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southport

Need help with making my living room more lived in and warm.

12 years ago
Our living room needs more of lived in feeling. Don't know what to do.
Feels very stagey and too much white and cream.

Comments (32)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Add some personal items and collectables to create more characters.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I can't see the rest of the space, but ... rustic, wood beam(s). I love the juxtaposition of the rustic & refined.
    southport thanked dezign interiors, llc
  • 12 years ago
    An area rug might help. Or fun pillows on the chair.
  • 12 years ago
    Possibly bring in the red as a rug color. Switching out the glass coffee table to a darker wood is another option to warm it up.
  • 12 years ago
    In addition to the above suggestions....have you ever considered doing a sizeable art quality mobile from the center beam? It seems it could lightly bring human scale to the room, and add movement, interest.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I never thought I would ever suggest more clutter, but I agree with above suggestions of some personal items added to give this beautiful room a look like someone lives here. Don't forget a book or two or some interesting items from your travels. Laughed at karen Paul interiors suggestion for the dirty jeans thrown over the couch! An interesting area rug and some cushions on the white chairs. Gorgeous space!
  • 12 years ago
    Since you have so much glass and light, may I suggest a new rug with a lot of color? That one thing with some red and some pattern will cozy it up - a traditional oriental oushak pattern won't detract from your modern vibe or pick a modern art rug with lots of depth and richness and reds. . . Next step after that . . . you might consider drapery - bet it feels cold in here at night with all the reflective surfaces. Even something classic like ivory velvet grommets from west elm that sit wide open free of the glass and view during the day would add softness / help with the echos off the glass and let you look at the stars while feeling cocooned in the space more at night. . . then, art. Sculpture in front of view, art on walls we can't see.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Wood coffee table instead of glass. Drape your throws rather than folding them over the backs of the chairs. In fact, move one of the throws to the sofa and put a pillow on one of the chairs instead.

    And if you really want the lived in look, Grover (the one in the doggles) is ready to come over and slobber it up.
  • 12 years ago
    Armless chairs usually give a more formal look...would you consider replacing those with 2 comfortable cozy chairs? Also there is something sort of cold about the pillows on the couch. Honestly, otherwise it is beautiful.
    southport thanked igb2htalmh
  • 12 years ago
    Living in it will make it look more lived in. Stick a small TV in there and it will get more use. Also a bookcase with books.
    southport thanked User
  • 12 years ago
    If you do replace the chairs make them a color and a shade that is from nature (blue, green, brown etc) - no bright neon stuff. you want them to complement the outdoors you see from the windows.
    If you don't want to replace the chairs you could get slip covers made for them in a color. Make the slip covers have a skirt so they go all the way to the floor - this is a less dressy look than seeing "legs". Make sure the material is washable and pre shrink it before the covers are made.
    So I love the white look - I am doing an all white kitchen and I am adding a lot of natural wood (even though I have wood floors and an open beam ceiling) to warm it up, otherwise it looks cold and hard. So looking again at your room, imagine one of those large rough oxen yolks on the wall above the windows behind the chairs (not that you want an oxen yolk!). It would add depth, texture, warmth. You could add a large wood trunk under the windows. Look around the room and see what makes sense as far as adding something like that.
    southport thanked igb2htalmh
  • 12 years ago
    I love your room.. instead of putting a TV in there to draw people in, why not have a party?
    southport thanked sunnydrew
  • 12 years ago
    Very much agree with groveraxle - a wood coffee table.
    southport thanked igb2htalmh
  • 12 years ago
    Yay! A party!!
    southport thanked User
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    My friend your living room truly seems stunning from all way, though if you want to give more bright look then it is better to use contrasting wall color to give a upbeat look. As the sofa set will absolutely go with any wall color.
    southport thanked Robert
  • 12 years ago
    I agree that a tree in the corner would look great. A fiddle-leaf fig, maybe? They are a bit trendy, but so pretty. Also agree re: warm patterned rug and a wood coffee table. There is already so much glass from the windows that the glass table makes it look cold. Otherwise, pretty room!
    southport thanked kaysarasara
  • 12 years ago
    maybe add some deep tones of red on the walls (to me I think you can add some color to the walls due to the amount of windows.)

    Also would be really cool to add a chandelier in the middle of the glass roof.
    https://www.grandlight.com/products_chandeliers_contemporary_21377.asp
  • 12 years ago
    I pasted in the globe light fixture
  • 12 years ago
    excuse the sloppiness.
  • 12 years ago
    I love it the way it is.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Here is a more organic coffee table, the MYK soft leather coffee table that I recently designed......It would be great in your space!
    MYK soft leather coffee table · More Info
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Great ridgelite skylight
  • 12 years ago
    Hello- The room decorated as it is is gorgeous! BUT every piece in this room stands alone, while a living room should have an overall sense of gathering. White seating tells me "Don't sit here unless you're absolutely clean." It's very pretty but not always the most casual and inviting for a living room. Also, the chairs without arms would be better suited for a reception area. Finally, the tall, floral centerpiece in a glass vase on a glass tabletop feels too fragile for a living room. Perhaps just transplant your current setup into a room that serves as more of a reception area/parlor in your home. Bring in some wood surfaces or driftwood pieces, inviting furniture, an ottoman, usable lamp lighting placed closer to seating area (perhaps a Tiffany lamp?), and plants with all that wonderful light!! Finally, place just a few very personal items somewhere in the room, on a table or wall i.e. framed pictures, found object, a treasured gift... Good luck!
  • 12 years ago
    This is a beautiful room. A wood coffee table would make it warmer. Also a floral arrangement that is fatter, less tall, would be nice.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    NO, no, no...sorry to disagree. I do so on this fact..the room is unbalanced ...the light furniture is in need of dark......something to give it balance...for example...paint the area just under the ceiling windows deeper and bring it down to the back wall only...rest of room can stay light...
    a wood coffee table or even a glass table trimmed in wood, ( if you can't do that...get a wood tray table and have a tea set on it) keep the colorful floral arrangement..but move it so it is off center. lose the red throws, and the black and white pillows and replace with more of multi-colored pillow and try a few colorful geometric traditional runners...
  • 12 years ago
    OMG lovley living room! No changes are needed it supreme! ;)
  • 12 years ago
    Add some plants!!! It need more life and all that sun!!! Hanging plants corner plants, vines... It's beautiful.
  • 12 years ago
    Like this...
  • 12 years ago
    This room needs heavy pieces of wooden furniture - something like stickley furniture - that will help ground the space. Add some coloured cloth drapes/bands on ceiling that will create a comfy and homely atmosphere.
  • 12 years ago
    Old post.