Okay, I'm asking for your help, opinions, input, ideas, anything you can share with me to help me decorate my living room.
We recently sold our couch in our bonus room and moved our living room couch upstairs. So we got to go shopping, yeah! I didn't think I was going to get to replace these couches for a long time.
This is the before:
We bought this couch and love seat, I think, or at least they are very similar to these and they'll be here in a week or two:
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| source So I'm going to do a little redecorating while we're at it. This is where I need your help. I'm not a decorator. This is what I have to work around, oak floors, floor to ceiling oak bookshelves that are "for books not decorations" as per Bill's instructions, a black gloss piano, and probably no painting of the walls - our floor plan is very open and I think if I painted in there I would have to paint the entryway, hallway, maybe kitchen, but I might stencil a wall or two (I just won a Cutting Edge Stencil. Yeah!) |
So what would you do with this room? That green cabinet is my music cabinet and I'm thinking of painting it white or cream with sort of a french country feel. I'm debating between keeping things all neutral (rug/curtains) and then using throw pillows for color accents or using curtains, sort of like this:
in a slate blue (federal blue) kind of color and finding a bluish rug. However, if I add the blue, can I use lime green or tangerine tango orange pillows for the summer and change them to something more subdued come fall and winter. What about rugs, I'm terrible with rugs. Look at the top picture, this is how I've had the rug placed, does this look okay? Do I need it to bump it up under the furniture? Does it need to be bigger? Also should I flip it (or get a squarer rug) so the long side goes toward the bookshelf? Can you see any other furniture placement? I'm open to any and all suggestions, give me your best ideas, and give me some place to start with this room. What would you do with this room?
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13 comments:
I cant believe you know Alisa! to neat! she is so wonderful! You have to go see Sue at the museum! She is sooo cool and huge! and the whole display at the museum is really well done! I love that you live in Idaho. It is beautiful there! Thats so fun you are doing some changes on your home! I love mixing it up! Its the best!
I do room design consultations through my blog budget friendly decorating..I would love to help you out!
Haha, I am NO decorator, but personally, I'd start with curtains.:) Maybe after you picked colors.:) They will add a huge punch. Also, I would see if I could find something similar to the fleur de lis things on your wall to go over your piano. You may be able to get some black bass and treble clef things. I even saw one lady once with kind of like tiles with music motifs on them. I was jealous.:)
Anyway, that's my very unprofessional opinion.:)
Good luck!
Shiloh
everydaygameplan.net
Start with the curtains, but then maybe change out the wall art for a family photo wall using grey and white?
Oh my, I got so excited when I saw your link ;) Here's what I would do, this is just my opinion and style so take what you will :) The couch selection is great and neutral. I would paint your book case a crisp white and you need to get some colour on those walls. Once you pick an accent colour you can go from there. Start with a piece of art or rug you like and pull colours from there. A quick tip, if you see it in nature, the colours will naturally go together. Personally I would get rid of the vertical blinds and go with curtains and a bamboo Romain shade possibly. That will add texture to the room. You can also add some floor and table lighting instead of just having above lighting. Above lighting can be harsh, lamps add mood. I just posted a makeover of my house that you can see here http://www.lifestylesofthestayathomemom.com/2012/04/making-this-house-home.html for some inspiration possibly! Good luck! Hope this helped a little. GREAT POST & IDEA!!! Can't wait to see what you do, new follower ;)
Thank you for showing various ways you can furnish your living room. The brown leather set adds elegance to your home if you were to choose this.
What a great idea for a blog! I wish I could offer some help but I am not gifted in this area. I would probably lead you in the wrong way ;)
http://sarahsworld-sarahsworld.blogspot.com/
Let's see what we can come up with i am actually a decorator so you have 2 big huge dark brown leather pieces coming-Are they Ashley furniture or Rooms to go possibly? Is it to late to do chairs instead of the love seat? I would replace the rub for sure to a larger one and definitely one that will go partially up under your furniture if you want to go French Country which by the way is my favorite thing on the planet-We have some work to do-don't rush let's get a plan going-Do you have a Capel rug place near you? If not you need to go rug looking take the dimensions of your room and they will help you with size and it is very customary to take rugs home on approval for overnite or if you hit a Saturday you can have til Monday-you want to see it in your space. Depending on the pillows you want they often will slide right off of leather so a nice goose or down fill would be nice that way you get that slouchy look and lime and orange though cool are not country french at all. Either the warm tones like reds golds think harvest type colors or you can think toile and blues are very french country-the window treatments in french country are usually silk or lace normally like in silk a big buffalo check since you have that huge built in how about putting you treatments up higher than the windows it gives the illusion that the space is larger-and I would put the windows treatments out from the windows at least 8-12" making the window appear larger-I would ditch the ceiling fan add a nice chandalier put on a dimmer very french country and very chic if the bookcase has to stay then I would definitely paint it change the hardware out to something more" Frenchy" add some nice moulding detail to the top and maybe we can think of something more creative for the corner shelves that won't look so dated-it is a little 80's if your hubby could forefit just alittle space on a shelf or two that would help alot like a few sideways and we could add a nice bowl or something decorative. You need tables and lighting too and lot's more on the walls and I would paint the piano out also or if that isn't an option maybe we can think of a neat throw partially over add a cool plant or arrangement silk is okay a few accessories some flameless candles on timers are a nice touch-the rug will be your jumping off point fall in love with it and the rest of the room will sing-the window treatment color and style and everything will be easier and a better choice later not as the first step. You can always FB me jm monroe or email me too ourredtrucktravels@hotmail.com Be sure to keep me posted now I am really excited about your project
If it helps, you can look at my blog and click the family room category on the right sidebar because I have a similar toned leather sofa and chair set. I painted the walls a taupe and have used black, white and some touches of green as accent colors. I don't think you need to paint the bookcase, actually, but I would change out the window treatment after you pick an area rug that you love-choose the rug first and build the room around that and you won't go wrong. Add plants and flowers because they make a room breathe life. XO, Steph.
I love the new couches! I wish I could help, but I'm terrible at this. Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays though. :0)
I'm not a decorator by any means...but I painting the bookcases would be awesome. I would do white like a previous poster said. I think it will make them pop. I'd then paint the backs of them another color. :)
Megan
Found you through a link up and I love the couches you ordered! Do you read The Painted Hive by chance? If not, you should head over there- she has couches just like the ones you're getting and her style is amazing! Just an idea! :)
I would get a bigger rug to anchor the room. Your furniture should be able to be on the rug and maybe a neutral color would be.nice
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