Nothing ever looks right or pulled together :(

[FedUpandDownAgain]

I don’t know why I can’t do it. I started from scratch in my living room and it just doesn’t look right.

I had dark walls, they looked gloomy. I have switched to light, it looks boring.

I try to find accessories (lights/ lamps etc) in the right colours or shades, but I can’t without paying £££.

I've just put some wall lights up that looked nice in the whole, they just look boring. The switch is in a stupid place (which I didn’t realise) and the lead is slightly too short on one. So now I have out holes on my walls for nothing 😤

Post a photo . . .

I really don’t want to post pictures of my home online. I know that’s not helpful.

It sounds to me like me like you need a
Some decently sized artwork and maybe a complementary colour on the woodwork. The artwork should pick out some of the colours in the room. It doesn't have to be expensive

I think without pictures of what you’re suggesting, it’s hard to judge.

does it look cheap/naff or lacking something?

OP, you need layers....

Start with basic walls and floor, personally I prefer neutrals. Plain sofas, a patterned chair, plain-ish curtains but add some cushions of the same fabric as curtains and two or three other fabrics that are similar colour tones but different textures. An upholstered footstool.

A thick rug, large pictures - go bigger than you think. A large mirror if you have a mantlepiece.

Then accessories: a pair of nice lamps and a co-ord but not matching tall lamp. Never overhead.

A plant in a pot or a nice arrangement of flowers or foliage - just ivy from the garden is fine.

A few interesting, quirky ornaments - sculpture, an interesting vase, little pots grouped together. Arrange in ones, threes, offset.

Get the furniture arrangement and low level lighting right and you are well on the way.

It’s hard to judge without a photo. What direction does the room face? How much light does it get? How is it furnished?

I also think as a general rule, don’t matchy match everything from the same store/range.

Interiors look a lot better when it seems as if you’ve collected beautiful and functional things through time, not bought in to the latest range from Next (insert other retailer.)

I think I’m not brave enough sometimes- definitely not going big enough with the pictures and maybe lamps.

It all looks a bit lacking.

Also looking at photos, I wonder if the (laminate) flooring is 'off'. It was out down by the previous owners and I want to change it. I don’t dislike it as such, but think the colour is not quite right and I was thinking if decorating with what I want rather than what I have (because I don’t want to tie myself into what was there before).

I don’t like fussiness, but I think I’ve gone to boring.

Mostly north facing, but big windows. Disadvantage of a south facing back garden.

Also, strip it right back.

Is your paintwork of a good finish and tidy? Is everything clean and well finished?

Ultimately, if ‘the room’ is looking shoddy, flooring not meeting skirting boards, textured wall/ceiling finishes, plywood door finishes, naff door handles and light fittings, curtain roads not fitted correctly to frame the window/room then us advising you about cushions and vases is not going to help.

I bought lights similar to this (but with a lead because I can’t afford to channel electrics into the wall). I didn’t want to make a statement (didn’t want that part of the wall to be too busy), but now it looks dull and the lead makes it look busy anyway.

https://www.lights.co.uk/p/lindby-wall-light-colja-round-height-16-cm-plaster-white-9621341.html?lw_om_view=recotop&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMAX_EM_Heroes&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoVL5GIxg2RD7CclP46msco-rC7Eh&gclid=CjwKCAiAmMC6BhA6EiwAdN5iLYaOaPXh52lPpWpI79UaFXC4gpZfP0JaK0Kj_Wz35dEOGnp9Lc3ApRoC7vcQAvD_BwE

I’m like this. I can’t bear the idea of ornaments for the sake of it, and I generally avoid patterns. But this does mean my rooms end up looking a bit basic.

I have reluctantly accepted that for a room to look “done” it needs more stuff - even if the stuff is not actually needed for anything. A throw and cushions on the sofa, a rug on the floor, curtains, plants if not ornaments, pictures and a mirror on the wall, and definitely multiple light sources at different levels. Ideally lots of different materials and textures especially if no pattern.

Agree with the consider soft furnishings and textures. 2 or 3 colours that blend well together, real wooden furniture, lamps, textured curtains and cushions soften a room and make it feel cosy. You can go boring on the colours if you want but textures does make a difference. I have "dress" curtains in our lounge, seems ridiculous but makes the room feel pulled together. We use the wooden blinds to open and close and the curtains never move. Plants and flowers, candles, picture frames and vases cosy up a space too, just not too many.

Table and floor lamps are much nicer than wall lights, the lampshade gives colour and texture to a room.

Minimalist looks very simple and easy.

To Pull it off well generally takes a fuck load of money.

it’s all about the detail. So having the money to sink in plumping and wiring, have ultra fine finishes and hidden lighting, which is beyond most of us. You need to plan meticulously and really invest in materials and textures. It’s a lot easier to have a more eclectic/busy design that feels homely or plush by playing with patterns and materials.

I understand not wanting to share pictures of your home op, could you share pictures of what you do like/aspire to?

I could live in all of these. I know definitely not loved by all. I wonder if I am not embracing it fully (other family members want 'pops' of colour). Getting halfway, but nothing right.

https://fancyhouse-design.com/blog/nature-neutrals-and-nordic-charm/

Like this, but it doesn’t work. I wish I listened to my gut first and tried to incorporate other people’s ideas later 🫣

https://www.thespruce.com/living-rooms-with-a-pop-of-color-7567468

Yes I love this scandi minimalist look too but it is just not achievable for most people living a real life. You need a beautiful space to start with, high ceilings big windows, a lovely view. Then as pp says you need perfect finish everywhere, lots of clever architectural solutions like shadow gaps instead of skirting boards, everything designed to fit the space, and top quality materials. Oh and you also need no children, pets or untidy people or anything colourful in your house ever.

To me, those all-neutral rooms are beautiful because of the overall vibe, more than because they’ve got interesting things in them. They’re so restful and … confidently bland?

What if, for now, you try embracing the boring element and focus on how it can be super comfortable and smell amazing? Get it so it takes 10 minutes to tidy, sweep and floof to reset it to feeling 100% calm?

And maybe look into cordless rechargeable lighting to give you flexibility?

I think I like the neutral look because my work day is filled with chaos and clutter. My brain needs space to switch off.

This has been really helpful. I’ll try to post the colours I’ve been using tomorrow (when I can get a better representation in daylight).

I think the pp who mentioned texture was also onto something - my fabrics lack texture and depth. I think I need to find a different type of interest.

Rechargeable lights sound interesting!

I'm not sure I agree a Scandi look needs loads of money to carry off. Minimalism yes but pared back Scandi style not so much. IKEA and H&M home is good for a lot of the components of this look. It's about lots of natural materials and textures. Think about shapes as well, is everything boxy or do you have circles and lines as well? And have lots of wood, preferably vintage.

What kind of house do you have? Is it a new build or mid century or a period property? What kind of budget do you have?

For your sitting room I'd spend ages choosing a good white then paint the walls, ceiling and woodwork in the same matt colour.

Stick a very large paper lantern (lots about, John Lewis and Dunelm do some nice ones) on your central ceiling light (or you could get a spider rose and hook several up, cheap but effective). Depends how high your ceiling is though, if it's not high then a mix of wall lights, floor lamps, table lamps, portable lamps and fairy lights make more sense. You need lots of sources of light to make it feel cozy, aim for 5 or 7. For interest mix up styles and eras but keep to your neutral colour palette.

Cover the ugly laminate floor with the biggest rug from IKEA that is made from a natural material, something like the jute Lohals. Or you could layer natural rugs with the IKEA black and white Stockholm rug, depends how much texture you can cope with.

What kind of sofa do you have? Something like the boxy Swyft no3 would fit. Or go for something with a MCM asthetic or even a vintage sofa that you could get reupholstered. A leather sofa might work as well as long as you go for a natural brown colour. Depends how much room you have. Then some accent chairs with lots of wooden legs and arms on show and lots of vintage MCM options on vinterior or ebay. Do not have sofas backed against the wall unless the room is very small. Have cushions in a mix of textures but in a tight colour palette and preferably natural materials. No matching. And nice blankets in cotton and wool.

Think about TV location, try and avoid having it the opposite corner from your door. Then think about what else you want, e.g. do you need a desk or bookshelves in this room? If you need lots of storage get IKEA storage or go upmarket and get Vitsœ.

Art work go big, there's lots of abstract art on ebay that can be picked up cheapily that will add impact but not detract from your asthetic (lots of shite as well but it'll be worth trailing through to get what you want). Or go for a gallery wall of family photos or kids art or magazine covers or whatever is meaningful to you. But think about what else is going on and if too much visual clutter will stress you, I have very little art in my sitting room because I have so many bookshelves in there. So my art is elsewhere.

So basically texture, wood, light and vintage.

I'd start with the floor. Get a lovely rug to cover the laminate in a colour you enjoy and preferably with a bit of texture. Then get some throws and cushions in a colour that picks up a colour from the rug and in a variety of textures, paint the walls in another colour from the rug. I also swear by rechargeable lamps (as I've only got about three sockets in my entire living room) and don't forget lighting at different heights (so wall lamps, tall reading lamps, small desk lights). Add a wonderful piece of artwork -preferably one that picks up one of your colours, a mirror and then some ornaments if you like.

Rugs, lamps, plants are the key to a warm room imo. A lot of people buy rugs that are way too small for the space, which can make the room feel ‘off’. The rug should at very least go well under the feet of all of your sitting furniture. A good rug will ground the space and also can give some colour guidance for the rest of the room if you don’t
have colour elsewhere.

Lamps and plants bring friendly light and natural color to the space. They don’t have to be expensive, I’ve got £10 ikea lamps (black with a neutral cream shade) mixed in with nicer ones I’ve bought over the years.