What would you do to this blank living room?

[Ofitck]

I’ve bought a flat!!!! It’s a fixer upper and I don’t have much budget. This is the living room. I’m going to love the weird shape alcove wall back I think so the living room is smaller and the hallway bigger (but there’s a good size kitchen diner so don’t need the living room to be anything other than a living room) and get the hideous artex wall replastered smooth but then I’m stuck.

I need ideas for lights, furniture etc. It doesn’t have a fireplace - it’s a flat so can’t add one... are electric stoves in fake chimney breasts really naff?

I can’t believe I’m a homeowner! I am walking on air!

Congratulations! It has a lovely feel to it, and is really a blank canvas. I can’t really tell what you mean about an alcove. Are you keeping the flooring? It looks in good shape from the pics so I would lead from that and use quite warm colours.

Looks nice. The living room looks like it has been divided into two separate areas, the living and dining area from the look of the flooring. If you are going to just use as a living room I would change the floor. Do you need storage? I personally would repaint it maybe with a feature wall. It looks bright with lots of light. Are the sofas staying?

Thank you! Never thought it would happen!

The previous owners moved the dividing wall between the hall and front room - the bit behind the sofa. I want to put it back.

The floors are great! Indian rosewood - I’d never heard of it, and throughout the whole place!

I was thinking of built in bookcases in a dark grey, maybe the rest of the room a warm white, skirting boards contrasting somehow...

Really want a fireplace 😭

This rug from Zara is a great size and price but too “cool” a colour isn’t it. WHere might I find similar?

Thank you CornishClio.

It is being used as a lounge/diner but the floor is the same all the way through - it might be the rugs they have that makes it look different. I want I keep the floor as it’s wood and in good nick and... budget!

I like the feature wall idea. I’m a grey/beige/Black/khaki type of dresser. I don’t really know how to approach colour - scared of ending up like Justin’s House!

Warm taupe?! Too boring!?

It’s sold with all the furniture but I do not want those sofas!!! Currently looking at habitat velvet ones but cannot for the life of me choose a colour. I feel like I need a scheme...

I would bin both rugs and get a warmer one for the lounge area.

It's really lovely!
It's so airy and light.
I'd go with the Indian rosewood floor as my inspiration and is have lots of bright ethnic inspired textures in my room. Id have huge floorstanding copper planters with vibrant green bushy sun loving indoor plants, bring the garden to you, especially if you've no access to one.
Eye-catching floor lamps, a big clock and African inspired artwork. (This is what I love anyway!)
Your flat will look amazing whatever you do because it looks great even with nothing done to it.
Enjoy it OP!

The contrast between the white furniture and walls versus the lovely floor is too stark so def replace the furniture or get throws for sofas for time being? And a warmer tone of something on the walls?

I agree, those sofas are awful. I like light furniture, but I feel that sofas should never be white. I'd suggest a light grey or light blue. You could replace the two sofas with one corner sofa (and a separate hocker, if you're into that)

It's unfortunately they laid the floor along the breath of the room instead of in the length of the room. It makes the room look smaller than it is, but it does seem to be in good condition.

I second getting rid of those rugs. They are too dark and too cold. You need rugs with lighter and warmer colors. I think you could do with either a round or square coffee table and a smaller TV table in a different color (read: not white) as well.

That chandelier is also quite old fashioned. I'd say pick something modern that diffuses the light nicely through the room. Also nix that side table and table lamp. Yuck.

Apart from that, maybe a few more (floor) lamps and some wall decorations in your own style.

Forgot to add: Congratulations!

YEs, sofas awful. I was thinking a dark herringbone or tweed type one... I have a beige IKEA one now and the stains show up easily.

Maybe a dark blue sofa
Lighter coloured rug (stuck)
Brown/tan leather armchair?
Modern chandelier (in an old fashioned medallion)
Wall colour?
Big plants- like the idea of copper planters
Dk blue/grey built in bookcase wall

Critique!!

I like DunkandEggAgain ideas, like this one

Have a search on Pinterest/Houzz/Instagram for rosewood floors and see what works as a colour scheme that you like.

I'd be a little cautious with too many dark furniture items. You'd risk making the room look smaller. But definitely do work with some color here and there. It could work really nicely against the white walls and the darker floors.