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How do we make this room look better???

5 years ago

We recently moved and our new house has these light oak wood floors. I can’t figure out how to make our living room look good! I’ve tried a number of things, but it still looks so blah! Our old house had dark floors which were so much easier to decorate around. I’m hoping that someone with some decorating skills can help me figure out how to make this room look better before I spend any more money on things that make it look worse. I found a few pictures where people had used black and white rugs that seemed to make light oak floors look more modern. As you can see, I tried that and it just doesn't seem to look right! Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas!




Comments (281)

  • 5 years ago

    That New Zealand wool rug you linked is beautiful, but I would never spend $3k on a rug for a dog to pee on.

  • 5 years ago

    I felt something off with ship on right side of tv. Try it on the left then maybe a chunkier lamp on the right. Play around, u'll know when it feels right.

  • 5 years ago

    Lol Grover. The dog pee issue was somewhat of an anomaly. I forgot to open the doggie door that day. But I found this other rug that I really like and that has some color in it that might hide the dirt:

    https://www.houzz.com/products/chandra-eleanor-ele38202-white-taupe-area-rug-79x106-prvw-vr~75880578



  • 5 years ago

    ... glanced about ship - on entry wall could be in grouping with 2 or more items.

  • 5 years ago

    Having trouble posting the picture of the new rug I found! Trying again!


  • 5 years ago

    Is this one too dark for you? It’s from Home Depot.

  • 5 years ago

    Just think of all the money you’d save. . .

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you Ellen but I’m concerned that it would suffer from the same problem that the solid dark gray rug did. It’s a better color match to the room but it would be too dark. Also I’m not a fan of that particular brown

  • 5 years ago

    After reading ALL of the comments, I’ll throw in my .02. As suggested earlier, I think your best bet is to go to a carpet store and pick out something with a bit of flecking, maybe a cut Berber or frieze, and have it bound. Your fireplace has enough presence in the room, let the rug play second fiddle to it. As far as looking for something soft, a shag isn’t necessarily softer, just longer fibers. Which also means they’re going to flatten out easier with traffic.

  • 5 years ago

    Ok I think we are going to buy one of the ivory rugs that I posted above. For in front of the door, this rug comes in a 3’ wide runner... thoughts?
    https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Stafford-Hand-Knotted-Border-Ivory-Green-Runner-Rug-3x12-Runner/25671886/product.html?TID=Cart:Link:ProductLink:CartItems
    It has bits of green and gray

  • 5 years ago

    Not a Pro.

    Love your choices..please take pictures when the new rugs arrive.

    Katy O thanked njmomma
  • 5 years ago

    Didn't have time to read through all the comments so knot sure if I missed some reason why not but all I kept thinking as I was scrolling through all of the pics of rugs, lamps, etc. was paint the walls a creamy white!!!

    Katy O thanked tenamarie123
  • 5 years ago

    Good choices!

    Katy O thanked Ellen Tracy
  • 5 years ago

    Argh! The runner rug I chose for in front of the door was out of stock! What do you think about this one instead? https://www.jaipurliving.com/rugs/kai-aluminum-monument-rug130203
    For some reason it looks darker in the runner!

  • 5 years ago

    Following.

    Katy O thanked vandar
  • 5 years ago

    Any updates?

  • 5 years ago

    Well we had a bit of a hiccup. When we removed the crown molding from the other side of the fireplace we found some pretty extensive water damage. Which caused a lot of paint and plaster to come off with the crown molding. So we have been fixing that and we’ve decided not to remove any more crown molding for the time being until we can properly address any other issues that come up. In the meantime, we are awaiting the arrival of our rugs. I will update as soon as they arrive!

  • 5 years ago

    The first rug arrived. I shouldn’t have skimped on the smaller size I know but the bigger one was so expensive!! I’m hoping that once we get the low light wood console, end tables and the entry way rug, it will all come together.

  • 5 years ago

    I'm new to this party but have been reading the posts and love this rug! Will the ship art work on the fireplace? If so, I'd look at putting it there, and maybe replacing the plant in the corner with some sticks or branches in a large bronzy type of pot, similar to the attached. I was really thinking more branch-like, but this is what I found. The pot is what I had in mind, to bring in another metallic element to tie in with the ship art.



    Katy O thanked lorelei444
  • 5 years ago

    Please, I beg you, no sticks in pots. ;-(

    Katy O thanked groveraxle
  • 5 years ago

    I hear you Grover about the sticks in pots. Thank you Lorelei and sticks aside, I’m going to be adding brass to other places in the room. We’ve been looking at some tv consoles with light wood and brass accents. And we are hoping to get an entryway table with a bit of brass as well. However it is funny that you mention sticks because I have this art piece that I’ve wanted to use. Let me see if I can find a picture

  • 5 years ago

    I have 2 of these:

  • 5 years ago

    Decided on runner? I'd keep the pattern simple/ neutral. I like the texturizing effect of your rug.

    Katy O thanked everdebz
  • 5 years ago

    Debz...I pre-ordered this one in a 3x12 runner because I really liked the bit of green.

    Jaipur Living Stage Knotted Border Area Rug, Ivory/Green, 6'x9' · More Info


  • 5 years ago

    I probably would too. Low contrast rug, and soft warm ivory from here seems so pretty.. might be similar color to other rug... :)

    Katy O thanked everdebz
  • 5 years ago

    That is such a great rug for this room. To make it look less undersized you can make the space it serves appear smaller by bringing the lamp by the door closer to the sofa. Right now it is just throwing light on to the wall. And the fiddle leaf would bring such a nice contrast by the stone fireplace. Just tighten up the seating area by bringing the items you have around the perimeter closer and I think the rug will look great!

    Katy O thanked Ellen Tracy
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    UPDATE! I've made some progress! Still waiting on the entryway rug but in the meantime, we are deciding on the tv console and the entryway lighting. I'm including a pic of the tv console that we think would look good...my only question is about the color. I think that if it matches the floor too closely, it will blend in too much. But we can choose any stain we like, so please feel free to make suggestions! Re: the lighting. We are getting recessed lighting for the ceiling but we are trying to figure out what would look good over the entryway. I think I might be stuck on the idea of a large bowl shaped pendant light because that's what's there already. And I don't want to choose something just because we are used to the style if something else would work better! I've added a few pics of the lights we are considering for the entryway. Would love any and all suggestions!












  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I think a waterfall shape would or one that is longer and more narrow would work well. The house appears to be 80’s contemporary style? So have you considered replacing the Victorian oval front door for a more contemporary look? A longer, lower TV console would be good but not mid century modern style unless you are moving all furniture toward that style. What price range do you want to stay in for the entry chandelier? And the TV console?

    Katy O thanked Flo Mangan
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I really like the media console you're considering. That stain shouldn't blend overly much with your floor. How does it look with your fireplace? What about a walnut stain? That would be my choice. As for the lighting, I don't mind your current fixture. I wouldn't be in a rush to change it but maybe that's me, my tight budget and bad lighting experiences talking. :) Not a pro but I find it looks versatile enough for modern furniture. (Scanned the thread - apologies if I missed the reason you're changing it.) In the examples you shared, I'm not fond of the third one with your console. The last one is fun and a smidge too glam, imo. My favourite is probably the first. The second and fourth would be fun options as well. My lighting fixture decisions are now based on ease of cleaning and changing bulbs. Good luck with your decision. I like the shaggy rug, btw.

    ETA: I agree with Flo about the door and I think it's been mentioned already? Depending on your budget, I'd change the door before the ceiling fixture.

    Katy O thanked tartanmeup
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Sorry I cannot scroll back due to Houzz software issues, so forgive me if you have addressed things I am seeing. Here are a couple fixtures to tuck away but I would wait til you have finalized major furniture pieces and rug choices and front entry door systems before deciding on entry light fixture. This first fixture is my fav so far. It is large enough and styling can go in couple directions. Price is very attractive because a year ago it was over $900!

    Katy O thanked Flo Mangan
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    More

    Katy O thanked Flo Mangan
  • 5 years ago

    Of your choices, I like this one the best. Goes well with the house and fireplace color. Also interesting from outside via the windows over entrance.




    I like the tv console also, and lean towards the color shown or walnut. If you are having made locally, bring a few samples home.

    Katy O thanked Allison0704
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Just a technical point on a fixture from your entry. You have an angled ceiling, so make sure whatever you select will work on a angled ceiling. I like the one Allison posted, but not sure it will work on angled ceiling. A chain type fixture is usually the best for a angled ceiling because the base plate will sit on the ceiling properly and any chain drops properly.

    Katy O thanked Flo Mangan
  • 5 years ago

    I'd like photoshop of the round cage one you posted.

    Katy O thanked everdebz
  • 5 years ago


    Ack on that door.




    Katy O thanked groveraxle
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Do you want to go mid century modern?

    Katy O thanked Flo Mangan
  • 5 years ago

    I guess so, but I'm struggling with going too far midcentury because the house has architectural elements that are a mismatch. I do see that changing out the door makes the house more consistently midcentury, but I haven't done it yet because I'm worried about it looking too forced. If you see grover's post above, the door looks beautiful, but when you consider that there is a wide staircase and a victorian banister and the very high ceilings...it doesn't look anything like the midcentury homes I've seen.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    That’s because it is not what we refer to as mid-century modern. Your front doors are so critical to both interior and exterior styling it is vital to your look. Can you post photos of staircase from front door? (Sorry, but Houzz last update has made it impossible to scroll back.) i think you need to keep developing your own eclectic look while keeping some style continuity. Perhaps post a photo of exterior from street straight onto front door area.

  • 5 years ago

    Flo, why can you not scroll back? Their last update did condense long posts, so one must click on this.....






    to see the oldest comments.



  • PRO
    5 years ago

    The iPhone app won’t let me. I hit the comments and it takes me to last post on the thread.

  • 5 years ago

    When I look at this post on my phone, there's a link that says "see 247 more" next to Recent Comments which is under the original post. I click on it and it opens another window with the complete, scrollable thread.

  • 5 years ago

    Two photos of the stairs:



  • 5 years ago

    Two stair photos:



  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Thx grovery.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    sorry grover, auto correct. OK, that staircase is very "traditional".

    Transitional Entry · More Info

    You can update your staircase by painting the railing, and possibly the newel posts black. It will be a uniting element between the flooring, and the other styling. It would update the "oak" railing look.

  • 5 years ago

    I think that works well because the floors are dark too, no? I’m not sure how the dark railing would look with our light floors. We are going back and forth about painting the door white. I think it would modernize the look but when I’ve seen it done before it always looks so obviously DIY. I’m hoping to use the brass accents with the mid century decor to make it look a bit more traditional and match the formality of the door and stairway. The brass and glass table in the entryway was a great find. It was in my parent’s storage! They had painted it black and so I stripped it and cleaned it up. I can’t wait for the entryway rug to come. The vendor keeps pushing back the date and it’s driving me crazy! I keep trying to find another rug, but that light beige with the gray and emerald green accents is so perfect and there’s nothing else like it! I must say that the guidance I’ve had here has REALLY improved this room! Thank you everyone! I’m so sorry if it takes me a while to review and consider all of your comments... I’m indecisive by nature so each step of this is soooo slow

  • 5 years ago

    The entryway rug FINALLY was delivered!!! I’ve waited so long that I’m not sure I still like it!!

  • 5 years ago

    Another angle

  • 5 years ago

    That looks great!