What can I do with this room?!

[happy97]

I'm really struggling, have just moved in and really want to make the living room cosy. But I'm struggling with the lack of.a focal point/mantelpiece etc. It just looks very bland and I can't see a solution yet!!

[Imicola]

A big plant, colourful art work in the wall, and possibly also a more closed type of TV unit might help?

[happy97]

@Imicola I'm planning on buying a bigger cupboard/sideboard for tv etc. But it just feels soulless!

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Some art on the main wall, new cabinet, some plants and you should be OK! Lovely fire by the way. We moved into our house as first time buyers last December and the house felt awful for ages. We've only just finished decorating. It was very sad! Get some lights up etc and you should feel a bit more homely for Christmas xx

[Lololololola]

Is the ceiling much higher past the sloped bit?
From the photo, I would be inclined to lose the magnolia (if it is) as it looks too clinical for the fireplace. Is the house old or newish? It looks like it needs a warmer colour on the wall, a mantel shelf. Maybe great wallpaper to mask the chimney - you couldnt do a mirror or picture but it needs something to detract from the pipe I think.

[happy97]

@Lololololola It isn't a slope! Just the angle I took it at. There is about a 3 inch lip to the ceiling by the door.

Normally I get a feel of what to do to a room but I can't get it here...early days though! Plus I love symmetry which doesn't help!

[Fatted]

The big fire in the middle doesn't help really! Can it go?!

Can you paint? If so try a different colour. If not, add colour with pictures, curtains and ornaments etc.

My house is all white walls everywhere. I can't paint it so I'm struggling to find ways to make it less clinical. I do love a good picture and flowers.

[8paws8legs]

Could you build a false fire place and chimney breast around it with a nice railway sleeper hearth? Maybe a warm lilac on the walls and a unit for your tv in similar tones as the hearth and perhaps carpet its more cosy than wooden floors x

[ShellieEllie]

Wallpaper that one wall perhaps

[Letthemysterybe]

Maybe paint a ‘fake chimney breast’ behind the fireplace? ie a vertical strip of colour.

[ewwsweatyunderboob]

I think you need to make more of a feature of the fire but I don’t know how without losing loads of space

[DropZoneOne]

I'd build a false chimney breast / foreplace for the wood burner too - your eyes need to be drawn to the fire rather than the black pipe.

[Annasgirl]

I would build a false chimney breast too - with an old mantle made of reclaimed wood (maybe railway sleeper?). Look on Pinterest and search character woodburner room - you need to make it into the type of thing you see on Escape to the Country.

[kulaexchange]

Yes to fireplace. Also, I bet some coving would make it look a bit more cosy.

[Grasspigeons]

If you cant stretch to building a false chimney/mantle, i agree that a verticle stripe of colour would help detract from the flue. I think i'd go with a darkish colour.

[DaphneduM]

Ladder shelving either side of the fire maybe? You can add lots of interest with putting books, pictures, plants, photos on them.

[happy97]

Thank you everyone...I hadn't thought of wallpaper on the focal wall. I've ordered an oak sideboard to put the tv on. Maybe some floating shelves? I normally know what to do but I'm finding this room very uninspiring!

[FloreanFortescue]

I'd do a nice feature colour - navy/red/green on that wall. Definitely a plant, lovely log basket. Hearth rug.

[ToiletsRUp]

We had the pipe through the wall also and so built a fake chimney breast around it, we are really pleased with it. My brother did a slate tilled wall behind his and that looked good too.

[NigellaAwesome]

I'd do a slate tiled section behind the fire, and then built in shelving / cupboards either side. So a bit like reverse alcoves.

[happy97]

I think I need to build a chimney breast. I do like the idea of a slate wall behind the fire too, a bit like the attached picture.

But a chimney breast gives a focal point which I crave!

[TheWildRumpyPumpus]

You could tile behind the fire if you don’t want to go to the lengths of building a false chimney breast.

[happy97]

@TheWildRumpyPumpus That looks so good! And I love the green too.

[PrimalLass]

I'd be tempted to do something like floor to ceiling shelving along that wall, with logs either side of the fire.

[PrimalLass]

Like this but without the fireplace

[PickAChew]

Rather than furniture, baskets and rubbish scattered across, you need some furniture with height.