Would it be horribly outing to ask for a picture of your lounge?

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I’ve recently moved and mine is just not looking right. My 8 year old summed it up saying it’s just not ‘homely’ enough- whereas the furniture really suited my previous house.

I can summon some cash to throw at it, but not huge amounts, and I have the added bonus of not being able to paint/wallpaper as it’s rented. I’ve tried looking in Instagram and Pinterest, and all the magazines (living etc.) but I would love to see REAL homes, not show homes. So if you please wouldn’t mind, any chance of a picture?

Different rug, more colour, and some nice artwork/wall rugs on the walls. The TV also seems to be in the wrong place, not sure but it just looks out of place. And a bookcase, you can't go wrong with a bookcase to make a room feel more homely.

Mustard sounds a good idea! It all worked in the previous house, I’m still fairly young so it’s all newly (4 years ago) accumulated ‘box’ furniture, I don’t really know how to upgrade! Would a sort of oak tv unit work? this sort of thing

All your furniture is at one height...and quite flat colours.
As others have said get some colour in there, texture if possible and maybe look at something like a book shelf for varying heights

Too much furniture along one wall and it's all too similar in size. Nice TV unit central to your sofa would work wonders.

Pick a bold colour fir curtains rug etc maybe include your daughter to help choose go for them hooks you stick in walls that don't rip paper off and put a canvas up. Coloured vase or ornament around. Hope this helps..

Softer lighting (lamps, fairy lights, uplighters, whatever suits your style).

Something in the corner by the window to break up the straight lines - either a chair or plant or something so it doesn’t look so boxy.

More cushions, rugs or pictures to make it a bit cosier.

The lighting is quite harsh, a table lap and floor lamp will be softer and more cosy. Could you angle the tv unit so everything is not lined up against the wall. A large plant on the floor by the window too. You've got exactly the same room/house as me btw!

Warm colours, nice lighting, some plants. Pictures on the walls.

This is the same furniture in the previous house, it didn’t seem so clinical here. Thanks so much for all the advice so far!

A bigger rug, much bigger.

Either art work or a taller unit that you can put some decorative items in.

A couple of floor lamps.

Longer curtains.

Look on Pinterest for ideas.

You have everything in two lines. So it just looks placed against the walls not thought out.
Don't place every seat to face the TV that makes it look unsociable. Have some chairs pointing in so looks like you're going to talk to each other.
Then add colour and texture through curtains , cushions and accessories.

I think the problem is how linear it is as other posters hVe said. Not only is all the furniture boxy, it’s all similar height and mainly arranged in a straight line next to each other so there’s no real focal point of the room.

I agree with @sashkin, some softer lighting will make all the difference - the light from the ceiling light is really stark. There's nothing you can do to change the ceiling light in a rental, but some floor/tablelamps would make a huge difference
Pictures on the tv wall would be good too, if you're allowed

Could you possibly re-arrange the room?

A big rug with matching curtains & pillows
Possibly a mirror on the wall or a big clock?

You've got a big white empty wall, maybe a mirror over the fire place or a picture. More photos in frames dotted around. Some colour xx

Definitely a different colour scheme, and soft lighting. I think the black and white is a bit clinical. Maybe carpet, or a different rug in soft colours/ patterns.

Maybe it’s the sofa sucking the colour out. So plan of action:

*New cushions on the sofa to tie in with the...
*New rug. Something larger and more of a statement. Thinking big and textural/interesting

• floor length curtains (matching ones for the patio doors? Also should these match the cushions/rug or be plainer, or even a contrasting colour!?) *tv unit, something wooden. Step away from safe flat packs
• softer lighting/lamps and some plants. Would artificial be Ok? I can kill cress

I quite like the oak tv stand link you put up, and its curvy so would break up the boxiness of the other furniture. Agreed with others, larger, colourful rug and matching curtains, throws, cushions etc. Also, if you can’t put stuff on the walls can you use Command Strips? They’re meant to remove cleanly from the wall when you’re done with them, and I think some nice pictures on the wall would help. I would post my living room but honestly it looks shit because it’s full of a baby gym, bouncer chair and jumperoo 😂

And PLANTS!!!!

Can I ask what your budget is?

You have a lot of brown shades. Are there any other colours that you are particularly drawn to?

What do you think about gallery walls? You needn’t spend a lot on pictures. I’ve got printed out photos of local places, places I’ve visited, framed birthday cards that I’ve particularly liked, family photos, close up of feathers, leaves etc and a set of postcards that were part of a calendar of an architect’s buildings I love. The wall of pics is the first thing Your eyes are drawn to when you walk through the door.

Plants, table lighting all bring softness and warmth to a room.

This wall has heaps of picture hooks already up! I’ve been looking at maybe eclectic picture frames with a mixture of sizes, some with prints and some photos.

I like the sound of your plan. Are you within reach of a Home Sense (TKMaxxs homeware store)? They’re great for a huge range of cushions, throws, rugs, artificial plants and accessories.

Here lies my artwork /picture hook wall

Plants and a big picture over the fireplace . And agree, change the rug.

I like the tv unit you’ve linked to personally, I have to admit I much prefer it to what you have at the moment, I don’t like the boxy things much.

I think it's the ceiling? Can you either change the light fitting (not sure what you can do if renting) or stop using "big light" and just put a couple of lamps around the room. Yellow bulbs not white x