help me with my living room (pictures included)

[Aoifebell]

I hate it. I'm lost. I don't know what to do with it. It needs new flooring and a sofa which I can't afford right now so have to work around them. The green fabric was put up for a party but I sort of liked it so kept it up now I dislike it however I dislike the black and red floral wallpaper that's underneath even more!

What should I do with it? Really arrange? Colour schemes? Any help is greatly appreciated. I can't do anything strucural but can put shelves up etc

I would LOVE new doors but no idea where to start with that one...

P.s it's horrendous I know

It's not awful at all. It seems quite dark, and quite small, but there isn't anything else wrong with it.

I like your Ikea things. I would probably take down the fabric and paint the wall after taking off the wallpaper. You could even paint it that green, it's nice

The orangey table is a bit ugly and the sofa is a dark colour, which doesn't help, also is the sofa a bit too big?

Do you need all the seating? If so could you drape some bright blankets over it?

The floor looks fine, the door (pink?)is funky

Change the lampshade for a paper globe in white; that should help too.

I think it has a lot of potential.

Oh and could you maybe wall mount the TV?

Personally I'd get rid of the green fabric, regardless of the wallpaper. It gives the room a kind of make-shift, partitioned feel to it. A rug would be a good addition and would make it a but cosier-looking.

I think a large mirror opposite the window or above the tv to bring more light into the room. I like the sofa. A large rug and some cushions in the same shades. Maybe pick out that shade in lighter tone for some paint. I would like to add some pictures and largish family photos to personalise the room. I like the material on the wall.

The doors white well it was but 5 years later it's turned beige!

Agree with sofa it's too big but can't get a new one yet desperately want a two or even three seater, and the walls are plasterboard so can't wall mount tv which is annoying.

It's a long room so the sofa sort of divides it into living and "dining" room (I use that term loosely!)

I like the lampshade idea! I hate the ones that are up now. My hallway is the same green so thought it may be too much? Also my kitchen is pink so makes it harder to get a good colour scheme that flows

I have a dog and toddler. Maybe a low pile rug would works.

It needs a more homely feel I agree

Is a mirror above the tv not a bit busy?

It's really not that bad!
I'd take down the fabric (maybe make some cushion covers out if it if you're feeling crafty, it is a nice colour), strip the wallpaper behind it if you don't like it and repaint. Get a big rug until you can afford to get the flooring done, put a throw and/or bright cushions on the sofa, and the light needs a bigger shade, in a light colour. I personally think that the drop-leaf table is a bit dated; go on gumtree or ebay to flog it on and get something nicer, in light wood. It just needs more light an colour in the room, as it's a small room with a small window.

It's all easily and fairly inexpensively done, though.

It's not bad, it's just that nothing seems to fit together. I agreewith other get rid of the curtain. Look up on pinterest or google image for different styles of living rooms, pic one that fits with your kitchen and the style of your house. It's tough some times because you might find things you like, but they haveto blend together.

If you like your pink kitchen, it fit right in the fifties so you could look up what was in during that decade.

Oh just found something in the fifties scandinavian was in that would be nice
withyour pink kitchen
www.google.ca/search?q=scandinavian+fifties&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRp_6mqa_JAhVGMz4KHUvmBpAQsAQIHA&biw=1525&bih=736&dpr=0.9#imgrc=_ look at the colors

article about the decade blog.retroplanet.com/1950s-decorating-style/

It's not terrible, just a bit incoherent. You need some sort of a colourscheme.

Here's what I'd do:

1. Find a nice rug you really like, something with a bit of a pattern.
2. Take down the wall fabric, which is a bit oppressive, and strip the wallpaper if possible. Pick out one of the colours from the rug and paint that bit of wall in that shade.
3. Get a few new cushions and a light shade in a colour that's also in the rug. Everything will tie together without looking too matchy-matchy.

Do you use the door (other than for hanging stuff off )? If you removed the door completely I think it'd feel a lot bigger.

The fabric makes it look a bit dingy I think, it's too much like curtains. You could use the fabric to make some curtains for the actual window, however, which always makes a room look cosier.

You could 'update' the table by sanding down and waxing the top and painting the legs cream. Or just throw a tablecloth over it (something like this maybe - or use your wall fabric)!

A vase of flowers, bowl of fruit or houseplant on top of that (and the sideboard under the window) gives a bit of a focal point. An oversized clock on the wall that the door currently opens onto might be nice.

I would take the wallpaper down and go over all the walls with white.
Lampshade: change it for a paper white one.
The orange table: just paint it white!
I would put a plant or two on the chest of drawers (I know you have a toddler. She can help water them).

I think it is fine but has still more potential. I agree with paining the table a light colour. The best colour to work with pink from the kitchen, brown sofas and your flooring is a light soft green (more cooking apple than the one you have). Why not think of painting it where the fabric is and change the cushion covers?

Paint the table with cheap value white paint, sand it a bit and varnish.
Take down the green curtain and use the value white paint to paint over the wall paper. Use the green for curtains/cushions etc. Mirror can go on the newly painted white wall

Have a look at ikea ektorp sofa, cheapest is £200 plus £25 for the cover, fab sofa and washable cover. 2 seater can sit 3 cosily

Or can move the room so living room but is nearer the kitchen, with table near the entrance, using sofa with back to kitchen?

Change the light fitting to something neutral . Paper shades are nice.

Take down the fabric and put up a photo collage feature wall.

Sheepskin rug in front of TV

Mix & match colours & sizes of cushions for sofa .

Do you use the drop leaf table ??

There are lots of big blocks of colour - the green wall, the brown sofa, the floorboards, the white walls. It needs something to soften it.

Take the fabric down and paint over the wallpaper, white or very light greeny-white to compliment with the fabric colour.
Use the fabric to cover the settee cushions, it looks like you would have sufficient fabric to do that. Then cover the cushions in toning fabric or white.
Paint the table white/cream or the same as the wall, rub down and varnish.
A rug on the floor to tone in with the green and white theme and a new white lampshade.
Agree with large mirror on the newly painted wall maximise the light, or one or two large canvases (the Works?) painted in abstract swirls of wall colour and toning green paint.

I'm no help but didn't want to read and run.

I really like your loving room as it is, I would bung a rug down. .. Then I'd play catch with the dog and watch him skid on it.

Like I said, no help.

It feels quite stark and cold. My ideas would be:

1. Take that material down. Strip wallpaper underneath.
2. Find a rug you like in warm colours.
3. Pick up in colours in rug for paint for walk behind sofa and curtains, to tie it all in together
4. Get rid of blind at window
5. New lampshade

Job's a good 'un!

Are those white units below the window built-in or moveable? Is it possible to paint them a darker, warmer color?

I would move the sofa to where the TV is, so it's not facing a door. That's uncomfortable, psychologically.

Remove the door if possible and put the little table near it. Can you paint the table? chalk paint, etc. -- shabby chic? Or black for a more sleek and modern looks?

Use wall fabric to make a slipcover for couch?

Agree that a rug would make the room more cozy, and get rid of the mini-blinds at window.

Defo take the fabric down, it dominates the room!
Paint the walls
New rug, make it more warmer
New cushions
Tv on wall bracket

What's behind the green fabric, is it a wall or window?

I would depending on how much storage you need, have a white shelving system put in with a space for the TV, where the sofa is currently.
Put the sofa on the wall with the door. I know you can't replace it at the moment, but how about a sofa cover, inexpensive and you can wash it easily. Maybe go for grey or white, or even emerald green/ pink sofa? To tie in with the kitchen and hallway use a mix of white, green, pink cushions, different patterns etc.

Above the sofa you could have a mirror or a painting, something metallic silver,neutral print.
Replace Lampshade with a white lampshade or a chandelier. Have a few more lamps dotted around ,tall ones, short ones etc.
Cosy rug
Curtains in a mint green/pink colour with a layer of chiffon,gauzy curtains underneath, reflects more light.

Maybe have an armchair or seat where the white drawers are, a potted plant - reading corner or play area?

Paint the brown table white/cream, paint the walls an off white pink or green or cream.

I would replace the white furniture with a warm wooden piece.
Change the curtains to cream
Cream rug
cream shades of cushions
new light shade

I think it's the dark brown sofa, we have the same trouble, dark brown is quite dominating....

I love all the ideas already mentioned.

I'd definitely take the fabric down, remove the wallpaper and repaint that long wall. At least it's only one area . I think you're on the right track with the colour, but paler. I'd also be tempted to paint the wall behind the door (adjacent to the drawers) the same shade, but you can judge better once the long wall is transformed! That should make a big difference instantly.

I like the idea putting the sofa against the current tv wall, to face the (old) fabric wall. Would this work? You could then put some chunky frames or canvases above it (the plasterboard should support? Google for advice!).

Can you lightly sand and satin gloss the door in white? I know that would bug me every time I looked at it and it's a relatively quick job (just keep the dog and toddler contained!) Add a new handle if the existing one is dated. If you want to change the style of door I'm sure it can't be too hard, I'm intrigued to find out in a minute. Is the current one really plain/ ugly and not worth rejuvenating?

Love the idea of a new white globe lampshade and rubbing down and repainting the table (white). I'm not sure there's space for it on the tv wall if the sofa is going there, maybe against the newly painted wall, opposite the door. Top with a plant, framed photo and table lamp

If that looks odd then keep it at the kitchen end, just add a tablecloth (oilcloth? pale green/pink?) if you don't get around to painting it. I think Dunelm have a selection or you can buy it off the roll in the fabric dept.

I don't know if they're considered naff but I love having a small nest of tables (contemporary) at the end of the sofa. Somewhere to put your drink and useful to get out for visitors and children. I prefer these to a large coffee table (aka dumping ground) in compact lounges.

Agree with extra lamps (even just one table lamp and one floor lamp) to tie in and create cosiness, large patterned rug (hides marks better), curtains, large clock behind the door (I like the Ikea Skovel in two sizes/ colours. I saw similar in Asda the other week).

PP mentioned moving the tv to the newly painted wall and possibly a new white tv stand. Or paint the existing one?

Is there a substantial gap remaining between the (new) tv position and the window? Would there be space for the table (mentioned above) with a large framed mirror above it? Worth checking eBay ('local collection only') for mirrors, I've had some absolute bargains.

I'd be tempted to paint the drawer fronts (or even the whole unit) but I'm not sure what colour? Pale pink? Something else?? I'm not keen on the expanse of white at that end of the room but it might be improved when the door is freshened up and the wall behind the door painted pale green to break it up a bit. Add some two-tone curtains to tie in with the rug?

It seems a shame to waste the fabric from the wall. Maybe sofa covers are the way to go, or spare decorative cushion covers. Could you use it elsewhere in the house for curtains or soft furnishings (!)

You'll have to post some updated photos