Design/ style help for dated living room - pics included

[livingroom]

NC as it is so clearly my house to anyone who knows me!!

I really don't know what to do to improve our living room. I am very bad at picking out style etc.

The stone wall cannot be changed. Neither for now can the glass unfortunately - I could possibly change it to something else. Behind it is the hall with the front door.

I think around the TV/ window looks very bare though. Maybe cornice could help? I was thinking of maybe getting large pictures and nicer frames.

I also like the idea of a wall of bookcases/cabinets and shelves in front of the glass wall. The ceiling doesn’t look high so you could probably get it close to full height.

You could then have the tv on the shelving wall and the giant ugly sofa on the tv wall.

I really like that unit. DS would have a great time pulling it apart/ climbing on it. If we put the couch against the wall the TV is currently on it makes it awkward to get into the kitchen, when we first moved in that's where we had the couch - a standard 3 seater. We have also had the couch against the window didn't feel right their either.

😂😂here in pure hysterics DH asked who'll build it all, all and I just said you will of course he's like oh I will, will I. He will, I will sort of help.

The sofa is hideous! Unless you change that I don’t think anything else you do in the room will matter as it just takes over the whole space.

Where does the glass door go @livingroom could you swap to using it instead of the other one? If you can’t get a new couch or move it to where the tv is I’m afraid you are very limited in what you can do to improve the room sadly.

You need something like this built the TV end, storage for toys and no wires hanging across the wall to a suspended TV. Curtains at the window, paint in a light reflecting neutral, new light fitting with a bit of interest. The colour currently is a bit dated. Get the photos off the wall and get some nice frames to put on your new shelves. Curtains to dress the window, a nice rug to tie it together.
I don't like the sofa but if it's new and can't be changed it is what it is. I agree with PP a mantel and large mirror will cover a lot of the stone wall and reflect that lovely view. If you can without IL wrath paint the stonework.

I also think you should lean into the mid century vibe it’s got going. I actually live that look. Maybe some open shelving on the wall along these lines?

You need to make the sofa as recessive as possible. Put it against the wall with the TV. It would be best if you could get rid of it as whatever you do with that room, the sofa will always be the jarring feature.

Also if you ever need to sell that house you need to get the sofa out of the house before viewings.

I quite like the glass wall

That house could look amazing with mid century furniture

Take away the part of the sofa thats blocking the radiator, remove the blind and put in some lovely curtains. Put sheer curtains up against glass wall. At the very least hide the awful wires from the tv. Clear all the modular toy storage and re assess pictures and frames. Change lamp shades. (Sorry I really am, but the sofa would have to go if it were mine (clearly the husband with it, ha ha)

Omg OP, that glass wall and door is amazing! I’m paying THOUSANDS for something similar in my house. You’re very lucky to have had that in your house when you bought it!

Re decor, the trouble is you have a glass wall, a massive window in another wall, a door in a third wall and the smallest wall is where you’ve hung your TV. Personally I would put the TV in front of the stone wall, on a low cabinet or shelf. Split up the sofa, either side of the window, maybe with an L shape against the wall the TV is currently on. Put your photos above that bit of sofa. Then my god I would leave that glass wall open and exposed - it’s gorgeous!

I’ve looked through your posts but can’t see where or if you said your budget?

Just echoing what others have said, the sofa is completely wrong for the room. It’s too big and imposing and such a shame that it’s a corner sofa and taking up 2 walls.

I’m also not a fan of the pine/orange floors. I have similar in a room in our house and it will be the next thing to go when we decorate. A paler shade of wood/laminate or carpet is nicer imo (although probably not carpet if you’ve a baby).

Paint the walls a neutral colour.

I think the stone wall is lovely

The toddler play area is nice. I prefer white wood cabinets though.

What do you actually like? I know MN loves the neutral, but I hate it.

Do you want grey or would you prefer colour?
Do you want it to feel cool and calm or snuggly and warm?
What is your budget?
Have you seen anything anywhere that you like?

Without wishing to be mean this is like a room a bloke would have. Massive sofa, no soft co-ordinated furnishings, functional pictures, tv on the wall and minimal decor.

I would paint the stone, what are they going to do shoot you? Once it's done it's done. Or cover it with cladding. Pinterest has some great ideas for this.

Use a neutral pallette and then a theme colour, it might be slightly old fashioned to do so but if you lack confidence in your ability to style it's safe. You can just change the highlight colour if you change your mind

I think the current colour of the walls is more dowdy against the freshness of the view so maybe try and reflect that.

Think about what it would be like to spend time in a room that was lovely and how much it currently drags you down.

Never let your partner choose furniture again 😀

@MonkeyMonkin The door leads to a corridor with the front door, but we don't use our front door, we use our back door (rural thing).

The budget is well, contentious. DH thinks as little as possible because this is a 'temporary home' we have been in this temp home for 8 years now.

I think curtains, paint, some way of overing the glass wall, a unit to frame the tv, better toy storage, throws, cushions and a rug could all hopefully help this room.

It is very hard to get what I want when anything major is not a discussion between DH and I, it is usually a discussion between DH, MIL, SIL and I'm not consulted. We did the bathrooms up recently. They are a lot better than they were but I didn't even get to see the tiles before they were bought and I would not have picked them.

Agree with PPs that it's a very blokey room. I can't believe you let him buy that sofa 🙈

The trouble with the stone wall and the sofa is that you have two competing tones going on: warm stone and cool sofa, so you're going to struggle to make those look cohesive.

I know you said you'll hire someone to help you in the next house but it might actually be worth using an online interior designer to help you with this one room. I like Julie Jones Design on tiktok and she's very transparent about her pricing.

I think cornicing will look out of place in a very 70s room if you're stuck with a lot of features - is there a reason you're so keen to get it installed?

The walls ARE a neutral but I think PPs mean lean into white. If you're on a tight budget try Almond from Wilko. Do not, under any circumstances, paint the room Dulux brilliant white.

If you're feeling brave you could do the walls a very dark colour to make the sofa blend in a bit more. Put a full length curtain track on the unused window/door wall in the same colour but velvet and let the stove wall become a feature.

Add lamps for soft lighting.

Replace the lampshade with something less depressing and more dimensional.

Well then you have a far bigger problem than a dated living room. That is not a nice living situation for you.

@TheBeesKnee Yes, when I said neutral, I meant an off white. That view would be beautifully framed by an off-white

I think we’re all agreed on the sofa 🤣 could you suggest storing it for your next house?

@sheworemellowyellow The TV can't be mounted onto the stone wall, the fire is used from Sept - May. I think I will look into a big mirror though. My house growing up had a big mirror.

Would you leave the lamps? But with new lamp shades? IDK what the couch would look like split. I can shorten it and both still have ends but IDK how we would create two couches without having it look like random couch parts, I will have to just see what it looks like.

DH does not want to do anything to improve this room. He thinks it is 'fine'

We will never be selling this house, it isn't ours to sell. When we moved in I wanted to take out maybe 30k and do the house up but DH said it was a waste of money. We are now here 8 years.

Sorry, cross posted with you. 8 years in a temporary home?!! As my mother says, there's nothing as permanent as something temporary! What's the plan for moving then? Do you have a budget and realistic timeline? I'd have lost my mind in your shoes 😅

It is very hard to get what I want when anything major is not a discussion between DH and I, it is usually a discussion between DH, MIL, SIL and I'm not consulted. We did the bathrooms up recently. They are a lot better than they were but I didn't even get to see the tiles before they were bought and I would not have picked them.

This is actually outrageous and I'd not bother redecorating but put all my energy into finding my own home.

The glass wall is reminding my of a 1960s Span house and I think you need to play on that 60s/70s vibe to make this room work. See photos. Forget the coving; you don't need it in a house of this era.

The fireplace is quite dominating but, like I say, it's very 70s - so I would leave it as it is and build on the vintage vibe to make it feel a cool feature rather than dated.

As others have said the couch is the major offender here, far, far too big for the space, too grey, too dominant. It looks like the room has been built around it rather than it chosen to fit the space. You need light airy furniture, ideally something on legs so you get a sense of the space below it, and something you can easily walk around. That's how to make the room feel less cluttered.

if you won't get rid of the couch, my idea of 1970 vibe won't work. In this case, I would decide a colour scheme which goes with dark grey of the sofa - yellow or teal are the standard ones - and paint the walls that colour - or if you prefer, a pale grey neutral (rather than the beige neutral you have at present). It will look a lot fresher. Then tie the new colour scheme together with the soft furnishings: blind, cushions, a rug and some carefully chosen, colour coordinating pictures. Get bigger pictures and hang them lower on the walls, at eye level.

@TheBeesKnee I've posted on here before about it but didn't to cloud how ppl saw me. We are very lucky DH will inherit a family farm along with a nice house some day (hopefully not for many days!). We currently rent the old farm house from ILs. When I moved here we were going to build our own house. Then we got engaged, so planned the wedding and house put on back burner. Since we have got married DH has said it will be a waste to build our own home. TBF he isn't wrong. We would end up with two houses and possibly not able to sell the 2nd one. Also planning could be nearly impossible since the newer farmer house was built in DHs name to get planning so he is unlikely to get it again. Where we live unless there is an existing dwelling or you have very good reason you won't get planning permission.

So no realistic time line because honestly that is terrible to think about! ILs are in their late 70s but I say to DH and mean it, there is hopefully a good chance they could live another 15/20 years.

Over all the house is fine. It feels very like I am early 20s playing house though and not how I would like to furnish it.

Anyway back to what I can do about this house. As you can see from the window we live in a beautiful area so lots of good parts too.

Maybe cornice is the wrong word. I was thinking something like this https://covingdirect.ie/products/md367?variant=41476551737595&currency=EUR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS2jC6Wshcqz5pGavcDzItcokQj1AHQwYd6p8mIK8QuUdjRKeOVoZNoaAga4EALw_wcB the top of the wall/ celing looks very bad.

I wouldn't be against doing this room is a dark colour at all. What would you suggest to go with the couch?

I love that look for frames painted into the walls https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1353956859/ready-to-install-wall-molding-package?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_ie_en_ie_-home_and_living-other&utm_custom1=k_Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS1X2ql_rms9QlHqDXQZzIndaVSUeiOUTQ0ClRiGS-6S7mxM86RuHbcaAuqeEALw_wcB_k&utm_content=go_13703308034_123455840399_530490401644_aud-2087868701483:pla-303628061739_c__1353956859enie_432418375&utm_custom2=13703308034&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS1X2ql_rms9QlHqDXQZzIndaVSUeiOUTQ0ClRiGS-6S7mxM86RuHbcaAuqeEALw_wcB but that wouldn't go here. I have a very long corridor to the bedrooms and thinking of doing that there

I would be tempted to paint the fireplace or have it skimmed. I prefer neutrals with a splash of colours so would be tempted to go with something like FB ammonite (get B&Q mix of masonry paint for fire) to match in the sofa. I would then go for statement curtains and put the tv on a stand (which can serve as toy storage). As time fireplace makeover in Pinterest gives loads of ideas

My sympathy is with you OP, it must be very hard to live like this tbh. I know its only the same as renting any house, but it seems really mean that you have absolutely no say. (And your DH picked your couch that you are going to have to live with for years...........................) Where are your choices in all this?

I would be pushing to move into the nice new house in your DHs name......................

So you could potentially be living in this house for another 15-20 years?

@Strictlyfanoftenyears I presume her parents-in-law live in the new house. And OP and her DH moved into their old house.

So basically you're waiting for the in laws to die so you can move in? The sofa is awful. The husband is unreasonable and you are stuck. Is the farmhouse worth it?