What would you do with this living room? (with pictures)

[NormaLouiseBates]

I really don't like our living room. It just doesn't feel cosy or homely you know? I'm at a bit of a loss as to what I could do with it. My budget is pretty much nothing lol but I'd love to hear people's ideas on what they would do with it. I know these photos are pretty outing but never mind! If you recognise me/the house/the dog just give me a wave! I've name changed anyway just in case I've said anything controversial previously

A few points to note:
We rent, so any major changes aren't really an option (like flooring, fireplace etc)
The sofa needs replacing badly (I know it's pretty ugly, I reckon it's the worst thing about the room) but we can't afford it at the moment. It's definitely top of my list though. It's knackered too, the chair in H's PC corner is stuck on 'open', it won't close anymore!
Speaking of H's PC corner... can't move that unfortunately (it's a bit of an eye sore I know) as he works from home some evenings and I've commandeered the only other room downstairs for an office/study as I work from home permanently.
We can't open the blinds at the window as the dog is an arsehole and barks at everyfuckingthing outside if he can see out. So the room does sometimes seem pretty dark and gloomy
Cushions on the sofa aren't really an option as the arsehole dog humps them
The huge rug/mat thing at the patio door needs to stay as it's a special dog mat thing that soaks up wet paw prints.

Think that's about it! I'm open to all other suggestions/ideas... especially the ones along the lines of soft furnishings, accessories etc...

Just realised I can only post 3 photos at a time, so I'll put 2 on this one and 2 on the next post.

The sofa & arm chairs will be expensive to replace but would make a massive difference. But in the meantime a rug, some scatter cushions to co-ordinate with the rug and low level lighting. If you only use an overhead light a room never feels cosy. So a standard lamp in the corner or a lamp on the sideboard. Lighting can work miracles to a room.

Hi, I would have a move around if furniture to see where it feels best, also create your own art work to go on the walls even if you end up melting wax crayons on to the canvas!! Lol! Also to make it more cozy definitely get a couple of sofa throws it's going to be a pain having to make them all the time so use some sticky velcro pads!!! That way you can still wash them and don't have to remake every 5 mins! And the biggest cozy maker fairy lights!! Either in glass vases or bottles or just hang them!! Go for warm ones rather than bright LEDs!! Get a few sets from places like poundstretcher don't brake the bank and look lovely especially with the dark evenings drawing in now! Hope this helps!

I would put the bookcases either side of the chimney breast, sofa under the window and both armchairs opposite the sofa. Large rug in the middle and keep the dog bed where it is. TV and unit on the wall opposite the fireplace. Move sideboard to the middle of the wall that your bookcases are currently on and bring your dining table out more to the middle of the dining room floor - extend the table, if possible. Add plants, candles, etc to the top of the sideboard. Depending on whether your husband wants an "official" office I would put a ladder type work station against the wall where you currently have your dining table - they are available everywhere from Argos to Next to suit your budget. You could either put a mirror or large piece of wall art above the sideboard and possibly turn the wall above the radiator in the dining room into a feature wall using all your picture frames. Pinterest, etc is usually good for coming up with formation ideas for the frames - they are also fairly cheap to replace if you want them to match each other.

I think you have too much Argos shiny laminate furniture and brown leather sofas are never going to look nice, the combination of the two just makes it look very soul less.

I think the fireplace is actually ok even though it's not to my taste, and I don't see what's so bad about the mirror either.

If I were you I would make new sofas a priority and then take it from there. They would transform the room.

You’ve got lots of straight lines going on - a couple of biggish plants would make a difference.

Change the curtains to a solid colour (no texture) and put a light brown carpet possibly.

Thanks again for all the ideas and suggestions.

New sofa & chairs are definitely a priority... hopefully by the end of the year we hope.

I've replaced the mirror with one with a light wooden frame and I think it looks nicer. I'm thinking of moving the big floor lamp to the patio doors end and getting a nice table lamp for the sideboard along with some sort of plant/flowers to go on there. I'm going to take down all the pictures and photos and work out how to display them better. Pinterest is being very helpful with this!

New curtains is definitely a good idea but I won't be putting a carpet down. The floor is nice and carpet would not be practical with the dog and the fact that the patio doors are out onto the garden which gets very bog like when it rains!

Get rid of the dog. Most of your furniture limitations seem centred around him - cushions, mat, curtains etc.

@Heratnumber7 aren't you an unpleasant one? Why would you say that? FYI the mat is perfectly fine at the patio doors, having no cushions is hardly a life changer and where the fuck did you get any curtain problems from?

Calm down Norma

Not everyone is a dog lover. I have 7 of them and a litter of 8 at the moment but our living room is a pet free zone. They have their own room as do all the cats

@furandchandeliers absolutely I get that, of course I do. I don't expect anyone else, let alone everyone, to have any affection towards my dog but that comment was utterly uncalled for. It wasn't even like "perhaps keep the dog out of the room" or similar. It was "get rid of the dog" which was rude and unnecessary. So I feel perfectly justified in my rude reply.

Your new furniture it lovely..but I think the tv unit is wrong, It would be better if it was a 'corner' unit. Sorry

No need to apologise @Sisgal, all constructive criticism and opinions welcome! I know it doesn't look right there; we did think about a corner one but it still would have had to have been pulled out (so wouldn't have sat in the actual corner) as otherwise H wouldn't have been able to see the telly from his chair! I think an entire re-jig of the room is in order so that it can go flat against a wall somehow.

Wjat about the bookcases either side of the patio doors and the dining table in the centre of the room.

Could your husband use the dining table for the laptop and then put it away when not in use? You could then get rid of the broken chair.

Yes to a rug and maybe a round mirror. Pictures rearranged to look more deliberate. I assume you've hung them on existing hooks. Try Command strips off amazon to hang your pictures without damaging the walls.

I share your pain re the arsehole dog. They spoil everything don't they!

You could look at getting a cheap sofa slipcover. I found a nice one on ebay for about £20, my friend asked if it was from Joules (haha!) Made a big difference in brightening up a dull brown sofa. A few cosy cushions and a throw would help. Wilkos, Matalan and Home Sense often have nice inexpensive ones.

Turn your broken chair upside down and check to see if the clip that holds it closed is bent out of shape - an L-shaped bit of metal. We had this with a recliner sofa. A quick bash with a hammer and it was fixed.

From a making-the-room-more-homely perspective, if you can avoid having all the furniture straight against the walls it will help.

gorgeous dog

You can buy window film to block the dog's view but still lets light in.

"Get rid of the dog" - Jesus wept .

Do you have to have the TV in that corner because of the aerial?

Thanks again for the further comments, they're all appreciated.

@MargotLovedTom1 unfortunately yes that's right. According to H it could move to under the window (cable length) but I didn't know if that would look worse as it would be blocking more of the light?

Just needs colour and better lighting, table lamps.

After much thought and browsing Pinterest, we're going to have a bit of a re-vamp in the room

Plans include:
New curtains - I've actually already got these. A friend who changes her decor every few years was getting rid of some and on a whim I had them off her. They've been sat in the spare room ever since! made2measure.next.co.uk/fabric/2136/accessories/cushions
Painting - grey on all walls except the fireplace wall which is hopefully going to be a warm, sunny yellow.
I'm also going to paint the nasty orange wood furniture that's at the patio doors end of the room; the 2 display cabinets (planning on removing the doors from the big one) and H's side table. Still undecided on colour for them; possibly grey (a lighter shade to the walls) or maybe an off-white.
I'm going to take down all the pictures, paint the frames of the ones that aren't white, to white so they're all the same and then arrange them all better on one or maybe 2 walls. I'm also going to treat the room to this, which I came across on Pinterest the other day and fell in love with: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/543297854/giraffe-print-11-x-14-giraffe-poster?ref=user_profile
New sofa and table & chairs will be a bit of a way off but hopefully by the end of the year, finances depending.

I've been ordering paint samples all week and we're currently awash with grey and yellow tester pots! Looking forward to having a play with those next week!

I don't think you are far off at the moment! A couple of big rugs and some nice lamps, plus a reorganise and shuffle the furniture.... if possible a smaller tv but that is a huge expense and not the end of the world.