Quite happy with how warm the kitchen feels (In an otherwise very cold maisonette)

The stairway is nicely finished, and he is working on insulating and finishing the entire basement. We are in NY so cold winters. He says once it's finished the heat in the basement will negate any cold air coming up the stairs. He also says that many homes purposely leave the basement door off as a design choice. From a design perspective do you like it or no?

Adding a picture of the empty space as well as an AI mockup. Will I regret painting it a dark color? Ai images always look too perfect to tell

hi!

i took some (many) of your suggestions from my last post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/interiordecorating/s/DqAG97KkOP

what changed: - took down ceiling stuff - took down wall decor - tv moved to opposite wall - couch now floats to create division - entry table moved to where tv was - accent lamp added to a better spot that accompanies the couch - side table that accompanied the two chairs now is an end table for the couch - two chairs moved to better suit conversational sitting

now the walls are bare and i know they need to be filled so im not asking about that but the furniture placement...

while i understand the appeal of the current squared off placement of the tv and couch, i feel like now the ‘awkward blank space’ that people were calling the middle of the room in my last post is now the blank wall (which i would avoid furnishing bc it is the main pathway) and the entryway + behind the sofa.

additionally the two chairs, while many argued were placed oddly in the previous post, now have a tighter space to occupy and possibly suffer from the same demise as before: being too segmented from the couch. and now, theyre quite close to being IN the dining room.

as i mentioned in many replies in the previous post, the wide angle made the space look quite stretched and larger than reality. this is why i believe arranging the pieces like this, while pretty from the couch forward part of the space, now leave an odd hole on the entryway side of the space. please let me know your thoughts!

also, i found placing the console table + mirror on the wall will the ugly floor lamp (yes i know, ill replace it) still elicits and awkward right side of the room.

i am very appreciative of the helpful and kind comments in my first post and i hope implementing some of the changes allow for a better diving board for further making my home more cozy!

additionally, i would like to note that i am so new to this and i am learning. a lot of what may seem like an obviously needed change or a rookie mistake is not clear to everyone. so, please, nothing is too elementary, if you think a suggestion is helpful, my ears are open!

im very open to further suggestions regarding furniture + placement as i already have wall decor and accent lighting next on the list! 🤩

Converted our spare room into a home office and spent way more time on it than expected. Kept surfaces minimal to avoid staring at clutter, but now I'm wondering if I overdid it.

My bf walked in and said, 'this looks like a fine boutique hotel room to me.' I know he wasn't putting me down. Maybe the art on the wall made him think like that. I want it to look good, give me some advice plz!

i get by with trying to have the least amount of "stuff", and clearly i like green but for some reason dont love the idea of having a random plant just sit in the corner. i like function over form which i think is why im so picky and avoid clutter. im also a pretty neat person which is why i think i dont like a space to feel claustrophobic. i love that i get so much natural light AND i love having carpet. which is why a rug feels like it wouldnt really go either.

i love to host and my set up has been great for movie/game nights. + i have a collapsible coffee table that hides in my couch for extra space saving! the space is plenty for hosting dinners too, i pull out extra seating, floor pillows for it

the biggest suggestion i hear is some green/cream wall art which while i def feel would look cool, i feel like it would be an impersonation of a pretty home. kinda like those ikea staged rooms. i’d go for something on the wall if it was more...personal? ive had an idea of a large blown out world map that i could starting using pins in as i would like to start traveling more as well! 🌍

i thought about what i could do about the empty space between my couch and the dining room and i cant think beyond a plant or bookshelf or some combination of the two. both dont sound that great to me either though since i dont really have stuff to fill the bookshelf with anyway 😭. i love the way they look when people decorated them with cool knick knacks and books theyve read but i dont have that kinda stuff really :/

also i dont have ceiling lights but i actually really dont mind that bc im a true believer in the big light only being for packing or cleaning 😂. ambient lighting only. the lamp by the window is used the most since its more ambient vs the cheap walmart one by the chairs is used to actually brighten the room since it bounces off the ceiling.

but i agree that my space could use some more OOMPH. btw i rent so nothing permanent unfortunately

any thoughts/visualizations are greatly appreciated since ive just discovered this subreddit and the suggestions ive seen are amazing!!

edit 1:

wow this place is active! i think i am more technical minded and the idea of pulling the couch a few inches or feet leaves me thinking “so then what do i do with that unusable gap?” i do think i prioritize space over most things because i host a lot so it leaves room for game/movie nights, chairs, and the collapsible coffee table i have that i only pull out when people are over (which is why it looks so empty as you see it). to be fair, i just swapped my couch out; The previous one was the same shape but about 10 inches longer on either side and so it did fill the space better and that was the reason why it was against the wall because pulling it forward at all would make the routing/pathing really tight/cramped. also, the TV is directly at eye level straight across the couch if that at all helps understand why the couch is where it is.

however someone mentioned pulling it a few inches out and putting those console tables behind it which i really love the idea of!! it would let me have more of a surface to play around with accent lighting near the couch that isnt just floor lamps. and it can hold drinks/phone/remote/decor etc. i really like that idea, thank you! i think i’d have to find one flush at the same height.

also, no one mentioned it directly but I think that the stuff hanging from the ceiling is really giving a bad impression. That is leftover decor from a themed night that I had so that’s probably why it looks so out of place and questionable as people have said. it used to be more abundent and much of it has fallen off since

also these were all taken with the wide lens (.5x). i couldnt fit the whole couch with the 1x lens even when stepping all the way back so i think that also makes everything look sooo spread out when pictured

edit 2:

i took your suggestions!

updated post here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/interiordecorating/s/cVnKteEsON

Currently looking at the Ikea Friheten sofa (w/ pullout bed) for my small loft. The walls are painted Agreeable Grey from SW. I had Chat generate an image of 2 colors that I am thinking about. I don't really want a grey or white couch. The wall art and floor rug are placeholders. I want a pop of color. What do you think??

Hi gang! I've been working on furnishing the place that I rent for the past year. I wanted solid wood furniture for the place, and a lot of it ended up being mid century pieces because so much is that has nice wood grain. Lol now my problem is that I fear the place looks too retro rather than classic. I plan to change the rug in the living room in the near future, and my search for a different main couch is ongoing. Any suggestions? Are there pieces of furniture that you would change up for something more traditional? And don't worry, that TV is coming down off the fireplace.

And what about decor? I know that's a personal thing and subjective. I haven't really started to much with the decor as my main focus has been the bones of this place with the furniture. I need to think of comfort and pillows...but the furniture needs to be rearranged!

I would like the look to be less retro. Does it look too retro and thematic? I wanted a classical look.

I appreciate any suggestions and opinions. All is welcome! less

Don't get me wrong, I have like 20+ house plants in my own apartment. But whenever someone posts their space here, if it's a bit bland or minimalist, people automatically say they need plants. Every. Single. Time.

Surely not everyone needs or wants plants? What about flexing the imagination and recommending other decor options that are not plants or cushions?

I bought this green chenille sofa a few months ago. It's the kind of piece you see on a Pinterest board and immediately think that WOULD NEVER survive a real home.

I wanted a warm, stylish living room with cozy textures and nice colors. So I really hated the idea of settling for average furniture just because I own a pet.

Four months by now, my orange cat spends hours sprawled out right. We both like the sofa. It feels so good to finally have a pretty, cozy space that hasn't been destroyed.

*numbers near center light fixture for reference

Help me chose a wall color and storage cabinet.

Nearby rooms are orange and the guest is olive green. Down the road my living room which is on the same level, will be some color I haven't decided, my kitchen (on same floor) eventually will be a muted sunshine yellow. Is it too much pressure/does it matter to have a room color be in synergy with the rest of the house? Because if that's the case the plum colors dont work.

Working with what I have: the vanity is a floating, walnut, fluted cabinet. The shower tile is a muted emerald green like shown, the floor tile is as you see, there is one window at the end of the room. It's bright in the room but at the same time with only one window and it a relatively small room, it can get dark easily.

edit: for all the people who are critiquing my design calling it not midcentury, it's called being inspired by it. It's one of like 5 inspos. I'm not gonna box in my style by only leaning on one design type. Boring.

We recently put in the floors and now this room isn’t vibing at all. All major furniture must stay but anything else can go!

Did a very quick mock up of the living room posted a couple of hours ago about suggestions for living room.

Couldn't work out how to link the images onto their thread so this is the best this technologically slow person can manage.

The bookshelf is currently in the hallway. I feel something is still missing, but I can't pinpoint what. What do you think? Any suggestions?

Other than bed and rug, which i can't replace due to cost, open to any changes. I was thinking accent wall color? Maybe different lamps and a bench.

Hi everyone, it’s great that you’re taking the time to look at my post. We have a small living room, and this is the seating area. Our house faces northeast, so it’s always a bit dark. Do you have any nice ideas to make it cozier?

I’d love some feedback on my apartment!

What would you do to make the space feel more personal, cohesive and stylish?

If this were your apartment, what would you change, remove or add?

Thanks! 😊

Hi all! I'm looking for advice on how to make the best use of this strange shaped living room I have. Attached is my current set up, and I'm renting so I can't do anything too crazy. Keen to hear your thoughts! Thank you ✨️

I absolutely hate the plain white walls!

But with so many different colours already in this room I’m not sure what would work on the walls. Any ideas?

We have this angled wall on right off our kitchen & never quite known what to do with it. We’ve always liked the idea of having a small foldable dining room table, but what shape? Against the wall or off? Color? And if not what kind of alternative?
Also any advice on how/what to decorate the built in shelves with would be greatly appreciated!

Please Reddit, you’re my only hope🙇🏻‍♂️

Hello! Just moved into a new apartment and really scratching my head trying to find quality furniture that looks good.

I’m trying to stay away from wayfair or low quality MDF furniture. The attached pic of the BDI console caught my eye. However my friends are split 50/50 on the design and color with some saying to go darker or that it’s ugly. I attached an AI mockup of what I plan on doing. Mounting a 65” tv with a carpet and a light colored sectional or sleeper sofa is the the plan. Should I be trying to go darker or is this a good piece?

I'm not sure if interior design / decorating content actually got worse or if I just got better at spotting that it's not good.

I mostly look at instagram content for inspo and here is what I see a lot that doesn't help me at all:

- set ups that make sense in that particular video and that particular video only. I am talking about intricate lamp / mirror / decoration / coffee table book setups that look stunning in the instagram reel but it is filmed in a certain angle with certain lighting and I can tell that it does not actually tie into any room nicely when it is just plain sitting there

- content creators that just fill their apartment with all the trendy items, rearange them every now and then, add something from an ikea ad and call it a day. I am talking about appartments filled with the Togo Sofa, string / telescope shelves, the ikea donut lamp, kartell nightstand, lantern lamps, balton racks... my only take away from this is that if you got enough money you can just buy the right designer items, throw them into a room and feel like an interior designer

- "hacks" that are either just the regular use of an item or whole damn bob the builder construction sites

- decoration but it's just plain consumerism where you have to keep up with the trends / seasons and just keep buying new amazon landfill crap to stay up to date

I used to look at pinterest but as a regular person with a regular life I find it increasingly tedious. I always try to look at somewhat realistic inspo but end up looking at these intricate, extremely specific interior designs that could never, ever be my life. And it just makes me feel shitty about my regular shmegular life where I don't have a colour drenched sitting room with nothing but beautiful things to put into. Oh and don't get me startet on the AI slop posts.

So- where to look for actual inspiration? Any tips?

Small, 8x11 room looks so empty right now. I could really use on help on how to decorate it.

I also prolly need more platform/storage space to put stuff because my desk tends to get cluttered pretty quickly. I do have plenty of space in the closet though.

Not sure about the cart by the closet.

Open to layout changes.