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

110 replies

hidinginthegarden · 26/10/2023 19:27

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!

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LibertyLily · 29/10/2023 09:06

RedRiverShore4 · 28/10/2023 21:55

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

Thank you! It's taken a long time to get to this stage....which I think can be part of the issue - imho rooms frequently look better when allowed to evolve gradually rather than expecting them to be 'done' in one hit 😉 although impatience usually plays a part!

PegasusReturns · 29/10/2023 11:18

You want a lot of yellow, the Chinese yellow that tones with grey

this is definitely not what you either want, or should want.

RedRiverShore4 · 29/10/2023 11:44

A lot of yellow will make it look even more like a Next showroom, they always use ochre to style their furniture.

Original poster

hidinginthegarden · 30/10/2023 18:47

So we haven't been able to do the painting of the walls yet (need to get a damp patch rectified) and artwork and carpet are a bigger decision that DH and I need to make together. However I've taken on board a lot of your comments and moved some stuff around, bought a couple of big plants and brought sone bits in from other rooms and am much happier with it in the meantime. Thank you for your advice. Although I've not followed all of it, I've taken on board a lot of comments and certainly read them all and considered them all.