Is my sitting room "old"? (I'm only 29!) PICTURE

[nc10]

NC for this.

Advice please... a friend of mine was over the other day and said my sitting room looked "old lady"

I'm only 29! The curtains are crushed velvet which I understand to be very en vouge and grey walls which I thought were fashionable too?!

The furniture is expensive so don't want to get rid of it to fit the room to a tee.

Its a beautiful room, but maybe a bit drab. I agree about adding a few splashes of colour with some cushions in jewel colours, a new throw, and framed prints on the walls, maybe some plants.
I also hate the coffee table-its so heavy looking.
At 29 I lived in a loft which was all white but full of furniture I got from skips and a proper chintz sofa

I think its nice if its to your taste. With our first house it was a new build, we were young and visited show houses for fun most weekends. Our house ended up looking like a perfectly dressed showhouse. Nice but it took years and another house for us to get our own style. I'm 35 and still trying to figure it out. Personally I think you grow into your home and how it looks. If you have just decorated or its a mish mash of styles from other homes fitting into a new one it can be hard to make it look lived in. My father owns a business that does kitchens, bedrooms and woodwork. He works with interior designers a lot but he also would be keen on interior design, so their home goes through different styles and periods over the years. They have just done the house up for the first time in around 10 years, they style has changed totally to wood panelling in the hall, study and dining room, shaker kitchen with the wood painted in different creams, greys and blues. New huge grey couches and enormous wood table and grey fabric wingback chairs. Its amazing. Probably not to everyones taste. But now its done up my mam has a hard time making it look less new and more lived in and family friendly. Colourful cushions and pictures, new voile panels for windows and knick knacks.

At the moment yours is lovely but feels slightly impersonal and not very lived it (could be because its so tidy and immaculate :) ). I would get fitted shelves and a tv unit built into your alcove painted in a nice pale grey or dark navy. Change the heavy curtains for something lighter or more sheer better yet get wooden shutters. Remove about 8 cushions and replace one or two of the others with something brighter. You could change the colour of the coffee table quite easily.

At the end of the day who cares what anyone else thinks? As long as you like it.

Your room looks lovely and classy (wish mine was as tidy) and there is no need to change it just because someone else has made what you take as a negative comment.

My taste is cottage style - when I put the house on the market a young man (prospective buyer) came round and said that it reminded him of his Nan's house (cheeky young puppy).

Then I saw an item in a magazine with lovely stuff like a crocheted bed cover and floral pictures on the wall - it was called 'granny chic' for heaven's sake - so you've got a long way to go before you get as bad as me!

I love it, very classy and elegant.

The only thing that looks old-lady to me is the backgammon board! But then that's probably retro and back in fashion now
Maybe that's what she meant....

I think it's lovely though, and if you like it then who cares what she thinks

I think it looks lovely & agree much nicer without the tie-backs. For my own taste I'd add a little bright/contrasting colour, either as a picture or a throw.

The plant though - that's old-fashioned - it looks like an Aspidistra Victorian favourite

It looks great with the curtains like that!

I like it. I think its elegant and I am 33. If you wish to give it a modern look, you don't need to buy new furniture. Just jazz it up by changing the throw and cushion covers. Get something more colourful. Also Although I like the rest of the decor, I do not like the rug.

Ps, I didn't know tie backs were old fashioned! Perhaps if you still wat to use them get them in a contrasting colour?

Funny you saying that furry. I was just thinking about getting some plants like that! I think an Aspidistra is small though - that looks more ferny to me!

Love it now w out tie backs. If you notice any chill off windows just read the other day to add a pelmet above rod, as this traps cool air from the window entering the room

It looks very elegant and classic - in keeping with the building (looks like a period property?). Ignore your friend. She sounds jealous tbh. And the tiebacks are just fine.

I don't think it looks old lady but it does look a bit like a hotel or "corporate contemporary" space. The curtains are a bit heavy and dark for the space.

It would look more modern if you got rid of the rug and had bare floor boards as it is a really lovely floor, and had lighter curtains.

Much better with out the tie backs

Can you try parting half the curtains to the left and the other half to the right, exposing the lovely windows and letting more light in?

springflower

We had an aspidistra and it was (cue song) "the biggest aspidistra in the world". It was ENORMOUS!

It's very elegant and classic, but quite anonymous like a hotel suite or serviced apartment.

@justanotherburd it's not usually there... on the other side of the backgammon board is a chess board and DP has been teaching me how to play. I'm pretty hopeless at it!

The curtains aren't really my thing but other than that it looks really nice!

Can't behind the difference the curtain ties make.
Much better

I didn't actually realise the curtains were crushed velvet until I looked again at the pic just now...

They're not me but yiu could layer them with other Finer, sheerer curtains underneath.

I do think the odd statement piece (cushions etc) something unusual or bright is what would give the room interest. But that's me.

Neighbours next door to me have a typical Victorian terrace high ceiling too with bare floorboards and huge rugs but have a lovely lime green velvet sofa and another more beige one, with really nice i think Peruvian or South American fabric square cushions and interesting prints. They've got 3 DC too. Neighbours the other side have kept a lot of the previous owners
decoration but have added nice prints and statement bits like the odd sculpture. Their sitting room/dining room area is huge and knocked through though and has a piano there.

Your windows are really gorgeous though and I'd show them off more, unsure but I may strip the mantlepiece to reveal the natural wood or keep it painted or clear it.

My most loved features in my smaller dining room/casual living room area are the stripped wood fireplace (original) and the tiled hearth. I put an old gilt mirror in the alcove next to the fireplace then I've got the dining room table and chairs.

This means my main living room can be centre stage and the showpiece.

I'd make a feature of your chess or backgammon boards, display them more if you can/want to.

Vandree I'd do the same as you've suggested!

Where do people put their television these days? I hate both TV stands and TVs on the wall.

What's the alternative though?

nc10

I think it's beautiful and timeless.

I would only suggest two changes, now you've got rid of the tie backs.

1. Add a light coloured throw to the brown sofa. Have it folded on the arm, so it just breaks up all the dark stuff.

1. If you don't like the cover on the other sofa, get rid of it and buy a new one! Life's too short to have a sofa cover you can't stand.

Our TV sits on a 17th century church chest.

Doesn't every I have one of those?!