How to improve my living room (with pic)

[Interiordesign]

What would you do to make this living room a bit more cosy/colourful and less ‘wood’? I feel like it needs a mirror but more wood or just glass would look a bit severe.

Please note I have small kids so big ornaments etc not practical! Would need to be things they can’t reach/destroy. Please ignore the mess, it’s been an indoor play kind of day. Bonus points for anyone who links to specific items as I have zero power of imagination when people describe things.

Thanks in advance!

An antique type Persian rug of some sort. Ruggable have loads and are washable and fairly cheap.

Get rid of the overhead light or simply don’t use it.

Textured throw on the sofa, sheepskin or something.

Get rid of the brown cushions. Oka do gorgeous cushions with fringes and their sales are good.

Coffee table, something simple. An oak type top would work if you put a rug down first.

Plants.

Big pictures on the wall, at least one.

I got Chat GPT last night and uploaded a few pics with rugs I like. Which suits best would you say?

Taken on board comments re mirror just reflecting what’s there, so I think some gallery photos on the back wall (appreciate they’re a bit corny now but think they would look nice). Plus a big tall green plant next to the floor lamp - hoping a tall planter half filled will stop youngest DS from sticking his hands in!

I prefer rug no 3

With respect, OP that just won’t work 🤦🏼‍♀️

I like the first one.

I’d get a large picture in colours you like. Pick 3 colours from it for cushions, and get a rug in one of the three colours (can be a lighter or darker shade of it but the same tone).

All the rugs are nice, I think the 3rd one looks the cosiest as it's warmer colours.

Rug, pictures, plants, mirror and coffee table. A few baskets always works wonders. That overhead light (it’s stark white) looks awful. Do soften it with a rattan lampshade and soft white bulb. Throws and cushions on the sofa. Go for texture - makes all the difference.

Change out the cushion covers, add throws. Put up large piece of art on one wall and gallery of smaller pieces and photos on the other. And get curtains asap.

Not the blue/grey rug. You need warm colours in there.

I have a completely brown living room dining room, timber-lined walls and timber floors - it's the original design, going for a mid-century modern look in 1980! It's relieved by one entire long wall being floor to ceiling windows.
My walls are coved in art work and lined with bookcases.

Back to the OP. Bin off all the cool colours and go for vivid warm. No white, always creamy shades. That greyish rug is also a stain magnet.
Position the sofas onto the rugs slightly to convey an idea of more space.
Definitely art work and go big.
Move the TV out of the window.
Are those wooden blinds? Definitely curtains needed.

I agree on a warmer colour rug, not the grey.

I love your flooring! I read somewhere when it comes to decor, the key things that make a room cosy is having C.R.A.P. Ie: Curtains, Rug, Art, Plants.

I think going with the colour of the floor a red or warm toned square or circular rug, maybe persian in style, would look nice there, maybe with a low square coffee table, say jaipur style.

Hi OP, I can safely say that I’ve not got a creative bone in my body. But my house is now in need of a refresh and makeover. Chat gpt has been a game changer. It’s like having a personal designer on tap. Be warned though, it’s compulsive 😃. I only wanted suggestions on one room and now I’ve gone round everywhere. Have fun!

Another ChatGPT option ☺️

I agree with a warmer colour rug. Whatever rug you go with, it needs to go under all sofa legs.

Art on the walls!

Agree with the pps about changing the lampshade - that will make a big difference, as will table lamps.

Next has some really inexpensive ones

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su665305/956003?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=9262941997&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UWa0B_z6LMtLkhISzFzaB4AJ&gclid=CjwKCAiAkvDMBhBMEiwAnUA9BTbcHjGxmmOQoWdSijOPwJey_RVUCsCuEzK6j8OyC0CLyngK370A9xoCCxMQAvD_BwE

Paint the walls something less neutral - a Farrow and Ball Green grey perhaps. Definitely artwork- decent posters framed are better than crap stuff from Imea etc that’s very generic. Change the colour of the cushions- they’re very drab. Bookshelf with lots of books and a rug. It just looks very impersonal at the moment. Decent lamps.

I’ve recently bought a rag rug from Amazon. Really colourful and not expensive- it really warms the room up. Also a coffee table.

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This is so nice. OP copy this!

replace the wooden blinds, artwork on walls, coloured rug with cushions possibly patterned to match. Nice standing lamp

It’s actually a lovely space — it just feels very neutral at the moment. I wouldn’t add more wood or glass either. I think what it’s missing is softness and a bit of colour.
A large rug would make the biggest difference straight away, maybe something with subtle colour (rust, muted blue, or even a warm pattern) to break up all the brown tones. Bigger cushions in mixed textures would help too — maybe one or two in a brighter shade so it doesn’t feel so uniform.
For the wall, instead of a plain mirror, what about a large piece of art with some colour in it? It would warm the room up without adding clutter. You could also add some wall-mounted shelves higher up so they’re out of reach of little hands.
It doesn’t need loads — just a few softer layers and a pop of colour and it’ll feel much cosier.