OK all you budding interior designers......

[gingerbear]

I am a complete design novice. And desperately need help to prevent my house looking like I took back in the chintz that was thrown out when next door went to Ikea.......
We have just had an extension built, so have a lovely 7m x 4m living room. Trouble is I haven't a clue how to decorate. We have a 3+2+1 dark green leather suite, which we can't afford to replace. This was in the old room with a terracotta carpet and cream walls. I hated the combination, but don't know where to start in the new room. The house is an old cottage with low beamed ceilings, so I want to keep things bright, but not necessarily 'olde worlde'.

Any ideas??

i'd be tempted to go for an natural 'theme', lots of browns creams and greens and maybe some prints on the walls. A wooden floor, cream walls, a lighter green for the fabrics, and maybe even some of the framed sticks and bits i've seen in the ikea catalog.

Natural sounds good to me. I'd keep the walls a neutral colour like cream and add the stronger colours in with pictures. Easily changed, cream walls are easily touched up (essential with children!) and less harsh than white (IMHO!).

A wooden floor is good as it can be wiped clean.

Mmm, like the sound of the natural theme. Have been thinking about a wooden floor, but not having had them before, would it be too cold, and wouldn't it be tempting to cover up with a rug??

We do like to wander about the house bearfooted.

they are colder but sooo practical wipe cleanable, we're going for a real oak wood veneer. it fits like a laminate (cklick and lock mechanisim) but is warmer under foot.

meant to add, you can pick up in B and Q CD's which allow you to 'decorate' your room vertually using different colours, its only a tenner and does look quite

thanks for the tip katzguk. I think there have been a few threads about wooden floors recently - will do a search.....