Modern Home Decorating

Home Decorating and Interior Design Ideas

Small living room decorating questions?

Posted by admin on Jan-31-2010

My husband and I are closing on a home in 2 weeks, and I’m trying to figure out how to decorate the living area. It’s an odd, small area – Walk in the front door and its an oversize hallway more or less as the living room that L shapes to a small dining area that L shapes again to a dead end kitchen. So like a U shape with a wall between the kitchen and the living area.
It has light colored pergo flooring, and no high ceilings or skylights. And there is a pellet stove in the corner of the living area.
Since we wont have exra money, we have to keep our current furniture for the time being, which includes my husbands black leather couch and love seat.
The dining area and kitchen are going to have black wrought iron pieces (table/chairs and wall mounted pot rack).
With this information, do you have any tips on interior decoration? I need things to help make the room seem bigger, and tips on colors when our furniture is black and floor is light wood.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

You should paint the whole area one color and make sure the color coordinates well with the kitchen. Lighter colors are better since they make small rooms bigger, but some median tones can work too. The precise color of the flooring and the kitchen cabinets matters.

Ideas:
Putnam Ivory
Tea Room
Squire Hill Bluff
Atmospheric
Pale Avocado
Soft Beige
Jicama
Abalone

I would definitely get a big black mirror to hang over the sofa. It will make the room look bigger. Something like these http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10121252 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00081591
The proportions should be similar to this http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2966948346_2e7652379d_o.jpg

Window treatments are a toughie- the sofa is black but black curtains are really heavy. I would probably pick a print based on the paint color. Something like one of these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00160197 http://www.westelm.com/products/r801/?pkey=cwindow-panels-curtains-shades (this would only work with the grey or rose walls) http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1288&f=26869 (would work with the beige walls) Pick your paint and curtains together. The same color two shades darker would also work for curtains.

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  1. Allergic To Eggs Said,

    i would use a color to expand the room. white might seem unfriendly and uninviting. the dining area and living area might seem like "one" if they’re painted the same nice color.
    References :

  2. she wants to _know Said,

    MIRRORS LOTS OF MIRRORS AND LIGHT ALWAYS MAKES A ROOM SEEM BIGGER….. LIGHT COLOR WILL HELP
    References :
    GOODLUCK!

  3. Kate Said,

    You should paint the whole area one color and make sure the color coordinates well with the kitchen. Lighter colors are better since they make small rooms bigger, but some median tones can work too. The precise color of the flooring and the kitchen cabinets matters.

    Ideas:
    Putnam Ivory
    Tea Room
    Squire Hill Bluff
    Atmospheric
    Pale Avocado
    Soft Beige
    Jicama
    Abalone

    I would definitely get a big black mirror to hang over the sofa. It will make the room look bigger. Something like these http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10121252 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00081591
    The proportions should be similar to this http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2966948346_2e7652379d_o.jpg

    Window treatments are a toughie- the sofa is black but black curtains are really heavy. I would probably pick a print based on the paint color. Something like one of these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00160197 http://www.westelm.com/products/r801/?pkey=cwindow-panels-curtains-shades (this would only work with the grey or rose walls) http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1288&f=26869 (would work with the beige walls) Pick your paint and curtains together. The same color two shades darker would also work for curtains.
    References :

  4. Nurse Susan Said,

    1] paint walls of living/dining/kitchen the same light, bright color – suggest:
    smoky rose
    coral [ not orange with black accessories! ]
    butter or lemon yellow
    celery, sage, or mint green
    aqua, light turquoise
    sky or periwinkle blue
    2] hang up neutral sheers [ white, ivory, cream [ in living and dining areas for now - can add colored drapes later ]
    3] pretty curtains in kitchen in whatever second color [ after walls ] you like
    4] centerpiece or table linens in an dining room accent color
    5] decorative pillows/throw in Lr accent color
    6] add plants!
    Example –
    walls painted yellow;
    kitchen curtains blue/yellow print, with potted plants on window sill;
    brass/blue candle dining table centerpiece; and
    blue accessories in LR, with a few large potted plants
    References :
    experience

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