What would you do with this room?

[bluebeardswife7]

I am about to move into a rental. All the other rooms are boxy, big windows, magnolia. All good, I can work with that. Living room is a total curveball. Massive brick chimney, black beams everywhere lumpy white walls. It is about three horse brasses short of an old boozer. I need this house, it is where I want it and I can afford it. But what do I do with the living room? I feel like I should lean in to the features, especially as I am renting so can't make any major changes. I have a bit of money for sofa and soft furnishings, but not much. Anyone feeling up to a challenge?

Some pictures

I'd try and hide as much of the fireplace as possible, get some massive leafy pot plants, stand some pictures up in front of it, maybe a basket with colourful throw in it.
Check out B&M, Aldi, Primark etc for cheap and cheerful homeware.

billyoh.com/mid-size-electric-heater/33976
What if you use electric fireplace where the fireplace space is? Or even some lights that don't produce heat but give fireplace effect?

The heater would be a fab addition. Any ideas on colour? I am leaning towards jewel tones at the moment

Please put giant googly eyes in the two squares about the fire.

• above the fire. On app and no edit feature 🙄

I'd go for neutral tones to try and make it less severe.

I'd get battery operated long fairy lights all over the beams, that's that sorted. I'd put small art works in the black 'dookit' bits on chimney and put a few adhesive hooks up the bricks to hang dried herbs etc off.

I would put some kind of boarding above the mantle piece to hide the bricks, paint it the same colour as the wall and bung a picture or a mirror on it.

I'd get some pretty self adhesive tiles for the black back of the fireplace and the hearth, and then buy an electric fake wood burner to put in the fireplace itself, so you'd get a nice glow and some heat when required.
I would cover the black surfaces with some kind of peel and stick or just paper, in a more neutral colour.

I would repaint the walls, if permitted. That stark white is not my favourite colour. Anything, from rich cream, the right pale pink, or going darker like an old gold, would be an improvement.
Although, having just seen you update re jewel colours, and if it were me, I'd go much darker. But I like moody and dark academia…

Again, if permitted, a colour wash over the beams, to neutralise the black a bit.

Are you allowed to paint the beams? Our house was also like a naff pub (even though all features original). We painted the dark beams in a pale chalk paint and had some of the fireplace plastered so it wasn’t quite so ‘bricky’.

Embrace the black beams. Try this colour scheme?

@Mac99

thats lovely.

@bluebeardswife7

id love that. I'd ask the LL what they're happy for you to do. I'd go with either a bright white as above, or a lovely pale sage or dark blue depending on the light.

id put a log burner in if permitted & not TOO expensive considering you're renting if I couldn't I'd put in logs & fairy lights.

The cream is very pretty, but I think I like the dark academia idea more. There is a lovely light room off the kitchen that I will use more in summer. I think I would like something a bit cosier and dramatic.

Well it's going to eat you in your sleep so you won't have to worry about it for long

I shall sacrifice my first born on the hearth and have many happy years there.

I would put some kind of boarding above the mantle piece to hide the bricks, paint it the same colour as the wall and bung a picture or a mirror on it.

This is a great idea. Temporary and effective.

I am having a splendid time googling dark academia homes. Will pop up some pictures when I am in.