How would you decorate this room?

[singlikenooneislistening]

I'm really struggling to come up with ideas for the living room, can anyone offer some advice please?

@Bluntness100 it's a large footstool.

This another view of the room.

I think I would paint the walls a mid blue (ie not light,not dark), perhaps fireplace in a more off white neutral as a pp said. Some symmetrical shelving with decorative objects, perhaps some gold metallics. Some of the back sofa cushions could be covered with other fabrics, go a bit wild maybe with patterns, prints, strong colours (pink, green, yellow etc). Pictures on the wall over sofa..

I would paint the fireplace grey possibly dark grey- the walls white-bead board or shiplap walls and add some white, off white cushions- different textures, some white chunky knitted blanket. Rustic and distressed decoration.
I'm fan of the farmhouse style.

Gosh op that foot stool totally dominates the room and is far too large for the space, it looks like a mattress sitting in the middle of your lounge.

Even though the room has a lot of furniture it looks under furnished. I think this is partly a problem of scale - the ottoman looks too big for example, and partly because it is missing important elements.

End tables at either end of the sofa with good lamps and shades would help a lot. It needs a huge picture on the wall behind the sofa or quite a few medium sized ones. The floating shelf looks rather lonely! How about removing it? While there rework that whole wall. Lower the television set (it is too high) to the height of the mantel, and cover the entire wall with books (so the television is in the "library").

Neutral can be good as a base but introduce some colour and texture - a check blanket for the sofa? If keeping the HUGE ottoman it needs dressing with a few good art books, flowers, nice tray or plate for the remote controls etc.
It is a nice a room and almost there I think.

I agree, it’s both over and under furnished. The existing furniture is too dominant, ie the ottoman is made for a much bigger room, but it is missing key elements, like artwork on the walls, throws on the sofas, different coloured cushions on the sofas, side lights, a rug, coffee table etc, all the usual stuff you would find in a lounge.

It’s both a full and empty room at the same time. To make it look softer, more inviting, warmer, then adding these touches will help.

@Autumnchill

This is Heartwood (excuse Baxter!)

Can I just say your cat is amazing!

I like the colour too

some warmth in there but that goes with grey - chinese yellow?

Craig & Rose Morris Blue

@Autumnchill

This is Heartwood (excuse Baxter!)

Baxter is lovely, amazing colouring.

@Misty9 and @FiveShelties thank you ❤️

Thank you all I agree that the furniture is too big it's mainly due to downsizing and we are now trying to make the smaller home work for us. I like the idea of a large frame behind the sofa.

I've cancelled the decorator until I am sure of what I want in this room as I know I don't like the bricks so don't won't to waste money.
There are some lovely ideas here for me and I am going to start with lighting and removing the shelf.

Thank you everyone I do really appreciate you taking time to offer advice

Knocking out a fireplace is rarely a small job especially if you want to be able to use it. If you are on a small budget, I would work with it.

Colourwise, I wouldn't go dark. You have grey furniture so it needs to tone with them. Good colours with grey are blue, pink, soft pale green. May be dark paint on the fireplace?

Have the bricks plastered smooth.

It's such an awkward shaped room, I'm going to leave it until I can do what I want with it. Will need to save first so for now just going to put up with the brick.
Thank you for all your replies and colour suggestions