First home, art deco and scandi theme - ideas please?

[Lizzie523]

Hi everyone, I moved into my first home a few months ago and have gradually been adding to it. So far the place either looks pure scandi style (like the TV unit & small bookcase pictured) or more vintage style (see the Casablanca poster) and I have some of those shell style chairs in the study.

The place is shaping up but almost all the walls are white here in the living room, the 2 bedrooms and the bathroom. I've started pictured which helps but I'm thinking maybe a mural or wallpaper for in here? There is another side wall not pictured with a dining table.

• what would you suggest for the big blank white wall pictured?
• I'd like to get another chair for this room but it should look ok with the curtains. I had thought a green velvet chair but not sure about the colouring. Any ideas?

*I've started adding pictures that was meant to say

I'm not sure about the chair but I think your room could take a tall plant or two.

Ha I just have these at the moment @Mosaic123. I am new to plant care. Any recommendations for tall plants that are easy to care for?

Funnily enough I had been thinking of a chair surrounded by a couple of plants!

Going to be honest but those curtains don't go with the overall vibe.

I’d agree on the curtains it doesn’t look very Art Deco or scandi to be honest. I’d get a big rug, in a light colour to brighten the room too.

I agree with @Bluntness100. The majority of the room is neither Scandi not vintage. The sofa and the curtains are like sore thumbs.

Von Haus has some good scandi inspired furniture and is very reasonable b

Absolutely none of that goes. What period is your place, looks high ceiling / ceiling rose era.
It all clashes, neither the carpet / sofa / light / curtains are mcm or scandi.

How much budget do you have? It’s a lovely bright large room. Honestly I’d change the carpet and the curtains first.

What about doing something simple at the top of your wall like this? Not the whole wall. I agree the curtains aren't quite right. Congratulations on your first place, it's nice! :)

Art deco and scandi aren't very compatible styles. The sofas and curtains are neither.

Have you got pinterest or instagram? Have a look for living rooms and save/pin images you like. You'll soon work out the themes and schemes that you prefer and can work out a plan for the room from there.

A good starting point might be the promo photos/insta accounts of the places you bought the boolshelf and tv unit - that will give you some ideas for styles that work with those pieces.

@Gardenwalldilema

Absolutely none of that goes. What period is your place, looks high ceiling / ceiling rose era. It all clashes, neither the carpet / sofa / light / curtains are mcm or scandi.

MCM is after art deco. Judging from the houses across the street I'm guessing her place is a victorian.

OP you don't have to choose a specific style either. Some people are way too hung up on getting their "insta aesthetic" just right and the problem is that will date very quickly when we've moved on to, "German Oompah" or whatever. Better to just buy things you see when you like them and have an overall eclectic room. It won't date because it's full of things you love. And won't look like you just bought everything from the cover of a catalog.

@EvilPromPrincess

OP you don't have to choose a specific style either. Some people are way too hung up on getting their "insta aesthetic" just right and the problem is that will date very quickly when we've moved on to, "German Oompah" or whatever. Better to just buy things you see when you like them and have an overall eclectic room. It won't date because it's full of things you love. And won't look like you just bought everything from the cover of a catalog.

Agree with this.

Looks like a fab place. Lovely room and if it's anything like the buildings across the street it's 👍🏻

Happy New Home!

PS - if I was going to suggest a few things I would say get rid of some of the white and add some warmth. You could put a picture rail up and paint above it in a nice deep / vibrant colour. Picture rail would be in keeping with the Victorian building.

Agree with pp that the curtains are definitely not scandi, but they could work. They could look good with lots of other vibrant colours in the place.

Agree the couch does not fit. If you have recently bought it, maybe get some throws / cushions etc. If not, you can get great couches second hand for not a lot of money. You could get something that would work in well with a more eclectic vibe.

If you want scandi ideas google 'vardagsrum' and look at the pics it brings up.

Plants are a good idea. I’m happy if I can keep a basil plant from the supermarket alive for a fortnight, so I have no idea what to buy.

It looks like you have a dining table in the room? If you wanted to you could keep the walls one colour (however bold or neutral you want) and use art prints or clusters of them to create two ‘zones’. One centred behind the sofa and one by the table. You could also use a rug under the table or between the sofa and tv to split the two areas.

I think these www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/a/astrid-wilson/ would look good.

This place has all sorts. www.kingandmcgaw.com/
I can’t remember what they ^ used to be called but they’ve been around for ages. You can always buy the frames separately.

@EvilPromPrincess

OP you don't have to choose a specific style either. Some people are way too hung up on getting their "insta aesthetic" just right and the problem is that will date very quickly when we've moved on to, "German Oompah" or whatever. Better to just buy things you see when you like them and have an overall eclectic room. It won't date because it's full of things you love. And won't look like you just bought everything from the cover of a catalog.

I appreciate this very comment, thank you!

Surprised to hear people say it doesn't look at all Scandi. The TV unit, small bookcase and dining table all came from Sweden, a Scandi furniture place. I don't agree tbh.

On the curtains - I was planning to wait a while before changing them as I've spent so much money on various rooms so far. What type of curtains would people suggest?

I like your idea for the walls @Ghosttile and @EvilPromPrincess

I'm not planning to rip out the carpet at this stage. I may consider it later on. As for the sofa, myself and a friend actually built this sofa. None of the second hand sofas could fit through the oddly narrow doorway. Sorry if people don't like it, it's staying - I could get some art deco themed cushions to throw on.

Honestly some of these comments made me feel a little down as I'm putting effort in to get it the way I like it.

If anyone has any ideas around a style and colour of chair to add to the room, that would be great

@Bluntness100

I’d agree on the curtains it doesn’t look very Art Deco or scandi to be honest. I’d get a big rug, in a light colour to brighten the room too.

Like the idea of a rug! Will look into that.

I came here to say exactly what @EvilPromPrincess has already said. It’s your home, furnish it with things you love and it will create an overall look that is yours, it doesn’t matter if it fits into a theme or not. (I do agree your pictures don’t look very scandi at this point)
My look is probably eclectic with scandi vibes, I think Ikea is excellent for good quality scandi items.
It’s your home, have it exactly how you like. When I was moving in I read an interview with an interior designer who said just get things you like and don’t worry about having things that go together - if you like the way it looks then that’s the main thing!

@yourestandingonmyneck

PS - if I was going to suggest a few things I would say get rid of some of the white and add some warmth. You could put a picture rail up and paint above it in a nice deep / vibrant colour. Picture rail would be in keeping with the Victorian building.

Agree with pp that the curtains are definitely not scandi, but they could work. They could look good with lots of other vibrant colours in the place.

Agree the couch does not fit. If you have recently bought it, maybe get some throws / cushions etc. If not, you can get great couches second hand for not a lot of money. You could get something that would work in well with a more eclectic vibe.

Very good advice! You are absolutely right, it is the warmth that is missing from the place. I've just recently become aware of how white and sterile all the walls are.

It's a really good sized room and could look great.

A picture rail is a good Victorian feature, I think definitely get one put all around the room. Then paint a nice strong colour either above or below the picture rail to get a nice contrast.

Once the picture rail is up it's great for hanging lots of artwork on those big, high walls, without hammering holes in your plaster.

Then a nice, bright rug, and lots of plants. And cushions / throws on the couch.

That should hopefully tie in the curtains and light fitting and look really good.

Meant to attach these pics

@EvilPromPrincess

OP you don't have to choose a specific style either. Some people are way too hung up on getting their "insta aesthetic" just right and the problem is that will date very quickly when we've moved on to, "German Oompah" or whatever. Better to just buy things you see when you like them and have an overall eclectic room. It won't date because it's full of things you love. And won't look like you just bought everything from the cover of a catalog.

Agree completely.

My ethos is "if I like it it will fit" and as long as I'm happy with it, I couldn't give two hoots if people think it's a hideous mish-mash