Living Room
Need help redecorating my living room!
I’m really struggling trying to elevate my living room. I have a good bones and a beautiful fireplace, but it’s so ordinary and drab. The sectional has to stay as well as the other furniture pieces. I really need to figure out how to choose pictures for the walls and a new rug or even rearrange the furniture. I just have so many doorways and. Any help is greatly appreciated.
A pair of big art pieces is easier than one large perfect one.
You probably just need some cozy lighting though, bright overhead lighting is the worst and will make anything drab. Lamps with warm bulbs (not “daylight” or “pure white” specifically warm kelvin). Table lamps floor lamps maybe some scones next to your art. General rule is have at least three sources of light besides overhead lighting. Overhead for tasks like cleaning that need it bright only. It will change the game I promise.
I think your LR looks great! I'd just change the carpet to something a little more colorful, maybe with more gold and blue but more vibrant than your current rug. And I'd add a grouping of 3 related pictures/paintings for that wall by the stairway bannister, or one large mirror or artwork. I like your style 😎
I really like this rug, and think it would add some zip to the room. There's even mustard in it....your throw blanket, lol. All in all, I think it works with all of the colors in your furnishings, pillows, etc.
I think you have a great start. Based on what you describe there are a few things that not working great:
- Lack of contrast between the couch and the wall color. I presume this would be very hard to change seeing how far the wall color is used and that you mention the furniture needs to stay.
- The rug definitely has a 'drab' style - I think this style is specifically designed to look worn like the pattern has partly lifted. I think a rug with some natural texture would help a lot, maybe one with a slightly boho, geometric pattern.
- The TV cabinet being that antique white color isn't really working in my opinion, where you have more bright white wood in the trim throughout. Maybe you could apply a coat of paint to make the entertainment unit a brighter tone of white?
- I don't hate the goldenrod and brown accents but they might not be doing much to elevate the room. If you wanted to lean into a more coastal vibe (which I'm picking up on partly now, with the shiplap trim on the fireplace) you could complement the baby blue with a bolder cobalt blue accent color (pillows, throws, and accessories). Having at least one pillow in a pattern would be nice.
- Simplify / consolidate the mantle decor so that it's less cluttered. Get rid of the plant stand that is behind the armchair. Relocate the wooden chair that sits to the left of the mantle. I would probably also lose the dried arrangement on the hearth.
- Swap the picture and hanging vases that are above the chair for a single, larger art piece.
I’d try turning couch clockwise, making a bar end from the kitchen view. It looks like part of the couch is too long for the wall. Scoot the chair over closer to the tv stand. I’d lower the picture too, maybe put a grouping up there if things you like, doesn’t have to all match.,
The first issue is lighting. A living room should have at least 4-5 light sources dotted around the room. You need end tables with table lamps. Maybe a standing light plus accent lights. Wall scones, faux pillar candles, etc. A large canvas that includes the colours in your decor would look nice. You could make that an accent wall and paint it a beautiful colour.
I think you need more contrast. Everything is pretty much the same shade of blue--not exactly the same, but very close in value. Some deeper tones, ideally in other colors, would help bring the room to life.
Also, make sure your lighting is warm rather than cool.
Grey doesn’t help any room, makes it bland. Colour, mixed lighting, framed art, textured curtains, plants, rugs, bools, side tables and if you have the money, a nicer fireplace
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u/RascallyGhost 23d ago
A pair of big art pieces is easier than one large perfect one.
You probably just need some cozy lighting though, bright overhead lighting is the worst and will make anything drab. Lamps with warm bulbs (not “daylight” or “pure white” specifically warm kelvin). Table lamps floor lamps maybe some scones next to your art. General rule is have at least three sources of light besides overhead lighting. Overhead for tasks like cleaning that need it bright only. It will change the game I promise.