What can I do with grey sofa and carpet to make the room look warmer/cosier?

[hidinginthegarden]

Please help me wise ones!
Our living room has a grey carpet, grey sofa and grey walls with black wallpaper in the alcoves. We have a black wood burner stove.

While I liked all the items individually, when put together it just feels cold and bare. Last winter I tried orange cushions and lampshades but I don't love that.

It doesn't help that the top. Faces north (and actually is cold) but what can I do to make it feel cosier and warmer. I know lighting is an issue but I have tried high voltage bulbs, warm bulbs and nothing seems to help.

I'm ready to repaint the walls (but still like the feature alcoves) and get new lighting - but what colour, what lighting and what else can I do?
Your help would be very appreciated!

Photos attached

How about yellow /ochre touches? Cushions, side lamps, picture frames?

Red accessories might be nicer than orange.

I think you’re going to struggle with warming it up when the overall colours are grey and black OP.
I would try ochre throws and ochre/cream cushions and look at adding a rug in ochre/cream/burnt orange.
What colour are the curtains?

We have grey sofas and carpets and have brownish-purple walls up to picture rails. Curtains have dark purple/burgundy detail. Silver mirror, lamps, overhead lights, picture frames.

I would probably go for large cream items (picture on the wall, cushions, throws) that have some yellow and warm detail. Maybe the odd yellow accessory too, but it can seem a bit much to have block colour with the black and grey.

I think it looks fine. Maybe get big fluffy cushions to soften it. I'd get black ones though. I don't think colours would look right

I thick you need more things to add warmth. It all looks very bare and cold. Dark green plants and some dark green accessories would help. Maybe a picture above the fireplace as that light grey chimney breast is just not working on its own. Hanging plants in the alcove night also add warmth.

What is your ceiling light like?

We have grey carpet and walls with a black sofa but lots and lots of red accessories and I always get comments on how warm it is.
People are genuinely shocked that it goes together so well

I like the suggestion above of plants too. That would definitely help.

Could I see some pics of the rooms you are talking about. I love yellow and ochre but we've gone from cream and brown and all my family wanted grey.
Curtains are grey too but I'm really ready to change them too!

@Patchworksack i had those curtains in the duck egg blue colour. Oh how I loved them and was gutted when they didn’t fit anywhere in my new place. 😢

Op everything is not only grey but plain as well. I think you need to add some texture and pattern as well as colour

How about a plaster-y pink? I think it would add warmth and contrast to the grey and black in the room.

Personally I don't think yellow is going to help, black grey and yellow combos aren't usually warm and cosy.

Agree with the plaster pink colour, that is lovely

Personally, I would also do your chimney breast in the same paper as your alcoves.

Further ideas re accessorizing for warmth?
www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/beautiful-blue-and-grey-living-room-ideas-you-re-going-to-love-stsetivw-vs~95733170

Love that plaster pink wall colour. That's an idea. Yes I think we need some plants and things to make it less brutal but DH wants to be more minimimalist. But I think he's ready to give it after my moaning!!

I’d go for a rug in a soft pink or even the plaster pink, something to physically break up the grey on the floor - if it doesn’t work you can return and try a different tone. Similar cushion. You’d be surprised how much of difference it will make. The coldness will go.

A coloured rug under the coffee table, more cushions, a colourful piece of art above the fireplace. I was going to suggest plaster pink walls (I see someone already has) or dusky pink.

I have this one in a bedroom (they do a larger version too). It's a very dull pink and looks good on a grey carpet. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/knardrup-rug-low-pile-pale-pink-40492604/

personally I would go for dark red or multicoloured/bold print accessories such as cushions, maybe a throw for the sofa and a rug. have a look at afghani kilim rugs... they are very nice. the gray background will allow the colourful elements to pop and it will look a lot cosier.

Messy but mine is grey sofa, carpet and blinds

I’d have a bold painting on the chimney breast then link colours from that into rich coloured velvet cushions in a couple of colours from pink, ocra, dark green, navy.

Google is your friend for visualising, so google grey and ochre living room ideas, or grey and teal, or grey and mauve which is what my room is. I have a north facing lounge but with french door bay windows so lots of light. My sofa is a darker grey to yours, my walls are Jasmine White by Dulux with a mauve feature wall and a white micro marble fireplace. I know some people don't like feature walls but I have done interior design and the first rule yo u learn is you don't give a shit about what other people like, you just go with what you like, you decorate for you, not others.

I also have a massive mauve rug too which depending which way the pile goes is tonal so not just a flat colour. I have some fake plants, greenery always makes a room look better. I did have real plants but got a fungus gnat infestation so they went outside. I now know nematodes are the solution, now I just need to persuade Dh.

A throw on that sofa helps break up the solid grey colour too.