I feel like something is missing in our living room/dining room area, but I can't quite put my finger on what. Any recommendations to help make the room feel more comfortable/cozy? There is no overhead lighting, but we are potentially going to add two canned lights over the fireplace and a chandelier/hanging light over the table area.
I also need to get a different runner, but am using this for now because my dogs slip while running to the door if it's not there.
P.S. I hate the white paint fireplace, but it is far down on the list of things we are going to renovate, so for now it is what it is.
by More-Squirrel-9905
10 Comments
The windows are what I notice most. How about some curtains?
It feels like there’s not a focal point in the room. I see you don’t want to mess with the fireplace for now, but I think its the best bet to make the room pull together. Maybe a thrifted piece of art above the mantel or a nice mirror (depending on which direction your windows face).
I’d get rid of the ottoman. It’s placed as if it’s another seat and it looks awkward.
Get a shoe rack. There are low profile ones.
The main rug might be too small. See how the wood floor is exposed by the couch with the chaise? Try flipping it in the other orientation (parallel with the window). Not sure if it’s big enough though.
Coziness: add curtains, use warm light bulbs, add a lamp in the right corner of pic 1 (might need to move some plants).
And the rugs. Too many small rugs. I cannot see the full larger rug, but it might look better if you had an even larger rug in the main area. Perhaps the one you have will work if you can pull it out or change its orientation. All front legs of couch and chairs should be able to sit on the rug. Can you use the smaller beige rug in another area of your home?
I don’t see a dog …. That could be the problem.
I think curtains would like nice
In the last photo, the fireplace bothers me. I see what you said about it, but honestly painting over the white white a medium color will help it out with just a few hrs of work.
Coffee table. Only a few seats have a place to put a drink or snack down.
I believe it’s the lighting, it’s the harsh white light it’s making the room look out of place softer gold light bulbs and light framing cloud bring the whole look together
I’m agreeing with everyone else’s suggestions. I LOVE the huge picture windows but they seem too big and bare without “dressing them up” at least with a panel or two on each side of each window. Since they are so big, you don’t necessarily have to buy a massive long rod that will span the entire length of the window since you don’t need them to be opened and closed. You could just install short rods, even the kind that don’t have a decorative end cap, on each side just to hang the panels of material. (Might be an unpopular opinion but I’ve done it in the past and it looked great.) As far as the rugs, yes to a larger one OR if you don’t have children that are messy eaters, a decent sized one under the dining room table would help also anchor the dining space as its own separate zone. Yes the fireplace does look very plain and too white with of the amazing color of the rug and greenery you’ve got going on in the rest of the space. If you paint it, I would go much darker and even go non traditional like a teal blue from the rug. If you’re painting the stone anyway why not make it fun?! If you don’t want to paint it for now, at the very get a really large piece of art that has stronger colors in it.