70s bungalow living room - help with decor

[Ilovexmastime]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any ideas on how to redecorate our living room? It's in the dorma part of a 70s bungalow, so quite low ceilings and no good for wooden floors as the bedrooms are below. The room itself is quite large, about 24x18 foot, and it gets the sun all day.

Any ideas for colours would be welcome, at the moment it's a magnolia type but I want something different - not too trendy though as I don't want to decorate again for at least 10 years :)

Something similar to magnolia

I always think, if you don't want to decorate often, you need to stick with fairly classic/traditional or neutral which you can then change by altering accessories, etc.

I'm the wrong person to ask as my house is Edwardian so we have stuck with fairly traditional colours e.g. lounge has buttery cream coloured plain carpet, sandy gold walls, black leather sofas, deep red and gold curtains and cushions and dark wood fireplace and furniture. I could change the colour scheme by just changing the curtains and cushions although this suits the house and we like it so it'll probably last us forever!

Would a scandinavian look work if you want modern? That often works in 1970s properties. You could check out Ikea ideas

We moved into a late 70's bungalow. Long room, Woodchip wall paper, two hideous light fittings. The first and most important thing we did was strip wallpaper and get great lighting. We installed halogen spots (led would be better these days) we put them about 20cm from wall in pairs - it works so much better than central pendant lights when you have a low ceiling. We embraced the retro-ness (is that a word?) of the house. We used eBay for ercol and g plan style furniture. You can get some bargains at house clearances and charity shops. We also got some very bold curtains - an Orla Kiely type fabric with bright leaf patterns. We painted the walls an off white.

Before I moved here I had a very 'shabby chic' style but I love our living room and new furniture! Go for neutral colours and add colour with bright prints and curtains.

Hope that helps. Happy the share photos if you'd like!

Can't help on the decor, but unless I get an answer to this I won't sleep.

Isn't a bungalow all on one floor? If so, what do you mean that the bedrooms are below?

sorry. Please indulge my curiosity.

70s bungalow with dormer windows put in the roof space to create a new 1st floor?

I was thinking about LED spots, as at the moment we have two hideous ceiling fans/lights, but I was wondering if they would look too modern or too bright in the evenings... do you have lamps for the evening Ggsoph? I would love to see some photos if it's not too much trouble?

Ha ha Liara, I hope you managed to sleep! RandomMess answered correctly for me (sorry I was away so long).

Colourwise, I'm now thinking of going for a light teal on the walls, but can't decide on the carpet colour. We have an oatmeal carpet at the moment and I definitely want to go darker as it is totally filthy thanks to sons and dogs.

TBH I think teal will date before ten years

I'll take some pics this eve so you can get the full effect of the lights

If you use recessed spots then they are really subtle. We have them on a dimmer so in the evening we turn them down so they create more of a subtle effect and have lamps. We have a dining table at one end and have a low pendant lamp over the table- also on a dimmer.
It's lovely and cozy -though the hideous 80's gas fire slightly ruins the effect longs for a log burner

We have a 70s bungalow that's still a bungalow! It has a south facing lounge which has a huge window. Blinds essential so gone for quite unusual textured verticals which everyone loves. Have a neutral carpet with Muddy Puddle and Nutmeg white on the walls. Our furniture isn't in period though is quite plain with clean lines. Our gas fire wouldn't be my choice - log burner would be lovely but it supports our wonderful back boiler and can't be replaced. Lighting, as others have said, is key. We have several lamps and rarely use our central lights. I would have liked wall lights but didn't want the hassle of channelling out and replastering.

Thank you Randommess. I did see your answer and it allowed me to sleep, even if it wasn't right (at least I didn't spend all my time imagining implausible scenarios).

But it's even better because it was :)

Polishes halo

What a good idea though to use the upstairs as the lounge as then you're all sleeping on the same level still!

Is it magnolia as a cream shade or cream that you don't like? Crown antique cream is very nice. Do you like white? As has been said you would be better off changing your accessories.

I agree with lots that has already been said regarding keeping walls colours neutral. As it is a sunny room you could you a cool colour, Farrow and Ball have beautiful off-white shades such as Skimming Stone or Blackened (pale grey). I like Ggsoph's retro ideas to stay in-keeping with the house and for a retro gas fire under £300 see tinyurl.com/ps8hmyv.
I think grey sofas work well and interest can be created by changing cushions as you feel appropiate. Bleachable carpets are very good value at £14.99/sq meter, see tinyurl.com/pbp36ty and are great to keep clean. You can even order a sample and have fun experimenting with different substances, curry, red wine, marker...
Good luck and have fun, Suzanne

Thanks again everyone, and sorry again for being away so long.

I think I'm definitely going to go for the recessed spot lights on a dimmer (why didn't I think of a dimmer... doh!) and lamps.

I've taken onboard your comments about the wall colour and am now thinking of something like this: www.houzz.com/photos/1014753/Kapalua-Living-Room-contemporary-living-room

what do you think? This looks about the same size as our lounge, maybe a bit bigger, and the only thing I don't like in this room is the position of the TV, above the fire. I would put the TV opposite the big sofa.

TV's shouldn't go above fires surely?!

I would love a wood burner too, but I don't think I'll get one as I know the mess would drive me mad in the end.

www.houzz.com/photos/1014753/Kapalua-Living-Room-contemporary-living-room

I like that colour scheme (cool, stoney neutrals would be lovely in your sunny room) and it really lends itself to the long-term, change-the-accent-colour approach.

I wouldn't put the tv over the fireplace either, because I like the fireplace to be the focal point of the room, and absolutely not the TV.

Thanks for linking it properly Brown and I'm glad you like too!

*like it too!

I was going to suggest grey, then I looked at your pic.

Do the walls light grey, and keep the teal for cushions or curtains. We used Cornforth White from F&B (but had the colour mixed by another company, so wasn't as expensive)