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!

Pink

How about painting the chimney breast that plaster pink (which I love).Keep the walls the same and either add colour with red accessories or as PP suggested pick out colours from your sofa cushion - and post after pictures!!

I’d add a couple of big green plants and artfully drape a couple of knitted throws here and there.

The last thing I’d do is add accents, like a contrasting cushion colour that’s also picked up in other bits. This always looks dreadful.

I’d add lots of texture in the form of fairly neutral soft furnishings (a cool toned cream or the plaster pink suggested by a pp). Also a large rug, throws and cushions. TK Maxx is worth a look for all of those things. I wouldn’t add much in the way of bright or strong colour personally.

Lamps with red/ coral/ teracotta lampshades, a rug with a good deal of red and cream, a large painting with a good deal of red/ orange/green/ other vivid colours on the mantel wall, light cream throw rugs... maybe even reconsider your feature wallpaper.

Tbh, I'd be very tempted to take out the carpet and replace it with a wood floor in a warm brown.

I think adding bright cushions, etc, would only emphasise the surrounding gray.

We got this throw and I have worked off the colours in it to soften a black sofa, fireplace and grey walls. So less single colour accents more a broader pallet.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1031484332/

Soft stone from dulux is a good neutral pink ish shade the colour of plastered walls. See also F&B setting plaster.

I'm also looking at warm embrace light pink shade Dulux colour of the year for 2024. Pink is very now. I'd leave all the grey if you used pink. Pressed petal dulux is a much darker pink. And could look good.

Colorful cushions, plants, Colorful prints or pictures from your beloved ones can make a living room more homely

Look at Abigail Aherne for ideas about how to use dark grey (etc) as a fairly neutral background for brighter, deeper colours.

first thing, find a good rug. As PP say, kilim style, definitely patterned. One with pinks, pale browns, reds would be my preference, and an antiqueish pattern rather than modern geometric. Then use similar tones in other pieces, including lamps, art, cushions, throws. But as a PP said, don’t just choose one accent colour to then be the block of accent colour. It can often look naff, especially against grey.

id also add a good array of plants, including some “floor standing” as well as of different sizes on mantel/side table. The plant pots can can pick up some subtle tones from elsewhere in the room.

make sure you have lamps too (one floor, one table?) and their bases or shades can again pick up some tones from elsewhere. Don’t be afraid of using different subtle patterns, particularly if formed using different tones of same colour.

I reckon you have a good base here so once you find the right rug, I think you’ll find it easy to see where the room can go.

I repeat, get the rug first and make it patterned!

Very deep dark red cushions and rug, long plush pile.
Dark green tall potted plants in alcove with lights.

I’d do bottle green walls and some mustard/ochre accessories

Id go for a mix of pinks with lots of texture - maybe a cerise velvet cushion, plaster pink rug, knitted plaster pink cushion, shell pink silk cushion, and a big soft throw in one of the pinks.

For artwork, try Artfinder - like this, or maybe an abstract?
here

You can certainly do grey successfully but you have to lose the idea of a “contrast colour”.

you need texture and personality:

large rug - as big as you can afford and ideally to sit at least in part under the sofa.

textured throws: herringbones or cable knits

cushions: not block colour; interesting, mixed patters any styles.

plants: a big feathery palm (buy from DIY store) in large copper or brass pot.

Art on walls and frames photos on sides: go big for walls, framed prints are fine and small and multiple for photos

A tray on your coffee table: round with an assortment of candle/pot/trinket

Pick some of your favourite hardback books (cookery or whatever) stack them up the other side of the coffee table.

Not if you do it properly.

You just don't pick a random colour - you find a way to introduce other colours into the room. Which is why I suggested changing the curtains, but they need to have a little bit of grey in them as well as your other colours. Then pick out your primary accent colour from that, and make sure to get the same palette of colours in your mat.

That ties it all together beautifully.

I actually hate plants for some reason! I used to have huge ones but they all died in the end. I've a couple of cacti on my kitchen windowsill. I've plenty of plants in the garden!

Couldn't have them anyway as I have cats and they would probably try to shit in them... 🙄

I love pictures like this (I have this one!)

https://www.johnlewis.com/william-vanscoy-all-i-have-to-give-embellished-framed-print-84-x-110cm/p2741200

Similar with grey wall sofa and carpet
got lime green curtains cushions small rug
also some bright pink cushions and ornaments

I also love this rug but it doesn't work for my space:

https://www.my-furniture.com/anala-teal-rug-2915.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4vKpBhCZARIsAOKHoWTSb5DRRoLAOdkzToRqwZW0PM6X_PY0ux_db4hW9ruI6cdt2cgkT6IaApWSEALw_wcB

It's a bit angular, everything looks square or oblong, it needs a bit of curve to soften the room, even the wallpaper has rectangular shapes.

Seconding the suggestion for a tray to collate coffee table objects....and lots of lamps! Our - admittedly fairly large - room is divided into dining and sitting areas with a total of five table lamps and one floor lamp across the whole space. We rarely use the overhead lights.

Also, re rugs - always go for the largest possible size. This anchors the room better than a smaller, floating rug. Ours is a bit too big, if anything, but was purchased for the larger living room in our old house.

I hope you come back and update this thread @hidinginthegarden as I for one would love to see the way your room evolves!

Definitely paint the black panels- duck egg blue or sage green goes with grey. Then add an accent colour such as mustard yellow or burnt orange. You need something above the fireplace such as a framed mirror. Plants and photos also add warmth.

Please don't lose the wallpapered recesses @hidinginthegarden - they are bringing much needed character and personality to your room!

I really like your room @LibertyLily, your lamps are really nice

Love this idea

You want a lot of yellow, the Chinese yellow that tones with grey. Maybe curtains, paintings. Also green, plants? Also some dull reflection would be good, lustre ceramics or pewter jugs or vases.

As you yourself said op. You definitely don’t want yellow…