In desperate need of help to decorate a living room that needs everything! Help!

[Loobieloo27]

OK so I've had to move into my house very quickly so I've had no time to decorate at all. Everything needs doing eg carpets, walls, sofas, storage.

However I have absolutely no idea where to start. The room is naturally dark which doesn't get much light. Also a dado rail so unsure on colours.

Please help I've attached photos. I'm so embarrassed

Op - can I ask the age of the house please? And which way is the window facing, I.e - east, west?

You could add a coffee table, storage cubes as side tables and some lamps for another £100 ish.

What I don't get about dereks pic much as it's lovely is you can't remember the tv from where you are sat . You would have a constant crick in your neck . Surely the sofas should face the tv if it's a lounge ?

I'm not sure when the house was built but it is an old house. The window is to the east

oohnicevase I agree, I put it their for ease of drawing. It would be better at a right angle to the other sofa.

I'm not sure when the house was built but it is an old house. The window is to the east

Thanks for responding Op. It’s hard to tell from the photos what kind of state are the walls in? I’m guessing they are papered with paint over them?

If it were me, (and this is presuming you’ve bought this house (not renting it) andyou’re staying a while) I’d be tempted to strip off all the paper - and even take out the dado rail(!) (unless you’re really fond of it). Then have a plasterer in to repair where you’ve taken out dado rail and skim all the walls. I would also maybe have some recessed lights put in the ceiling and take out the large pendant light.

I know this sounds like a lot, but you may as well do everything properly.

Colour wise, as it’s essentially a dark room most of the day, I’d be tempted to go fairly dark on the walls in a shade you like. Wooden floors. Then built in storage either side of the chimney.

Would you be tempted to restore the old fireplace? Looks like it was bricked in at some point.

I would do laminate floor, then move to walls, fire place and lighting, then curtains. You’ll need to paint a sample and put it with your laminate together to see how they’re together.
Which colours do you like and which don’t? I would work from there. I wouldn’t do contrast/statement colours apart from curtains (maybe) and cushions. Keep it light beige/green for the rest of the room (if you like green). Think about fireplace, it would probably your centrepiece naturally, so choose it (or at least the style) and only then the rest. You don’t want fire place in gold and door handles and light fittings in silver.

Agree about putting the sofas in an L shape for now.

Is it just going to be a tv room? Do you have a separate eating area?

Agree if it's not a rental then put in a fireplace and get the wiring sorted.

Walls are papered and painted yes, not overly keen on dado rail but my husband thinks we should keep it. Yes it's just a TV room we have a dining room.

I'd go for Goose Down Dulux on all walls. I'd carpet rather than laminate but understand it's easier to maintain etc so yes add a rug.

L shape for the sofas for now. Personally I'd remove the dado and skim before painting but if you do decide to keep, you could paint it the same colour so it blends.

Darker grey for sofas, then add accent colours. Pastel would go well so mint, pale pink, lemon etc for the cushions.

I absolutely wouldn't use grey in any guise on those walls. It doesn't suit east facing rooms and makes them look dingy and darker. Easy facing rooms look great in pale colours and sunny shades such as yellow, and also work very well with greens and blues. This is because of the natural blue/green tones in light in northern countries, like the UK.

I would use the paler shades of silvery green in the room, either all over, or with a complementary pale off white above the dado . I also like the coloured picture kindly drawn above.

When you say it's just a TV room, do you have another sitting room or a standard 3 bed arrangment with kitchen, dining and sitting room?

I like DerektheWonderdog's arrangement, that way the sofas are welcoming from either door and the wall of books and TV and restored fireplace are a natural focal point. You could have a gallery wall between the doors as well but for goodness sake don't have a 'feature wall' that is just painted or wallpapered a different colour, it's a very dated look. Get rid of the dado rail as well, it won't be original, it'll be from the 1980s.

I'd be tempted to just immediately get the carpet cleaned, and move the furniture around so it is more welcoming. Then later restore the fireplace and either get fitted cupboards/shelves either side of the fireplace or cheapo IKEA ones if that's too much. Then think about a colour scheme when you've lived with it a bit.

Ideal World assuming you own the house:

Rip off dado rail and wallpaper.
If walls are crap, wallpaper with plain base wallpaper you can paint on.

Sand back skirting, architraves and doors.

Paint them in satinwood white (less of an arseholey paint than gloss)

Paint ceiling in brilliant white.

Paint walls with a modern emulsion (wipeable)

If you want to be neutral, choose light paint with warm undertones to make up for lack of natural light.

Invest in a nice light shade that creates good light and/or get plenty of lamps instead both standard and table.

Turn the alcoves either side of fireplace into storage space with shelves above and cupboards below.

Refurbish fireplace.

Get new sofas.

Get some nice coffee tables (IKEA do nice leaf ones)

Get some pot plants.

Put some pictures on the walls and mirrors to reflect the light there is.

Get nice curtains or blinds that do not take away much of the window aperture and do not get lace curtains.