please help with decorating my lounge!

[Mandy21]

1930s semi. Lounge - quite a decent size (15ft x 14ft), large bay window (stained glass in top part), light. Fireplace with built in (floating) shelves in alcoves, cupboards at the bottom. Just saying that so you know there's lots going on, its not just 4 blank walls.

Have already bought the curtains (need massive width so got them in the sales). Kind of chintzy, muted floral pattern in beige / grey / spot of yellow.

Question is whether wall paper (maybe just on one wall?) would be too much, or whether I should just paint. All the walls will be newly plastered.

Pleasr help!

Personally I hate wallpaper. I have a similar type of house and it's painted in Egyptian Cotton with white woodwork and stripped floorboards.

Sounds lovely, will google!

We are decorating our 1930s lounge at the moment too. It seems similar to yours. We just got the walls lined with paper ready to be painted. We love Farrow & Ball colours so have been looking at different shades there. The room is facing south so we thought we will paint the walls in blue gray and the woodwork in pointing (a creamy white). Have a look at the f&b website for inspiration. Also if you like their style here are numerous threads on MN about their colours. If it's out of your budget you can get the colours matched elsewhere.

Thanks imme. All the woodwork etc is in F&B all white and I like Elephants Breath, but wondered whether it might all be a bit bland (hence wondering whether wall paper would add more interest). Argggghhh, I'm just so indecisive and worried about making expensive mistakes!

I think that sounds nice but then i am a fan of classical style. You can add more interesting bits by putting nice pictures up, add soft furnishings, nice throws, cushions etc. I think wallpaper, especially feature walls, can get quite dated.

Elephants breath is a beautiful greige colour, it works with all white or pointing, remember it is colour with a red base, in certain light it has a slight lilac tinge.

Can I ask which way your room faces?

Stay away from feature walls use texture and lighting to give interest.

I love elephants breath. I would have gone for it if I could have afforded it

I'd leave off the wallpaper. The curtains sound great, but I'm not sure how you'd tie them to more pattern without making it look like your nan's house. Like you've said, your room has plenty going on anyway, it's not going to look soulless.

Its East facing (I think). Gets lots of sunlight in the morning, less later in the day. I've heard on MN that North facing rooms can feel cold / dark, not sure what the 'rule' is for east-facing?

If it makes any difference, would probably get colour copied. We painted the children's bedrooms in F&B and it hasnt really stood up to chaotic family life.

Elephants breath looks just as fabulous in north facing rooms, your room will have little natural light in the evening.

Think about keeping the walls plain, if you would like some contrast, black frames look particularly good against elephants breath.

Thanks everyone.

Will get samples tomorrow

I was told if you have patterned curtains to try and keep walls simple and treat your curtains as a large piece of artwork. Remember that when they are closed in a large bay window there is a large expanse of material. SO I would say just pick a nice wall colour and paint the walls and then go with artwork/mirror/framed wallpaper sample/material.

Our lounge is 1930s, 15ft sq, huge bay, original fireplace (art deco) and we have slightly patterned curtains but then just classic cream paint on the walls. we like to have photos of the kids up on the walls so they are on 2 walls along with 1 landscape canvas which picks up the colours from the curtains. Above the fire we have a fancy mirror and just a neutral coloured picture. It works for us. oh and ours is north facing too, I often find it very dark and quite cold so having the warm cream (and terracotta & gold) works well.