Help me with my living room

[gotthearse]

We have just given this room a temporary tart up. Walls are plain white as the low ceiling can make it feel gloomy. It will get major work in 2 years (replaster in lime, stone floor and underheat, repoint fireplace, recess the ceiling to expose the beam). I want to make it cosy and stylish, ideally not spend too much given the future work, and not in a way thats totally at odds with the age of the house (1795). Im stumped. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

A large pale coloured rug would help break up the dark red of the sofas and fireplace and huge expanse of brown carpet. It’s a nice room and the sofas suit the style with the fireplace and windows; I think it’s just all that (sorry!) sludgy brown carpet which brings it down. Add some artwork to the walls and a few plants and it will look a lot brighter and more cultivated.

I think the sofas are making it dull. Get some light coloured throws to hide it and a big rug that's lighter too. That will take the dullness away. Also blinds at the windows

Also, it may just be your camera that isn’t great but the walls look quite yellow and dingy even though you say they’re newly painted white. What lamps (bulbs) do you have in your light fixtures? Better lighting / tone of light can work wonders.

I'd stick a big mirror opposite the windows to bounce light around. PPs are right that the carpet colour is pulling the whole thing down, so try a lighter rug.

What it needs is a darker colour on the walls oddly enough!
There's a fab Facebook group called rockett st George , I'd have a look there.
Beautiful room though, good luck with your refurb.

Rug, large lamps, coffee table, light coloured cushions, a bit of greenery, a couple of lovely folded throws on the end of the sofas to add texture and some mirrors & artwork. And Roman blinds at the windows

Room is lovely, furniture is all wrong. Pushing sofas to the wall is the mistake. They need to be moved and better positioned.

Consider a different paint colour as I think the pure white is too harsh and clinical and makes the room 'cold'. I like Wickes 'pure cotton'. It's a very slightly grey white (nicer than I've made it sound!) and is cheap and cheerful if you buy the trade tubs (about £15 for 10litres). It goes on nicely with great coverage.

Oversized lamps at either side of far couch. Move the nearer couch closer to the fire and walk behind it. Maybe a large footstool thing that people use for magazines/coffee table - you know - says I’m posh.

@gotthearse what a fab room! Beautiful windows. Can you take pictures from the other sides of the room? When you enter as a visitor, which side do you see first? What colours do you actually like? Do you watch tv in this room? Personally I agree about the furniture placement which is important given that you have two entrances to other areas (I can see a doorway next to the fabric sofa plus the stairs). The fabric sofa is covering the windows and affecting the amount of light coming into the room. I also think painting the walls a dark colour will help the coziness. If you take up the carpet, what’s underneath currently?

Get rid of the brown carpet. A floor is the fifth wall and the sludgy brown is dragging it down. If you must have carpet, get a neutral wool one, otherwise wood floorboards if you don’t want to invest in engineered wood before you get the major work done or maybe you’ll have flagstones underneath. Some artwork on the walls. Coffee table, cushions and throws.Nice lamp table with decent size table lamp. Lovely potential.

What a beautiful room! I am so envious of you, having a house built in 1795.

No suggestions other than what other have made.

I think the main issue is the sofas are very old fashioned, especially the leather one and that's affecting the look and feel of the room - I think replacing them would make a huge difference. Or can you at least get the fabric one re-covered?

If I had a room that was being totally refurbished in a couple of years, I would use the opportunity to experiment with colour. Maybe dark blue walls (I love pitch blue by F&B) and a brightly coloured rug in a jewel colour. Then some fairy lights around the fire place.

I think the main issue is the sofas are very old fashioned, especially the leather one
I think that the word you are looking for is "classic".

Take the one sofa away from the window area to let in more light. Try to place the sofas facing each other so it looks like they are a place for a cosy chat. Maybe flanking the fireplace?

The room needs more soft furnishings and texture. And height eg a tall lamp.

Agree about moving the sofas so they face each other flanking the fireplace. Maybe cover them with those covers that you tuck in so they match. Light coloured but patterned rug, large so it tucks under both sofas.

Everything is all at the same level at the minute, you need some height, maybe a tall plant with the bonus of instant colour, tall light and maybe some cheap wall art. Desenio?

Thanks everyone, this is great. Both the carpet and the sofas were inherited and I curse them every day. I think I've now convinced myself to replace them ahead of the refurb....but then I'll want to do the carpet too, perhaps I can compromise with a rug...

Its a really hard room to arrange as every wall has a hole in it and the ceiling is so low. Attached pics from the other end...

A bright patterned rug and a throw on the sofas.
Geometric or floral prints would enhance your lovely room.

You could add a jute rug from IKEA which would brighten up the carpet and isnt too pricey.
I agree with the comments about moving the sofas and adding mirrors/lamps/floor lamps/pattern.
Some ikat cushions would be a nice way to add some fun.
And some window treatments, even if only low cost floor length linen curtains from IKEA.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/hellested-rug-flatwoven-natural-brown-40407984/

try putting the one sofa facing the windows with a 'corridor' space behind it for people to walk along. that will make the room feel a bit smaller & cosy (the low ceiling will no longer be out-of-proportion). The big sofa blocking the windows feels oppressive.

Then (if you can) get rid of the other sofa. Have a couple of light-weight chairs instead (think IKEA Poang or similar). Or beanbags / floor cushions if you have kids of an age to use them.

if you are going to have a TV, put it in front of the niche to the left of the fireplace. If not, put a big pot plant there.

I agree a big pale rug would be good. And put pictures or posters or something on the walls to draw the eye.

I have found some things I like..

m.dfs.co.uk/patterdale/ptd13apdv

And a rug

www.dunelm.com/product/vintage-kashan-2-rug-1000143140?colour=Vintage+Kashan+2+Ivory&defaultSkuId=30637152&rugSize=269cm+x+361cm+%289ft+x+12ft%29

Lovely choices @gotthearse! I’d place two of those sofas facing each other in front of the fireplace with a coffee table in the middle. That way, you create a route around the room that doesn’t disturb the people using it. Place a tall console table where the white unit is currently and place a lamp at either end as a softer lighting option. If you are going to have a Tv, I’d place it on one of the walls facing the fireplace. A Samsung frame Tv would be less obtrusive and if you place artwork of a similar size and look on the other wall you’ll create symmetry and a cohesive look. Add texture from your rug and cushions. If the floor underneath is rubbish, consider sisal flooring as that would suit this sort of property I think. Let us know how you get on!

Definitely move that sofa away from the windows, turn it 90 degrees to directly face the fireplace!

The smaller sofa move 90 degrees to directly face the window.

As pp said have the sofas away from the walls, walk behind the sofas.

Pop the rug in front of the fire make sure the front legs of both sofas are on it.

This will create a cosy "space" within the room iyswim.

The stairs entry is a huge gap and must be very draughty! Can put up thick velvet curtains to hide the openings - actually this would be very in keeping with the house age. Thick rich warm burgundy velvet would work.

Just came on to say your windows are AMAZING. I'm so jealous. And the view. Tbh if you're doing the room up properly in two years, I'm not sure what I'd suggest (sorry not much help).

God I actually love those windows, thats all im focused on really haha.