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Original poster

I need some inspiration - would anyone like to show me their living room?

92 replies

Echo2 · 14/08/2018 16:00

I’m sitting here staring at my boring magnolia walls wondering what I can do to jazz things up a bit. I’m on a tight budget so no point flicking through the glossy magazines, I’m interested in ordinary people & ordinary homes.
TIA.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Mytimenow · 14/08/2018 20:00

I’m ready for a redecoration now, this was last done 7 year’s ago. No idea what colours though.

I need some inspiration - would anyone like to show me their living room?

MissSueFlay · 14/08/2018 20:00

It's easy to get a bit scared of using colour, but there are some gorgeous warm neutrals out there - look at F&B Instagram for inspiring paint selections and combos (and then look at the Dulux Heritage range and get their version!)
Personally I find white plus a colour, any colour, quite stark and cold. Having a warm neutral tone on all four walls can really bring the room together as well, more enveloping - it depends what you're after really.

rosieposey · 14/08/2018 20:03

This was taken just about a month after we moved in on Valentine's Day. I adore the view and can see my horses all the time which makes me very happy.

I miss having a fireplace though and those windows that make for an amazing view make that room unbearably hot in the summer ... rather bland furnishings but I like to think the view makes up for it and I don't think the room is big enough to put much on the way of colour in the walls.

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Home improvement

longtompot · 14/08/2018 20:03

OP, if it were my room I would get floor length curtans, buy a bigger mirror and hang it on the wall a few inches above the fire surround. I would also get some plants in there. Can you move the clock to a different wall? It just looks a little odd where it is. Maybe a different rug. Apart from that, it has the startings of a lovely room. I am very green about your fireplace

MissSueFlay · 14/08/2018 20:07

Agree with GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat (there's a sentence I never thought I'd say!) about your picture rail. It's a beautiful feature so two-tone the walls with an off-white above it.
I would ditch the curtains for some white colonial shutters too, they look nice in bay windows.

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 14/08/2018 20:09

I can't see Orangreen or rosieposey's pics!

Here's mine in progress, waiting on some frames to put posters in, another big plant and a possible sofa/sideboard switch around The Kallax has been parked there temporarily while I figure out what to do!

I love my picture rail!

Original poster

Echo2 · 14/08/2018 20:11

Oh thank you for all these great tips, I think I’m just a bit scared to experiment with colour for some reason, but I will definitely give it a go. I agree about the curtains too, they are too thin.
GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat. My ceiling light is from Laura Ashley. It’s a good 4 years old mind.

OP posts:

Redsharks · 14/08/2018 20:14

I love your living room- think I'd paint the fire place wall to accent the room, I love it when this is done in a grey, and then add a feature mirror above. I'd then find some curtains to add some colour and a few colours as accent cushions. You could spend less than a £100 but perhaps change up the feel of the room. Alternatively, a lovely rug to add some colour.

I'd photograph mine but it's a bomb at the moment as I'm decorating and I don't have an old picture!! Lovely snooping at yours though🙈🙈

Redsharks · 14/08/2018 20:15

I mean only the cove paint, or perhaps the wall as you have a high dado rail- ultra jealous of that classic feature😩😩😩

Redsharks · 14/08/2018 20:16

Me again! Is the high rail what people call a picture rail? Bloody learn something new everyday🙈 clearly been living under a rock

gettingtherequickly · 14/08/2018 20:16

Echo if you are scared of colour take a PP photo as inspiration. The fireplace is a deep red, but the rest of the wall under the picture frame is a medium tone neutral.

You could update by using a teal rather than the rich red, but I'd stay away from something quite as bright as garethsouthgateswaitcoat if you're nervous of colour.

gettingtherequickly · 14/08/2018 20:18

It was mytimenow room, beautiful and subtle.

Forgottencoffee · 14/08/2018 20:19

@Echo2 are you on instagram? Check out vikkisvintagelife for some inspo. She has a similar room & fireplace to yours

gettingtherequickly · 14/08/2018 20:20

Just for the chimney breast up to the picture rail.

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 14/08/2018 20:21

It's lovely! I'm off to browse their lighting as I need something new in my bedroom.

I'm in the minority as I don't like full length curtains unless they're on French doors etc. I see you have a radiator under the window - all the heat will get trapped behind them in the winter! I say stick with the length you've got

Is the ceiling white or cream? If it's white you could paint the bit above the picture rail white as well. If it's cream paint the wall beneath a different colour. I quite like the neutral walls as they are but equally there's so much paint choice out there 😁

The Dulux and Crown (and Valspar maybe?) apps let you take a photo of your room and virtually apply different colours to the walls! It's not perfect and they don't have every colour in the app but it gives a good impression of the finished result.

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 14/08/2018 20:24

Agree Echo2, I'm not usually as daring with colour!

OnlyTheDepthVaries · 14/08/2018 20:30

Here's mine! Decorated about 3 months ago. Still needs some pictures and the blinds hung up. Looks better with the lamps on rather than the main light I think.

Frizzbeol · 14/08/2018 20:42

Here is a picture of my fireplace wall painted in Dulux Denim Drift. Lovely grey blue. I painted it after i bought a new beige sofa to go with the walls and carpet. I think it would look nice in your room op.

rosieposey · 14/08/2018 21:00

I'll try and put them up again?

Welshcake77 · 14/08/2018 21:09

That’s lovely rosieposey looks so cosy and stunning views!

@GarethSouthcoatsWaistcoat our lamp is from NV Gallery, we also have this one from there in the dining room. I found quite a few nice lamps on Wayfair if you haven’t looked there yet.

Charley50 · 14/08/2018 21:11

If you're scared of colour on the walls try colourful rugs (yours seems a bit too small for the room btw) or curtains. I've got floor length cerise pick curtains in my living room, which has a slightly retro 70's feel. I love them. They were just cheap beige curtains from ikea that I dyed pink.

Personally I like rooms to kind of 'grow' organically, with nick nacks and art and cushions that I've collected over the years.

A funky/ elegant mirror over the fireplace would look nice.

Bezm · 14/08/2018 21:21

Here's mine, putty/stone coloured walls, grey/stone carpet, mango wood storage furniture, cream wooden blind and red leather sofa and chair. I love it!