Browse Forums Soft Furnishings 1 Jun 20, 2011 1:50 pm Help please!! We have been in our house for 12 months now and I am struggling for decorating ideas. Our house is pretty much grey tones throughout. The couch isn't grey but is a browny-grey, whereas the carpet is charcoal (I struggled with this when we first moved in but the couch is only a couple of years old and was an expensive one so I can't justify replacing it) -So I need to add some colour using cushions but have struggled finding anything that would work. I have used some red in the kitchen dining area so not sure whether to continue this or go for something different. -I also think there is something needed against the wall beside the couch under the windows but not sure what. The windows make it hard to put a bookshelf or something there? -The windows need something too..... maybe those little rectangle pots with fake grasses in them? Here are some pics, any advice would be much appreciated!! looking into lounge through double doors from kitchen Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ and to the right Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ and from the far right corner of the lounge Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Thanks Michelle Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 2Jun 20, 2011 2:08 pm That certainly is a blank canvas - lots to play with!! Can you move the settee out of the corner and more towards the door (centred under the windows) (looking again maybe not as the TV would then not be central). Add a colourful rug (greens, reds, etc) and coffee table. The three windows need something - a venetian blind would take the starkness away. I'm sure you'll get lots of good ideas from fellow H1s - good luck with it - let us know how you get on. For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 3Jun 20, 2011 2:18 pm Hi Shelby78, Yes, you need to think of an accent colour and add touches to the room with perhaps a floor rug, cushions and vases and or lamps. For bigger pieces of furniture, you could have a coffee table or an ottoman, perhaps 2 side tables with lamps, books, vases, flowers, photos etc on them, or 1 side table nearer to the TV unit next to the couch and a buffet style lowline shelf/cupboard to sit under the 3 smaller windows next to the couch. I'd probably think of either 1 large artwork on the blank wall between the couch and TV or 3 matching smaller ones (although it might look busy with the 3 windows on the other wall), and then perhaps a floor lamp in the corner under the 3 windows right near the sliding doors to give the room a sense of height, or maybe in the corner next to the blank wall and TV. It would fill in a bit of a gap. As for colours...I have no idea! Red might work, or maybe a leaf green colour? Turquoise? You could perhaps buy a couple of cushions in various colours from Target to get an idea...you can always take them back if you weren't happy, or maybe go to your local curtain place who should loan out fabric books to you for free. The you could get an idea on both colour and pattern. Oh, and a throw rug slung over the arm of the couch with your chosen accent colour in it will make it feel cosy! I'm not an interior designer, but you have a lovely blank canvas to work with! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 4Jun 20, 2011 2:26 pm you know I'd just say get a rug, frame some the kids artwork and some lovely cushions, but stormy says it so much better than me!!! look around the design blogs too for ideas! A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 5Jun 20, 2011 3:03 pm Not sure what style and feel you want to create, but I'm sensing contemporary judging by the white TV unit! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ These rooms all have lots of layers, decor pieces (vases, flowers, lamps and table etc) and particular accent colours. It creates a wonderful cosy and comfortable feel. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ You don't have to go overboard like some of the pics, but little things all add up and help! Start with a bit more furniture and build up from there. Did the TV unit come with a matching buffet or hall/sofa table in the same range? It doesn't HAVE to match, but it may help to tie it all in together! Anyway, I'm no expert, but I hope I've helped a little! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 6Jun 20, 2011 4:38 pm Thanks for all the pics and advice stormy..... I love that ottoman with the pink flowers on it. You would be right in assuming we are going for a contemporary/modern too. I will look around for maybe a sideboard or hall table which can go underneath the windows beside the couch. Have also considered a lamp in that same corner. As far as colours go, I have thought before maybe a lime green would be nice? Thankyou Annietom and McLaren, I have never thought of putting a rug on carpet.... I thought they were just for iles Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 7Jun 20, 2011 4:47 pm hmmmmm.... would this work as a lamp table against the wall next to the couch? It is meant to be a coffee table so maybe too deep..... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 8Jun 20, 2011 4:52 pm not sure the image is showing up so this is the link, matches our tv unit perfectly! http://www.otesgreen.com.au/pdf/Zola.pdf Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 9Jun 20, 2011 10:35 pm Do you mind me showing you a few things I have that could suit that area A corner chair like this but in white Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A floor lamp or big pot with a real plant which I'll be getting very soon Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ the buffet Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A long ottoman in front of the lounge you could put a piece of glass on top even Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I think that's all I have to offer Re: Ideas to decorate our lounge please..................... 10Jun 30, 2011 8:34 am Thanks Suh!! Love those things! And you are right, they would suit my room! Thanks for the ideas! I have made a bit of progress on th artwork for the wall...... I have also brought a cushion which I am hoping will tie in with the photo. A couple of pics for you of the wall and the cushion Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And now the artwork, I just can't decide on which colour! So his is where I need expert help!!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/shellb78/bwoodpanoyesteryear.jpg http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/shellb78/bwoodpanovintage-2.jpg Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 12Jun 30, 2011 9:08 am Great picture - love the first one! The cushion colours are great - looks like a rug with blue swirls would be the go!! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 13Jun 30, 2011 10:46 am I love the first one too! I brought the cushion to match the one with more aqua though, so am struggling with whether the cushion is a good match to the first one ???? Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 14Jun 30, 2011 10:51 am I see what you mean - what about matching to the greeny/blue of your daughter's skirt and little boy's t-shirt - that would work. The other photos look a bit washed out and the top one with the darker edges really focusses your eye on the group in the middle. It's a lovely picture! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 15Jun 30, 2011 12:26 pm Lovely cushion I liked the first photo too ... at first ... then I noticed the 2nd photo's colours go better with the cushion AND the more I looked the first one looks like you're walking toward something gloomy and dark, the 2nd one looks like you're heading for happiness and light..3rd one is too pale, you're not heading anywhere Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 16Jun 30, 2011 12:31 pm Maybe the first photo could be a little lighter, but not as light as the second one and then we'd all be happy!! I also noticed how the sky changes to match the clothes so whichever one you choose you will have either have a green or blue tinged sky so more of whichever colour you choose - clever! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 17Jun 30, 2011 1:54 pm Re:m Photos, as a totally different option you could have the background in black and white and the foreground in colour. If you are good with photoshop, there should be heaps of tutorials on how to do it Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 18Jun 30, 2011 1:59 pm I'm going to disagree with Suh on this one. I like the first one and I think it looks like you're coming out of the doom and gloom into brighter times. I don't know if it is my computer screen but the colours in the second one look a little bit off to me. Built with RedInk Custom 5000 Key Handover 15/12/2009 Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 19Jun 30, 2011 2:00 pm Thanks guys!!! You are right Suh..... You are right too McLaren, something in the middle would be great! Have just been to spotlight again and found this cushion to match the ones I have, this might tie in with the darker pic better? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/shellb78/bwoodpanoyesteryear.jpg and then I found this one which has red in it too (I have red in my kitchen/dining) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ just to confuse things a little edited to add the pics in here so I can see them against each other Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32574 Re: Update... help me make a decision please!!!!! 20Jun 30, 2011 2:09 pm Looking good - look at all that colour and when you started this thread it was grey, grey, grey - good stuff For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Not sure who you're building with, but I moved in recently to a 11month scheduled, 8 month actual build on the South coast/Illawarra NSW 3 6120 I posted the floorplan on Houzz.com forum and got some really good ideas and advice from people there. Then we reached out to a couple of renovation companies and one… 5 11169 at most it will have a short lintel which could be moved up just below the ceiling or even above. Above means you need to patch the cornice and might need to deal with… 2 61890 |