photos of my rather dull house on profile, please give me ideas on how i can make it better

[WhatCanIDoWithMyHouse]

yes here it is, our house.
it's rather plain as you can see....

i would like to add a bit of life and colour to it.

the walls need something

esp the wall above the table

i dont know how to do the living room as it;s a funny shape and has the stairs in it

one colour i would like to use is green.
and i was thinking either lime green and cerise, although i might get sick with cerise

or greens and browns

i'vename changed as i don't really fancy people knowing me in rl, although they might recognise my house.
so if you know me out don't out me.
thanks

lol the bathroom theme, don't forget the shell shaped sink!
i think that must be where dh gets his beach shot = bathroom ideas.

my photos on the upstairs computer and i have no batteries for the mouse, might go down the shop to get some so i can show you the beach/sand dune photo i mean so you can see what i mean

in fact i will try and get some batteries if they sell aaa ones

the sofas are next to each other to create a small area in the corner our toddler can't get into.
and we don't have any coffee tables as we have ride ons etc whizzing about in the house
and so we have plenty of space for playing with toys

noah, what do you mean, no to brown wallpaper or no to coloured wallpaper?

I agree with the others, large print or mirror in sitting room, bright cushions, cosy rug and also something at the window, perhaps a roman blind?

I'd also add some soft lighting, perhaps standard lamps?

I think John Lewis is good for rugs and cushions and also has a good range of fabrics for blinds, if you have one near you worth a look...

There are some lovely modern rugs here which could work well
www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Rugs/Check+and+Stripes/Check+and+Stripes/11694/ProductCategory.asp x#&&/wEXAQUHYWpheFVybAVbU1JUL0hvbWUrXzI2K0dhcmRlbi9SdWdzL0NoZWNrK18yNitTdHJpcGVzL0NoZWNrK18yNitTdHJp cGVzLzExNjk0LzAvMC9Qcm9kdWN0Q2F0ZWdvcnkuYXNweIpRvvMyRaaDvLDHbhe9TLyIv54y

Also I think the room woudl look more comfortable shape wise if you moved the sofas, either opposite each other as suggested, or move the one next to the door along so its under the window, it looks too close to the door at the moment.

I agree that wall mounting the TV might work better, could it go opposite the sofa which is at a right angle to the door?

Your house looks lovely. If you want to brighten it up I would do what others have suggested - curtains, cushions, paintings, vases, flowers, throw, perhaps a table runner, rug, lamps, etc.

Cerise and green sound fab and if you look in the right places you could get these things reasonably cheaply so if you did get bored you could chang it.

Oooh just remembered someone I know used wallpaper samples in picture frames instead of paintings which can look very good!

it is nice but a bit sterile, good base.

I would deffo go for a big coloured rug (probably a solid colour, rather than a pattern) and either a large modern canvas/print on the wall behind the sofa or 3 smaller ones (as a rule odd numbers look better than even).

I'd also go for a big coffee table on the rug, probably a simple a bent glass one to keep the room looking bright and airy (no sharp edges for little heads to crack into!). John Lewis have a more affordable acrylic version

I would go with a well made roman blind (probably custom fit unless you are lucky enough to have a window that will fit the standard sizes) at the living room window, in a colour that relates to the rug (not necessarily in a 'matchy-matchy' way). Maybe going for a pattern ?

I'd be tempted to go with jewel colours rather than pastelly pale ones. I love rich dark purples, raspberry, dark teals even burnt oranges, that sort of thing but obviously it depends on your personal taste.

I would go for 'feature walls' in the living room to be honest, either in paper or paint as there doesn't seem to be a feature in the roon such as a chimney breast and I think it would look dated. Add colour through your accesories rather than walls.

In the kitchen I'd be tempted to go with a green colour scheme to keep the natural, fresh look of the white and wood. I like Farrow & Ball Cooking Apple Green. It will still feel bright and clean but warmer and not as clinical.

oh,'m glad you found this pannacotta, you actually helped me decorate [well in the virtual sense] my main bedroom about 2-2and a half years ago and it turned out great.

sometimes i just need a few pointers.
i see your point about the sofas.
there is the space to put the small one under the window then move the large one along.
which i think would look better, as its pretty easy to do..

but we have just squashed them together temporioly[sp] so our toddler cannot get in the corner, although said toddler is old enough i hope for us to move them.

so i'll move the sofas along so the small ones under the window and the large ones in the middle of that wall and so they are not touching.

i am very scared to mount the tv, even if i get someone professional to do it, as i'm scared it might fall onto our little one.

ok going to the shop now back in 5mins....

I agree that moving the sofas to facing each other and wall mounting the tv would 'warm' the room up, make it more sociable and feel less like a corridor room. If you are sat on the sofas watching tv you are staring at the stairs. If one of the sofas has its back to the stairs they would feel less imposing . Perhaps a slimline console table or bookcase behind the back to stairs sofa with a pair of table lamps with gorgeous silk shades.

Obviously this is a bit too traditional but you get the general idea

Thats funny! I remember your thread about your bedroom, glad it worked out well. Would be lovely to see some pics...

If you wall mount the TV (good iea to get someone in to do it) you could make a cosy play area for your LO, where the rocking horse is now.
I have a lovely toy basket from Mamas and Papas which would look good in your house
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-wheeled-storage-basket-white-wash/465402700/type-i/

Btw, I do think that adding some soft colour to the sitting room walls would be good, the white does look a bit sterile.

You have nice furniture and classis modern taste, but I think the pale sofas would look better against a wall colour, perhaps soft green in here would look nice too, as well as something similar in the kitchen?

i'm back from the shop and do have the batteries,yay
so when the little one has stopped napping, i can go upstairs and add that beach/sand dune photo to my profile

i got a couple of magazines for ideas too.

pannacotta, i'm amazed you remembered that
oh yes i'll take some bedroom/ensuite pics too, if i don't get chance today i will definatley put them up on this thread tomorrow.

thanks very very much to everyone for your thought and help.
i will definatley use your ideas

sausage, i see what you mean about the console,maybe i should play around with the room and the furniture to see what looks ggod where and take photos of the room in different set ups.
it's mainly the living room thats the most tricky

i like it white.

noah, you remind me of the kid in the playground who kicks their own shoes and mutters "I don't need friends anyway"

I like the white too.Simple accessories in greys mushroom and perhaps red would look nice Some glass vases with lilies and maybe a deep coloured rug but no jazzy wallpaper it is dated before it dries!and your house looks elegant as it is too much pattern would cheapen it.

add furniushings in bright colours. Green and pink are good. Things to be in colour:

Blinds/curtains
Pictures
cushions
candle holders
rug

I'm sure tat's what everyone has said. Don;t make semi-permaennt changes like paint and wallpaper

I have done this as I have all white and it has worked well I think.There are a couple of pics of the open plan kitchen/dining tv room on my profile but are taken at funny angles as there is a huge pile of wood in the middle of the room atm and so could only take pics from a few places!

noddy yours looks green on some pics.
i love the fireplaces
and i really like the three ball lamp in reddish purple too.

i have got a glass vase and lilys in myroom at the moment, it's on the table between the sofas, in the toddler free corner

i'm not sure if you can see it, but i do have a wooden blind in the living room window, same colour as the floor.

do you all think i should add curtains aswell?.
how about in the kitchen, theres a patio door a window and a side door all glazed with no dressings at all at any of them

i don;t know whever to go for green and browns or green and cerise, i am a bit more worried about the hot pink option as i'm worried i'll go off it quicker.
don't know if green and brown would be a better bet as i'm less likely to go off it quickly.

the french doors between the kitcen/diner and living room are soild wood, do you think these would look better glazed? although maybe a bit risky with toddler running about?
but the kitchen faces south the living room north

we also only have one toddler at the mo and may have more dcs in the future, so me might have to baby proof the whole thing again

I'd probably add curtains in the sitting room, they are good for making a room look finished and are cosier than just wooden blinds. In our previous house we had a wooden blind in the kitchen and blinds with curtains in the dining and bedrooms, which worked well.

Dont think I'd put anything at the kitchen doors, not very practical.

GLazed French doors bewteen kitchen and living room would let lots more light in, you need toughened glass in doors, which is safe and child friendly, would make the living room much lighter.

Re colours, why not try small amounts first and see how you feel? Perhaps a cushion or two so you have time to live with a new colour before splashing out on rugs/curtains which are more £££.

One part is grey actually as it was too white.I think the doors will be good glazed as you can get safety glass.Green and brown easier to live with than cerise if you are they type who gets bored!

I like turquoise and greens, I have these curtains they look much nicer and bolder than in the pic and this rug

I have some lovely pics and cushions and my electric fire has a blue flame effect on it.

It all ties in on a neutral base.

Oh and I like very brightly coloured fresh flowers to throw in something different.

lovely all fresh and white, you just need some pictures up! Don't go painting it a load of annoying colours...

Can I come and live with you? It looks so clean and tidy.

haven't had time to put the bedroom photo onto today but will tomorrow as i'm home allday.

adiiferent me, yeah why not!

thanks very much for all the help and ideas, you are really helping me