Any tips for my new living room?

LDH · #1 06-02-2012, 09:27 AM

Hi All,

In the next month I’ll be moving back into my unit after having rented other places for the last 3 or so years. I am not looking to purchase any major furnishings or change the paint colours etc (for the moment) but some of the furniture has changed since I last lived there so if you have any advice on things I could do or small purchases to tie it all together and to help decorate and make it homely, I’d love to hear.

The biggest obstacle is the sheer size of the space, it’s a small inner city apartment, so the living area is 2.85m x 3.85m with one of the walls opening onto the kitchen/dining area. I have some photos so I will upload but at the moment the floor plan I have come to is as attached. The couches (2 x 2 seater white ikea slip cover couches), my Alexandria floor lamp, my glass coffee table and I have a rug and a big mirror I can use. Im open to the idea of purchasing a buffet or wall unit or wine rack etc etc although don’t really need the additional storage so I had also toyed with the idea of hunting for a cool old church pew or bench seat or something like that. I probably also need to incorporate a wine rack somewhere but there are other places this can go.

Let me know if you have any ideas!

LDH · #2 06-02-2012, 09:34 AM

More photos of a few other things i have.

The photo shopped picture of the lounge area gives an idea of the space, half of that purniture in the picture i dont own anymore but at least you can see the floor and walls etc.

The mirror is huge and i dont know if it would overwhelm the room - its about 1.4m x 1m roughly, i had toyed with the idea of hanging it landscape above the lounge without the window behind it - it would reflect a nice view from there ... I had the idea of wall mounting a tv on the wall to the left of the entry door

Sooty · #3 06-02-2012, 11:28 AM

I like your idea of mounting the mirror to reflect the window

Something big in a small room can make the room look bigger (especially a mirror LOL), when everything is small it can make it look bitty & cluttered.

I replied to your white TV question, I definitely wouldn't wall mount a small TV on that wall, I think it would really stand out because it is the wrong proportion for the wall. If you are thinking about getting a low buffet, that's a perfect height for a small TV.

LDH · #4 06-02-2012, 12:00 PM

Do you think it would look best with a buffet along that wall? With a smaller tv on top and offside rather than in the middle, is that the idea? Im open to the idea of having a narrow buffet there. Would you do it in a beech or chocolate or white? Modern or traditional?

Probably too many questions sorry!

So you think the mirror is a good idea - good to know! I like it when a mirror reflects the outdoors meaning people on the other couch get the view too

Sooty · #5 06-02-2012, 12:36 PM

Yes, I'd put the buffet on that wall with the TV off to the side, I like the symmetry of your sofas & coffee table but I think having something non-symmetrical will compliment the over all look.

I also love white rooms but I would need something that stands out against the paler colours so I would choose a chocolate buffet as that ties in with your lamp. Beech would also look nice, I have beech bookcases & dark chocolate wood coffee & side tables in my living room & I think they are fine together

Julie-Ann · #6 06-02-2012, 02:04 PM

Are they white floorboards LDH? I love them

but how have they stood up to wear? I would love to have white floorboards some time.

You and Sooty are on the right track

. I agree with the mirror, the buffet (especially in the dark wood to match the lamp) and the TV to the side. Gorgeous ideas. I love those cushions too. They will add that punch of colour

.
So all that is left to add is window treatments, maybe a wider light fitting and some ornaments on the coffee table and the buffet.

LDH · #7 07-02-2012, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julie-Ann

Are they white floorboards LDH? I love them

but how have they stood up to wear? I would love to have white floorboards some time.

You and Sooty are on the right track

. I agree with the mirror, the buffet (especially in the dark wood to match the lamp) and the TV to the side. Gorgeous ideas. I love those cushions too. They will add that punch of colour

.
So all that is left to add is window treatments, maybe a wider light fitting and some ornaments on the coffee table and the buffet.

They are white floorboards, they were done maybe 5 years ago now so im looking forward to getting back into the place and seeing how they have held up but last inspection i did (maybe 12 months ago) they were fine, i mean some scuffs and things but same as any floorboards and once you have more than a few scuffs you dont really notice them anymore. When they start to look too tired I'll probably take them back to timber again for a more classic look but for now its something a bit fun and different ...

My thoughts on going for a dark buffet on that wall is that it will be right next to the dark lamp, will that be too much dark on only one side of the room and none on the other? how would i balance that out?

I agree re light fitting and window treatments, I think I'll sort those out once Im in and I can look and get a sense for what would suit the room once it is all in.

Sooty · #8 07-02-2012, 06:51 AM

I don't think it will be too much dark on one wall, you see the wall through the lamp legs so won't be a solid block of dark in a predominantly white room like a dark bookcase next to dark buffet would be.

Do you still have the Florence Broadhurst prints? The darker ones would hung on the opposite wall to the right of the doorway would add a dark counter balance.

What are your plans for the kitchen, if there is something dark that you will see through the doorway it will really tie the white with dark look together.

LDH · #9 07-02-2012, 06:55 AM

Its funny you say that because i looked at my florence broadhurst prints stacked on my floor this morning and thought "maybe you should make the cut for things to go on the walls" ha! so that might work ... and in terms of dark in the kitchen I will have some chocolate/black bentwood chairs around the dining table so that should work.

Would something like this:
http://www.earlysettler.com.au/furni...Black/96146363

or this:
http://www.earlysettler.com.au/furni...Black/96446358

be too much? I dont totally love them but not really sure if i should be going mod or rustic or frenchy ... i guess if i just find something i like then it doesnt matter what the style is.

Julie-Ann · #10 07-02-2012, 08:19 AM

Some others you could consider LDH:
http://www.theimportwarehouse.com.au...roductID=13971

http://www.theimportwarehouse.com.au...roductID=15973

These are from a wholesaler so I would have to get prices for you but I think they would be reasonable.

Or there is the Hemnes from Ikea.:
http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/pr...331/#/30178332