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.

Sofas of the same style but brighter or more modern colouration could break up the space as well as wooden flooring and a good persian rug or replica, maybe even some interesting artwork and a side stand or coffee table

on second glance perhaps a well designed L shaped sofa, not any of those hideous velvet grey ones , but still a decent rug, hardwood and art with the fire, stairs and tv corner as a focal point x

As @parietal said, you need to move sofa. Think about orientation, the nicest bits are the windows and the fire place. I’d keep one of the two sofas - they are two different styles- personally I like the tasseled one more and face it toward either the fireplace with space behind to walk or facing the window. Then add a cosy armchair and some floor pillows with a coffee table or trunk for centre piece and for your tea. Standing lamps and foliage, a good mirror facing the fireplace or over the fireplace. Curtains or blinds help frame a room. Use the colours from sofa to build out from there. Red and gold work well with forest green or a grey maybe :)

Also eBay! Gumtree! You can great things secondhand

@Fearnecuptea

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.

I know. Are those windows wonderful? I am sure the whole house is like that.

That sofa is fabulous, OP.

Definitely lean into the cosy vibe rather than trying to brighten it up too much. I love the sofas you have selected (the DFS link) and the rug as well. Some plants, some old prints or maps on the walls and a warmer colour than bright white (try Slaked Lime from Little Greene, or maybe even lean into a muddy blue or green). Some large indoor plants. Lamps would be great to put in different points of light. Bit of wooden furniture warms it up too. An ottoman instead of a coffee table.

Something like this: inigo.com/past-sales/dagnall-farm

Oh my word those windows! I would get rid of the carpet and put a rug down. A mirror over the fireplace. Some candles.

Those sofas seem very large for the room.

The Inigo link is spot on, I would check out those photos and lean in to the cosy/rustic vibe.
Have you thought about a jute rug? I liked your rug but I think natural fibre rug would look even better in your space.

And look out for vintage pieces, lamps/rugs/mirrors/art

Agree with the poster who said darker walls. It’s going to be stunning though- lovely bones.

How did I live before seeing that Inigo web site? I am in love. Thank you, @Sd352, for posting that link.

Not sure why you’d spend £500 on a rug - use that money to re carpet

Definatley a large tradition rug maybe red patterned and acouple brighter cushions for your sofa with some white in, acouple of faux fur ones and a throw! Wome fire place decor too would look amazing, live your fireplace, will look lovely at christmas with stockings and lights hanging from it!

Some*

Dunelm and wayfair have great rugs in that don't cost the earth too!

I'd buy a slightly threadbare Oriental rug on eBay.

I would paint that room a dark colour and it would feel so cosy.

Mirror above the fireplace, lamps, large rug, cushions on the sofas and maybe repaint the wall around the fire place in a darker colour than the other walls.

Farrow and Ball paints are great for making a statement and the room is great by the way x

If you have wooden floor boards under that carpet maybe take it up. X

Agree with PPs about moving sofas to flank fireplace (if you can't get rid of them that is!).

Agree also that the room needs genuine old -- even slightly threadbare - rather than repro; and (as Alfonso) says you can get wonderful real rugs cheaply on ebay.

The Milton Keynes farmhouse vibe was spot on, IMHO. A bit simple and spare; lots of real wood.

This magazine article might be going far too far, and is maybe 50 years too late for your house, but I think still might be helpful, just to show what can be done
www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/louise-jones-victorian-cottage