

You're more than welcome to share my project - all suggestions gratefully received

Off to google pink drum light shades now.

[justaweeone]

Thank you MRS
Well will need pics when it's finished!

[NattyGolfJerkin]

You don't have to stick to fabrics from Harlequin. Branch out. Especially if you are looking for plains. Often buying from the same range looks a bit matchy, matchy, Next catalogue. Mix textures as well as picking colours out of the paper you like.

[justaweeone]

Just thinking, not sure how well a mirror would look above fireplace as the wood burner and hearth is black and the the beam is oak so unsure what colour of mirror unless you go for a frameless one.
I would probably keep the suite as its neutral and not sure if you even need to change the door unless you are desperate to do so as it will blend in with the wallpaper as it is so patterned.

[justaweeone]

This fabric is nice, but difficult to tell exact colour
www.lauraashley.com/uk/curtain-fabrics/bacall-cerise-pink-curtain-fabric/invt/3627967

[geekaMaxima]

IMO the most important thing is lighting, and people often neglect it.

You have a north- and east-facing room, which on our side of the planet means it gets cool blue-tinged light during the day. If you want a living room that feels cosy, you'll need lots of warm red/orange shades to counteract the cold light colour. Would you consider polished wood flooring (plus rug) instead of fitted carpet? The warm reflections from light or medium wood go a long way towards cheering up a sterile room.

It will also be bright in the mornings and darker for the rest of the day (except in midsummer when it will get some evening light in the north window), so the room won't be at its best at the times that living rooms are usually used. To make it a bright and welcoming space during the day and early evenings, you could either place a large mirror to reflect light (can be tricky to place) or consider using a daylight bulb in your darkest corner (at least 6000 kelvin - it should feel like having an extra window).

Evening lighting is probably the easiest. Lots of indirect lighting via lamps or wall lights rather than ceiling fittings or spotlights. And make sure you use true warm white (2700 kelvin) bulbs rather than generic white or cool white

[MrsKipling16]

Thanks Natty - another good suggestion. I'm going to town tomorrow so will have a look for some more fabric samples in Laura Ashley, Next, etc. There's a couple of independent fabric shops as well so I think I'll take the wallpaper sample with me and see what they suggest.

justaweeone I am laughing out loud at the link you have posted to the Laura Ashley fabric (having just read Natty's post about branching out) because I have used that fabric (in different colours) for roman blinds in the 2 recently decorated bedrooms!! Clearly we share the same good taste

The changing of the door decision is a difficult one - I don't really need to do it, but I'd quite like to renew all of the doors downstairs and as they all come off the hallway would of course need to match! I had the white 6 panel moulded doors in my last house and they feel a bit dated now. Mind you, are oak doors going to become the next white doors?

geeka thanks for your input. I'm not dead-set on carpet at all and used to have a real wood floor (sanded boards) in my old house - my concern would really be whether or not the oak furniture, along with the wooden floor would be too "woody"? Plus, can I find a nice rug that contrasts well with the wallpaper....

You've also made me think that I need to focus on picking out the warm colours (so the pink I guess), rather than the cold (blue and green) from the wallpaper when I pick my soft furnishings and accessories.

I had planned on having table lamps, probably 2 so I will take on board what you have said about the type and strength of bulbs.

The room is (or rather, was, before the log burner was installed) the coldest room in the house in the winter and the coolest in the summer so you are spot on with your suggestions.

[geekaMaxima]

I know what you mean about things being too "woody" but it's not always the case. It depends on the furniture really, and how many of them are statement pieces in their own right rather than just framing / vehicles for other points of focus like lamps or pictures.

There are some interesting ideas on this site about mixing wood finishes, but the most useful one is probably the buffer - put a rug in between.

The main benefit of wooden floors in north-facing rooms isn't just the colour, but the ability of a polished floor to reflect light where a carpet just soaks it up. So polished wood floors are usually brighter than carpeted rooms. The reflection is also why polished wood floors can make rooms feel larger and higher-ceilinged than matt flooring like fitted carpets. If you've ever been bothered by the room seeming dark or low-ceilinged, then these perks might matter!