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martir

Living Room Decorating Help Needed

2 years ago

I need some help with decorating my living room. All of the furniture and rug will stay as is. I could do a different piece of art.

I want to change the pillows because they really don’t pick up all the colors in the rug. I’ve found two fabric samples that I really like. I love the Asian one but don’t know if it would be “too much”. Both seem to do a good job with coordinating with the rug colors.

Also, I’m having trouble decorating the sideboard and the console behind the sofa. I found the white lamp and was thinking of getting a matching one.

This room is the first thing you see when you come in the front door, so I really want it to look nice. I know what I like, but just have a hard time putting it all together.

Any suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Comments (37)

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Love the area rug. I would paint the piece of furniture under the painting an accent color from the rug---maybe one of the shades of blue in the rug, and also paint the sofa table the same color as the furniture. That would pull it together nicely. I would go with the fabric that has the olive green in it for pillows. There is a lovely light teal shade in the area rug that would look nice for the paint shade if you decide to paint the furniture pieces. Also I would get the same lamp for the other side of the bureau so that it looks more balanced.

  • 2 years ago

    Lovely room. Everything is so color coordinated already. I think the pillows with a punch of green are needed to break things up just a tad. I'd also get a green lamp in the same shade or a ginger jar lamp. The white is a bit washed out. I'd consider a thin frame around the painting in the same color as the wood cabinet beneath it. It will feel more finished.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    You might want to paint the arched recessed one of the colors from the rug to make the recess a bit more important in the room

    the white lamp is too short and squat

    Select some buffet lamps for the sideboard.

    Lots of pillow covers on Etsy to choose from. BTW your pillow size is too small.









  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I'd go for sofa throw pillows with red in them and an artwork that doesn't almost exactly match your rug



    the above is from Etsy. Can't really see your chairs but maybe that's where your fabric with some green could go.

    this wall fan below is 45 x 24 inches



    https://www.chairish.com/product/8897096/vintage-kakemono-wall-folding-fan-decor

    those are just picks off the top of my head looking at your photos -- not suggesting these items specifically, just direction



    not my mock up but might give you ideas

  • 2 years ago

    Thanks to everyone for all the ideas. Here’s some more photos. I moved a lamp from my entry table to the sideboard just to see how the size works. What do you think? Still need taller? Also I’ve tried to show the pillow fabrics on actual pillows. Both are from Etsy. So much to choose from!

  • 2 years ago

    Also, as to the art, it seems like I always gravitate to the blues and teals and greens. Should I stick with that or maybe try something like these.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Too matchy-match with these pillows.

  • 2 years ago

    I think all the blue matches a bit too much. I would consider changing the art or get a rug that has a strong pattern.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I think it is better with panted arch.



  • PRO
  • 2 years ago

    lovely room! Painting the arch is a great idea -


    FWIW my favorite pillow shop on Etsy is called Pop O Color - you can search by colorway and they do a really nice job

  • 2 years ago

    I really like the idea of painting the arch.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    It looks like you might be in Florida? (I see a screened-in pool beyond the glass door.) If so, I would relax the room, give it a more casual, playful, fun-in-the-sun feel. Maybe slipcover the striped chairs in creamy white canvas, setting them at right angles to each other at the rug corner with the round table in the angle (if space permits), then bring in natural textures, plants, beachy art hung off-center, a basket of shells on the coffee table, lamps and candles for warm light in the evening? Here's a rough visual:


    Maybe later replace the coffee table, perhaps something like this one from West Elm?


  • 2 years ago

    Question: Do you love, absolutely love, that particular artwork or is it just filling space?

  • 2 years ago

    Achaea, I like the artwork but don’t love it. I have another room it could go to.

    Simplynatural, you’re right, I am in Florida. The rest of my house, except for the entry, is actually more casual, and the house is very open, so you see pretty much everything. I like your suggestions and I think the pillows go really well.

    I think my artwork needs to change to something lighter without so much blue. If I change out the artwork and the pillows, it would go a long ways towards getting rid of so much blue.

    I’ve been looking to replace the cocktail table for years, but ever time I start looking I can’t find what I want and give up.

  • 2 years ago

    I put these together in an attempt to come up with something different. Am I on the right track, or are these really bad? 😯😳

  • 2 years ago

    The '''so much blue'' your room is mainly your rug. If the rest of your house is casual and this is Florida, how about just doing a natural fiber run and practically calling it quits? If ever you see an artwork or deorative conept you love for that arched alcove, it will surely go with a neutral fiber rug.


    Natural fiber that has a medium dark tone might go best with your floors as the look to me on my device, but whatever the tone actually is, coming close to it could increase the sense of unbroken flow to your outdoors, rather than chop up the room. This is from Ruggable




    If you don't like your glass coffee table replace it of course but I think it is nice with your glass doors and since the room is small, a solid white coffee table create the feeling of an obstacle course.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    PS: It seems to me you have 2 choices for color in this room

    Either you want blue and green, and if you do, you should do them in fairly equal measure, meaning more visible green on your chairs, some brighter solid green mixed in with the sofa pillows. I mean, really go for a blue, green, white room. It would look fresh and fun. But I might pick a more neutral rug.

    Or you want a confetti color room, by introducing pinks and peaches along with the strong blues and bits of green. In that case I think you need some ceramics and table top decor, both on the console and the coffee table using party colors. If that's your mood, that could be a very happy feeling for the room and you might as well keep your present rug.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    If you chose this artwork and coffee table



    I would suggest lining the sofa with alternating navy and salmon colored solid pillows. Use your new Etsy fabric for small throw pillows on the blue chairs.

    Do a lamp in this tone for the cabinet with the art work



    tabletop and console decor





    Just goofing around.... Your room can be a lot quieter and contemporary and it is still a very nice room with a nice feeling

  • 2 years ago

    How about spray painting the coffee table another color…gold?.. brass?…white?….

  • 2 years ago

    Also a pale color in the niche…it doesn’t feel like this room needs a lot of sharp contrasts

  • 2 years ago

    Love the deep tan color in the niche that Celery posted. Looks great and grounds the room.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    FWIW, I chose the seascape shown in the illustration above for the way it ties together the three major colors in the room: the blues of the rug (but taking a secondary, not a dominant, role in the art), the whites of the upholstery, the warm sand of the walls. I liked its calm, too: the restful dark blue horizontal of the water, the soft airiness of the clouds. For me, the other three art options are too "jittery". I'm looking for peace, the beauty of the natural world, a sense of rightness, the warm, quiet security of home. (The art shown is Blue Horizon by Suzanne Nicoll, from greatbigcanvas.com, by the way.)

  • 2 years ago

    I don't think a this fruit work is right for your space but I wanted to show you what a difference it would make to have an oval or round piece inside the arch instead of an unframed square of big box onlne something




    that's 45x23 I'd almost be tempted to buy it for the frame alone, and find something later to put into it.


    A round piece would be nice too inside the arch but a big enough one would be quite a challenge to find. Arched might be easier.



  • 2 years ago

    Thank you all for keeping the ideas coming.

    Simplynatural, I really do love that piece of art. Thanks for the info. I’ve used Great Big Canvas before. Here’s a picture of using that with the Asian pillows.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Consider avoiding the predominately blue-patterned Asian pillow with your existing art, rug and chair upholstery. A solid midnight blue pillow might work or a patterned pillow with only a bit of blue.

  • 2 years ago

    I just came across this coffee table from Walmart. I think it would look great if you go for the lighter, more casual vibe.



  • 2 years ago

    Pillows always make a difference

  • 2 years ago

    Glad you like the art, @martir. Regarding pillows, I would go for textures rather than patterns. For me the pattern in the rug is enough pattern for the room. I would choose solids or subtle color variations in fabrics that are a delight to touch. My thoughts, anyway . . .

  • 2 years ago

    And @ffpalms, yes, I agree that coffee table could work well.

  • 2 years ago

    I’m like the coffee table also. Good find ffpalms!

    Here are a couple of lighter more neutral pillows I think might work.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I think I would consider a new coffee table with simpler lines, maybe glass and bronze/gold. I would paint the alcove. For the art, I'd consider going with something less abstract since your rug is taking care of that for you. I would bring in a new color with the pillows, but I'd pick the art first. Even a beautiful photograph (not a family photo but more like a photo of a place) or a cool vintage poster could work. I like AllPosters for that sort of thing.

  • 2 years ago

    So many things to think about. Thank you all for your suggestions. Even though some might not be quite my style, I appreciate them all. You’ve helped me focus on how I really want this room to look. Now to start implementing!