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?

I think it's the fireplace - we also have a modern fireplace which I hate as no mantle piece and just makes our lounge a bit cold - it's on my massive to do list for our house and I think getting a proper, traditional fireplace really makes a lounge feel homely and cosy.

I love that the men on your tv screen are having a think for you, they're like 'hmmmm'!
Like others, I agree with turning off your 'big light' and get some lamps around the place. Create some height in the room, those ladder type shelving units are a brilliant feature to have as they are: cheap, narrow so don't take up much room, add height and interest and you can stack some books, decorations in tones of a feature colour you decide on and add another lamp and maybe a plant.
I'd put some shelves up to balance draw the eye up as well.
Lick of paint.
A big, fuck off rug.
Less cubes
Definitely a coffee table.

Oh, and the wall art (if you must keep them), just needs better placement and straightening up.
Consider a panel to separate the rooms into separate areas.

First stop - get rid of the ceiling light and exchange for table lamps. This will immediately change the overall atmosphere. I hate ceiling lights as they suit very few homes. Otherwise, I would say everything is too square and straight and colourless. Move things around - arrange at an angle, etc. Flowers/plants to soften.

More than anything you need different heights. And gaps between pieces. And angles rather than being lined up.

I'd angle a tv unit diagonally on the other side of the fireplace by the window and I'd turn one of the kallax units on its side to make it high and put it to the right of the walkway into the next room.- So next to the space iyswim, not on the main wall.
Long curtains, a textured rug and different textured cushions and different height ornaments/vases. Not too many and one group of three. Things need to be grouped in odd numbers to work.

@BeneathTheMist thanks, new house is not anywhere near as lovely and it's slow progress at the moment.

Struggling to find decent photos and we hace loads of bedroom stuff piled up in the lounge at the moment due to doing the flooring upstairs which halted when I broke my ankle.

Anyway OP having seen the seating area the sofa would be better pulled out of that slot somehow, not sure if the room is big enough but I like the drawn picture, or you could try it in front of your window.

Would the rooms work swapping the lounge with the dining room even?

Agree with suggestions from PP that you need a bigger brighter rug, plants and more height in your furniture.

I would choose a colour from a new rug (for example) and choose curtains, cushions accessories in different shades of that colour. You need different textures too. Don't over-accessorise and don't mistake a cluttered look for homely.

Oh and the most important thing is the lighting.

I know this is probably unhelpful but....you don't wanna see mine.....(No 3 uses it like a bedsit - darent show you D'S' bedroom - think Floordrobe).x

It's all too pushed together on one wall. Too much samey stuff.
Mine is mental though. Why can you not paint? I asked my landlord and despite his agent saying no he said yes straight away and told me to make it "home"
I think you need to get rid of one of the cube units and rug, add some colour and depth to it and some pictures too. It's just bland.

@Downunderduchess can I ask where your table is from?

You can make it lovely, you need some lamps / fairy lights / candles and some comfy blankets and cushions- Home Sense (TKMaxx) have some great options that don't break the bank.

I’d ditch the curtain and get a blind to create the illusion of space you need to keep it light but you do need colour.
I would go with white walls for space but add some big bright artwork to tie in with your lovely sofa.

Everything that I can see is at one (low) level. Even a ‘billy bookcase’, always on freecycle, would add height and interest. And then books. Books always add interest and the home factor.

If you can afford it i'd have the ceiling skimmed smooth and spotlights put in. Agree with everyone else plants, lamp, pictures on wall, new curtains cushion etc

Just reread you are renting so skimming ceiling probably not an option

I agree with others floor length curtains maybe in red or teal or yellow or something. Maybe change the rug to match and add some pillows. Also if you could maybe try and jiggle the furniture around a bit so that it doesn't look like two straight lines of furniture that might make a difference but also harder to do in a long narrow room

Christmassy one I had moved sofa. When we bought our house we had lived in Army Quarters for 20 years. I wanted something bright and different. Still love it four years later

Definitely all too square. Try a cheap and cheerful circular or oval rug. break up the boxy look of everything. A wee round table or best of tables. A nice lamp that casts a warm glow. Just my thoughts. I’m sure others can give better advice.

you need art on the walls and some colour, it's too dull.

This is ours

I reckon the art you have doesn't go very well, and is too small

Hi OP! I studied interior design for the love of it and have decorated our snug and lounge quite differently (and not to everyone’s taste). I would suggest different sized plants, mirrors, artwork and introduce patterns using your colour palette (you can go crazy on patterns as long as you stick to around 3-4 colours in your palette). I’d also get a couple of lamps, floor standing and tabletop. Feel free to message me. x

I actually quite like it but plants, flowers and a splash of colour would work well. A few family photos on display might be nice or a picture on the wall if you have picture hooks anywhere.

We have the same rug as you in one of our rooms. The cat sleeps on it and completely disappears from sight as she is the same colours and camouflages in. 😂