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Help with living room redesign

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

I have a living room with a high wood ceiling, that I’m trying to brighten up and make it look more put together.

I really don’t know what to do with the back wall, the one with the fireplace, I also want to repaint the walls in pure white and maybe have an accent wall? Right now they have this light gray color with hints of mauve in them that I don’t like.

The living room doesn’t get a lot of light, neither window is facing the sun. The floor is dark, so it doesn’t help. I feel like it needs to be more vibrant, needs some plants. I want the room to look clean, organized, with colors that work together.

  • Repaint the walls in white?
  • Back wall, repaint fireplace?, maybe change the color of the mantel
  • What about above the fireplace, this big empty space, put art?
  • New curtains, no idea what to get
  • Need more floor lamps, replace with some mid-century modern design
  • New rugs

I want to keep the six spotlights (they’re RGB philips hue and I love creating different ambiances) but I don’t like the fixtures, they look 80’s. Would having hanging lights be too busy since I have 6 of them plus the fan?

Any help is appreciated.








Comments (60)

  • 5 years ago

    Toys can go in cubbies behind couch or/and half of them put away. Then exchange them in 6mos.

  • 5 years ago

    Hi

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  • 5 years ago

    Keep the wood ceiling as is! Your house could lose value if you change it. It also goes beautifully with the floors. I would put a mantelpiece of wood in that color over the fireplace to break up that monolithic wall.


    You might want to look up "craftsman style", since the wood elements in your room are in that vein. You might find other features to echo that style. The front door glass goes in that direction. Your trunk does, too.


    One element of "craftsman" is to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. Since you're in a mild climate, I would work on making this happen, if you can, because the room seems very closed-in. Get rid of the curtains—they are all kinds of wrong in that space, including how they're hung. They make the room droopy.


    Built-ins are part of that aesthetic. I think built-in benches would be brilliant, especially since they can be toy boxes.


    Consider a rug in some shade of green with a vine pattern or other stylized natural element.


    Are the windows open-able? Do they look out to trees? Too bad they aren't bigger. But maybe at least make them casements and get away from the sliders.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    1 rug in LR & larger! Extend curtain rods 6 inches on sides & 4 inches from ceiling.

  • 5 years ago

    Then if do bench toy boxes; must make holes or vented wood incase kids hide in it.

  • 5 years ago
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>yes windows do open. Right side faces lush yard, left side faces residential street. We just trimmed the trees in front of the house but usually you can see some of the branches and leaves from a California pepper tree hanging.
    Thinking of having plantation shutters installed like the rest of the house. Based on why I paid for the other windows, this might be another $2k.
    Agree with one rug. The one below the bean bag was for the kids to not bump their head, they jump like crazy on that thing lol They'll be sad to see it go and it won't fit in their room.

    First I should
    1. Paint walls white
    2. Install plantation shutters
    3. Remove bean bag, rug, DVD target shelves, get new rug
    4. Wait for tax refund and start the fireplace project
  • 5 years ago

    Bean bag to their room?

  • 5 years ago

    Moved stuff around and bought a throw and accent pillows. What do you think so far?





    We've decided the bean bag has to go.

  • 5 years ago

    The bookcases were supposed to go where the being bag is and you gotta keep space between the couch on the side so you can walk into your living Room from any direction

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    welp here is my 2cents! I would move your curtain rods up and loose the light blue it really has nothing to do with your space.

    I would outside mount some seagrass blinds to fake larger windows and bring the wood tone in.


    I also thought you could very well use some reclaimed "rustic" trim at the top of the walls to complete the look.


    Then sell the current tv console tho it's nice its dark and feels large and in charge. two matching low bookshelves with baskets to house toys etc. Paint the mantel black to add some contrast and add a black frame above the mantel.


    Another tho it's just that, swap to a satin nickel fan to take some weight out of the ceiling.




  • PRO
    5 years ago

    also try the blue and white rug you had for the play area under the sofa, then recover a few of the cushions to pull out some blue tones...

  • 5 years ago

    thank you.
    @happyleg centering the sofa the problem is that the couch is so wide that it would only leave 2 or 3 ft on each side...

  • 5 years ago

    thank you.
    @happyleg centering the sofa the problem is that the couch is so wide that it would only leave 2 or 3 ft on each side...

  • 5 years ago

    RL Relocation - I like your ideas, let me look at it better when I get home. we were thinking removing the curtains and put plantation shutters but your option is good too

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    2-3 feet is SO ample! try to center it, might just need some time to adjust to the idea.

  • 5 years ago

    following

  • 5 years ago

    The TV my tap to get anchored if you gotta put it on some cubbies it at the anchor it to the wall Could get an arm that you can angle the arm for the TV

  • 5 years ago

    I keep looking at the above by RL, & like it. Bean bag to the left under window.

  • 5 years ago

    I just centered the couch, there's only 2 1/2 ft on each side, no room for a small side table. I don't dislike it, being able to go to the living room from left or right is great but the wide is not happy with this lol

  • 5 years ago

    wife* not happy sorry. it makes the coffee table off centered with the fire place. Centered might work with a different kind of couch maybe? Going to leave it centered for the week end see how we feel about it

  • 5 years ago

    Ok, if not:: couch try under window to the left.

  • 5 years ago

    Here is a pic of a Room that the lamp don't lineup with the mere and the couches and center dundore the mirror or the coffee table but it's a nice Room

  • 5 years ago

    Crazy phone of mine I was trying to say the Mayor M the couch don't lineup with it or the lamp

  • 5 years ago

    This phone is crazy at changed my words after I put the man the MIRROR and couch don't lineup in this picture I posted above

  • 5 years ago

    O brother I hope you understand but I'm on my crazy phone not the computer right now

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Switch to a larger rug will help anchor the space better, I totally get the off-center deal! I am very happy you are willing to try it! IDK what or if anything you plan to replace but going to a round coffee table might be a plan as well. Would you post a picture of how that looks now for us?

  • 5 years ago

    current goal is to clean up the living room. Less stuff every where, paint walls white, new draperies or plantation shutters then it will be easier to get new furniture and install shelves on each sides of the fireplace.

  • 5 years ago

    Right now

  • 5 years ago

    That will be a good plan and I can't wait to see it

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    JOY! this looks great, now you could put a sofa table behind the couch and that would center to the FP. And also be a spot to set things in lue of end tables . Straighten out the tv console so it's not at an angle... looks like a real room !!

    Im not sold on built ins, bc, the fireplace is shallow so you would have to built out quite a bit to get usable storage. at least the depth of the console you have now. Might be an idea to blue tape out the depth you need to see if it works for you

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    RL, it's not that shallow. she could easily do something like this

    anything, any storage, is better than none.

  • 5 years ago

    It migh take some time but I really like the idea of built-in shelves plus it will increase house value.

    Looking at curtains, if i paint the walls white, wouldn't all white curtains make the walls appear empty when closed? Maybe Ivory or Oatmeal color?



  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    don't do curtains. do blinds.

    with your heavy sofa, wood beams, and the way they are placed, the windows will look too heavy w/curtains that go to the floor.

    keep it neat and simple and do blinds. woven woods, cellulars, Silouhettes, would be perfect

    cheaper than plantation shutters too


    See how this window looks? it's very similar to yours. look how neat and clean the woven wood blinds look. (cellulars or the others would give the same look in case you don't like the bamboo look) Also notice how they have their sectional placed under the window. and notice the white beams. (I like your wood, but I think the beams painted white would really update the space)









    Silhouette or



    luxaflex- Pirouette

    that would be my choice for your windows. and they come in every color.


    Blinds.com is having a sale right now. if you could do inset blinds, great! take the measurements and price out some of the selections on their site. I've ordered 10 blinds from them and have never been disappointed. if you need to see samples, go to HomeDepot and look at their sample books. blinds.com is run by home depot.

    similar to the Silhouettes, but cheaper.


    https://www.blinds.com/p/blindscom-manhattan-2-sheer-shadings/500979


    here's one of their less expensive cellular shades. this sale is a great deal but monday is the last day.

    https://www.blinds.com/p/bali-light-filtering-cellular-shade/51

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I love seagrass blinds..........just tossing that out.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I think these sites always have a sale. Looking at rugs, they're heavily discounted today, thinking of something like the ones below or maybe something with a pattern instead of abstract design







  • 5 years ago

    I wouldn't buy anything until you have an integrated plan - another sale will come up.

  • 5 years ago

    You're husband mentioned a couch maybe you should get the couch 1st if you're gonna replace that 1 and maybe you could sell the one you have and then you'll be able to get the rug to but it's best to pick the furniture really 1st before the rug

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    We don't have any plans to replace the couch, that would be too many things to do at the same time plus this one is so comfortable and being able to lay down on both sides of the "L" is great.

    @happyleg I'm the husband (but my wife is following this thread I believe), I just tell her what you all say anyway lol


    Agree on the rug, don't need one right now probably, it's rushing things.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    HAHAHA! yes that is the way it goes we are creatures of habit so sometimes change is shocking, but then........lol.

  • 5 years ago

    If rug needs bigger; get it! My inlaws had a built in cabinet that is narrow & nice.

  • 5 years ago

    Sharing some progress, so much better now! (we also got rid of the kids haha j/k)





    Shades/shutter guy coming next week for an estimate

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    that looks great! nice job. I like how you moved the shelves over to the fireplace wall. just think how great it would look if you do the built ins next!

    suggestion,,,lower your sunset pic next to the window. it's too high. place it middle of the window. from floor to the MIDDLE of the pic, should be about 56-60" from the floor.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow, that is so good! It looks cozy & agree above.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    That other rug worked!! looks really good The plant and DVD look really good too! Try the sunset picture just leaning on the mantel and remove the little wreath. otherwise lower and center as suggested. PS love your little soft light filter lol.

  • 5 years ago

    thanks! the sunset painting is temp, had a nail there already from some Halloween decoration, but good point centering it. Glad this rug works because the other one was a wool rug and it was a pain to clean and would shed so much.

    One thing I wanted to ask, I hate the way the ceiling beams connect to the wall, it looks like Lego and cheap looking. I want to add a triangular piece of wood that screws into the beam and the wall (painted the same for as the beams). Is there a name for this? Looked up wood beam wall connection but nothing (English is not my first language). I feel like I might have to customer make this thing myself. I'll try to post a photo of what I mean.

  • 5 years ago

    Something like this sketch (maybe the long flat side could have a rounder shape to it)



    to get something more like this




  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    My beams look like that like yours and once my husband wanted to put metal rap on each end of them and I didn't want too.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    HU....I just came across this before/after combo and it reminded me of your room! Thought this would help give you another visual:






    and, this one w/the black beams


  • PRO
    5 years ago

    This is why way back when in the post I suggested even putting a wood trim around the edge. might help make a cap if you will.

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