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 quite like the stone. As you need to keep the firescreen, could you spray paint it so that it looks less like a baby playpen? Possibly black or a colour similar to the stone wall?

What about mustard for the walls?

Maybe Navy walls and rust coloured soft furnishings of different textures?

This is your DS safety and health. If the glass is dangerous I’d be hiring someone to remove it and MIL can go do one. Don’t be bullied by her and your in laws over something so important. The glass is also at least 20 years older now than when her kids were there. Surely your DH cares about his child’s safety?

the colour scheme is tricky - I agree re one colour not two as you’ve already got orange floors and yellow fireplace. Those apps to select one sound good as they usually photograph your room so you can see what the colour looks like alongside your other stuff. Personally I would stick to my original recommendation of pale grey like dapple grey to match couch but not stick out too much as the other colours are there.

@ColumboOnTheCase I really like that colour

@MonkeyMonkin I am honestly considering just trying to do it myself or hiring someone to come in and do it. Then let DH remove it if he wants. He wont. I have been looking up installing plasterboard it's not as easy as it looks so I might look into hiring someone

How is it going? Any more changes?

@AliceOlive no more changes yet. We were away and I have another few busy weekends coming up. But I am fairly certain I will have re painted and added curtains by Christmas 😁

Looking forward to see it once it’s done!

Whatever you do - I would embrace that view- don't forget to think about child proofing as it will make your life easier. Avoid sharp angles on tables/cupboard edges etc.
Is that a Babydan fireguard we used to have one as a room divider in the toddler years? Ensure any furniture which could topple is secured.

Honestly and I don't want to be rude but the entire design is very weird as is.

Why are the pictures hung so oddly?
Why is the sofa so ridiculously MASSIVE?
Why is the tv hung so randomly on that blank wall?
Why no curtains?

Honestly the first thing you need to do (and only thing to make any real difference) is to scrap that sofa. It really does just look ridiculous like trying to stand an elephant in a shoe box. Its just far to big for the space availible and nothing else will truely make a difference with that still there.

I would move the TV to the other wall where the fire place is (either mounted above the fire or personally I would have it on a stylish TV stand to the side of the fire).

I would re-hang the photos in a less odd way (why are they so high) and do it on the wall that currently has the TV hung on it.

I would stain the doors and frames to match the window frame and change the light fixtures.

There nothing you can do about the glass or stone but it could look nice by leaning into what you have and stylizing more 'retro' because currently it clashes so horrifically with the hyper modern style you have filled it with.

I would lean into some colour (limes, oranges, blue or red) and/or pattern to compliment the 60s style.

I went with shades of Blue off set by the contrast of copper in this as I feel its 'easy' but Limes etc... could work well. Maybe ideas like:

Sofa
light shade
curtains
rug
wall light

OK I've been using the visualiser app to see some colours

The pictures are hung in weird places because that's where the hooks were

I really don't want to take the TV off the wall. As a child a local child was killed by a TV falling on him when he tried to hug ir and it stuck with me. I just can't.

I've reduced the size of the couch. We really can't afford a new one so that will have to do. There is no other option.

I want to paint, put up curtains, a rug and I have been looking at those sheer curtains to go behind the couch..I'm still not sure im happy about the glass at all though. Even though dh said you won't break it - easily.

purple and red - just no, or do either much darker tones. In fact I would say that for all your colours. they look a little garish.

I would try a grey as well

@Pipsquiggle I quite like the dark colours, I was putting some lighter ones into the visuliser and they weren't great imo. I like the look of teal when I look on pintrest. Maybe a dark navy? The green is my fav

I think darker colours just make the room look enclosed and cramped and cramped is already a problem with the couch being too big and bulky for the space. Of all the colours there bitter chocolate isn’t the worst but you’d need to find some throws or covers to try mute the couch a bit. I would look at greys that are nice with the couch and don’t make the stone look too yellow.

i think the couch with the glass behind it is incredibly dangerous for your child. It’s likely single glazed. An accident waiting to happen when an energetic toddler climbs up on the top of the couch.

Actually on reflection the dark green is probably the nicest. It matches in ok with the stone and if you got nice white cushions with a floral pattern on them it could tie in nicely and that would brighten up the couch if you got a nice throw as well.

@MonkeyMonkin I have wanted to get rid of that glass since we moved in. 1 because I never liked how it looks, and now 2 I am worried it is dangerous. It wasn't really a row that came out, just a lot of disapproval and a no basically. I have never spoken to ILs directly DH does it. But I don't think he passes on what I want. They think the room will become too dark if that glass is gone. Most rooms don't have a glass wall and are perfectly bright enough.

We have had the room ever way really. We had the couch against the wall the TV is now on, it doesn't work well at all. The kitchen is through that door so you come from the kitchen straight into the couch and it's awkward.

Against the radiator doesn't really work well either I found it made the room much smaller.

I think I should just buy a nail gun, some plasterboard and go at it myself! Let DH get over it!!

I like both of these greens.

The TV stand one, I think I could go with that, I could still leave the tv bolted to the wall

not so gone on that many plants.

Agree with lots that i’ve already read. Wicker baskets
textured furnishings- boucle, hessian
nice tall potted plant

I’d go with green but probably more of a sage. I actually LOVE the glass and the stone wall doesn’t offend me either!

Can’t put a price on that view x

This would be my energy, agree that the sofa is main issue currently x

I would try to keep colours as light as possible. Light green would be good to complement the view.

TVs are not remotely like they use to be... I can pick up and move all 3 large flatscreen tv's we have myself now as a disabled woman, it takes 2 of us to lift the old small 'fat back' tv from the 90s that we have in storage.

Due to the TVs being light they can tip but we just tape them down and they are on a sturdy base, 2 cats and 3 kids and none have ever come close to falling.

Falling off the wall would be more dangerous due to the higher hight and speed than one just tipping forward off a low stand.

Re the glass I wonder if there is a clear plastic film you can stick over it to hold the pieces together if it were to be broken? At least you would still get some of the light then.