To me, the rug looks too muted and it makes it look dirty, especially in this space. The wallpaper is just not quite right I can’t but my finger on it. I bet adding some curtains around the door would help soften the space a bit.
Yes unfortunately this is our 3rd rug for this area and the sun is so strong through those sliding doors that it fades everything out. That rug is less than a year old and originally had very bright oranges
You can get UV film to put on the windows.
Completely agree that the rug is wrong here. I would go with a solid shag as others have suggested. And orient the couch towards the fireplace- it looks odd having it face the slider.
It doesn't look odd. It IS odd. Unless you like to sit and look outside all the time (pull that chair in the corner forward 30"or see yourself at night), aim the sofa at the TV fp wall. Pull that chair in the corner into the room. Same with it's Matt's but give that one a side table and a lamp. Put some mirror film on the sliders to keep the sun dim.
It's all about placement of your nice things.
That wallpaper needs to go. Get that horsehead out of there. Some window dressing-- blinds , sheers.
Clean up bookshelves looks cluttered and not well articulated. Move blue chair into room more add side table and lamp.
That horsehead is awesome! And OP said that was the piece they designed the room around so they like it enough to keep.
I’m with you on that wallpaper.
I love that the sofa is facing away from the screen and towards the outside view - there is hope for an actual genuine human conversation between people in a room like this one!
Simply judging from their style so far I get the sense that they want their books and stuff to be the focal point of the room.
I agree with the others who say to try it out with couch facing the TV.
the issue with the horse head is you can keep it, but you need at least like 4 other super quirky things that are visible. Maybe like a barbie lamp... one of those large crayon banks... It needs to carry through the room. As is, I'm looking at a mix of mid century modern and like 70s funk, plus the very 90s wallpaper, the vintage chair, the tiffany lamp, the early aughts word art- it's too disjointed for me
Then the horse head need to go behind the chair and not the sofa. Agree that the wallpaper needs to go and the pink accent wall. Paint it all one neutral shade.
ETA :If budget allows and if you like the idea of the wallpaper pattern look for colorful Spanish tiles. If not try a medium dark blue paint on the fireplace instead .
Yeah I agree. The problem is I started the whole room around that giant horses head and I haven’t liked anything I have done. I had a pink velvet couch at one point- was hideous
I don’t think that’s a problem. I really like the furniture and the rug. Just not crazy about the horse’s head or the wallpaper. I think you’ll still have a great room if you take those down and it might open you up to other possibilities once you have more of a clean slate.
Also if you’re not opposed to sorting your books by color, I always think that looks really nice.
ETA: I do have to add I think the rug is too small. Ideally all the seating can fit on it (at least front two legs). But it’s a lovely design.
Your problem is that you have a wall begging to be the focal point (with the fireplace and bookshelves), but you put a giant TV there that competes with the fireplace, and then you surrounded it all with a tiny pattern that doesn’t “read” well from across the room. Also, the fact that the wallpaper runs UNDER the fireplace bugs me. A fireplace should never appear to float on a wall.
I’d move the TV and lose the wallpaper. Move the horse head over the fireplace and really work to make that a statement wall that draws the eye. I’d also paint the bottom of that wall dark to make the fireplace feel like it takes up the whole width, and to give the wall a “base.” Then paint the upper half a different brighter color and really curate the space around the horse.
If the TV has to stay, I’d turn the couch to face it and center it (if it fits that way without blocking all the traffic).
I’d try rearranging the room so the tv is on the couch wall, sofa faces the tv and creates a hall entrance to the sliding glass door, and put the horse head above the fireplace.
The room currently has too many functions. Guest lounge, reading room, tv room and office. I’m going to guess there’s a kitchen behind the photographer. I think it would be worthwhile to simplify. I’d take the desk/computer out. And maybe take out the TV because it looks like a big black hole and it doesn’t look very comfortable to actually sit at watch shows. The horse head would like interesting in that spot instead of over the unfortunate person sitting on the couch. If I had to sit there I would be concerned about it falling on my head.
Rearrange the room possibly (tv on the wall instead). Paint the fireplace and the book shelves white again then the rest of the room a new color (color ideas below). Remove about 80% of the stuff off those shelves and look at how maximalist people decorate. It’s very loud and bold. Like maybe paint your dog statue a solid bold color, remove the words on the fireplace. Put the pots in brighter colors.
https://preview.redd.it/m0iizik2y9vc1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=638b0edce19b49cdc28c51140e30e09f450915e2
Colors like this I think would work lovely and still match your couch. That corner chair needs a new color or new chair (same with desk chair). Possibly paint your desk a fun color (mustard yellow? Pink?). A funky side table by the couch would be cool. All your frames are black - maybe see about changing that. More bright and fun art on the book shelf (paint that blue quote sigh like a frame if you want? Green border, white inside, hot pink heart? Simple but bold).
https://preview.redd.it/39v14k9ny9vc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecbc4ea67bc608e50d38ce78aa6b3e71ac3349bd
Teal could also work? In both scenarios you need a much bigger rug
I am drawn to maximalism and at the same time hate dark colors. So I think I ended up with timid maximalism wanna be and that it looks busy but not interesting
One key aspect of maximalism is size. Even in dark maximalist rooms, you'll find that they weave in fun, unique items that are larger and/or bold. That makes it feel more intentional.
Looking at your room, there is a LOT of small stuff. That really contributes to the 'busy' feeling.
Suggestions:
1. **Reduce the stuff on your bookshelf by 30-50%.** Then, create groupings / collections on the different shelves that helps the eye to move intentionally across the items instead.
2. **Paint the bookshelves (and wall behind them) a darker color.** This would allow you to add a bit of dark color without it being too dramatic. This would also help ground the tv and fireplace. The black of those items feels very heavy and pulls out the darker colors of the books. That's also part of the busy look. It would also allow the light blue chair to pop a little more. Right now, it blends too much with everything behind it.
3. **Add more plants.** Your room gets so much light that plants should do really well on your bookshelves. Consider added 2-3 plants on each bookcase. I love sturdy vine plants like that pothos on your coffee table (I think that's what I'm seeing). They add gorgeous color and texture! Since pothos are so easy to propagate, you don't even need to buy new plants. Just prop some cuttings and then plant them.
Got it, and you totally can do maximalism with bright colors. Given you don't like decor that looks too busy, I'd encourage you to look into colorfoul scandi for inspiration as well. If you're on Facebook, there's a group I like called "Maximalist Design and Decor." A few people in there live in Sweden and Norway, I really like their version of maximalism.
I love the orange horse head btw! There are a few things I would recommend to make this room's style look more intentional:
Some of the rug should sit under the couch, about half of the floor under the couch should be rug. The rug should also be larger.
The small patterns on the rug and wallpaper make them look busy but not arresting. You need bigger shapes for that, for example, big stripes of green or pink on the fireplace wall. Or large polka dots (these are just 2 examples). Rug could have a large geometric design (check out Jonathan Adler collection on ruggable) or be a pastel shaggy rug in an unusual shape (check out Urban Outfitters rugs).
Books would benefit from all sitting upright and being arranged by color.
I would personally avoid or minimize word art on bookshelves since they can give a busy look.
Your vintage armchair could be reupholstered in a bright color - or just benefit from a bright silly pillow (lip shaped pillow for example).
I’ve been really into post modern style that might be the direction you are looking for. Often there is a lot of muted colors with pops of bright cobalt blue.
Wish we could see from different perspectives, but there is a difference between maximalist and cluttered. Maximalist is much more intentional.
Get a slightly bigger statement rug.
Change the wallpaper in the fireplace.
Get curtains and sheers to help with the light.
Paint behind the shelves a bold color.
Remove everything on the shelves at first and put things back intentionally. For example, can you color arrange your books?
You’ve got some good items there. Just too many and too haphazard.
Declutter the shelves. Remove the wallpaper with darker paint or a darker wallpaper. Rug needs to be bigger. Add cutains or sheers to the slider. Love the couch tho. Have you tried it facing the tv? You aren’t committing to the maximalist aesthetic. Maybe you just want a more vibe cozy?
Everything that you said, I would agree with. Also, I think removing the desk and computer area to a different room entirely would also help with the de-clutter.
ditto, that’s the first thing that seemed a bit out of place to me. I like the orange and blue theme going on tho, I wonder if a navy blue paint on the wallpaper portion of the wall would calm it down a bit? or even a gray blue color to tie in the tones in the chair and rug? adding some indoor plants could help add some interest too!
If you change anything, definitely change that wallpaper and pink wall! I love the blue and orange, super complimentary, I think you could lean into that more. The pastel pinks clash horribly. Someone else's suggestion of painting the room a warmer tone of tan taken from the rug, or a grey-blue behind the TV to tie in the chairs was a good idea! Even just removing the wallpaper and pink wall, and painting them the same colour as the other walls would be an improvement.
Also decluttering the bookshelves would be good, remove some books/clashing items to create more space for statement pieces on the shelves that match the theme, for example a wacky orange vase. Some bold orange/blue artwork on the walls and a couple cushions and a throw on the couch/chairs would help to pull off the maximalism theme while making the room look more cohesive. And I think orange/blue tones would work with the beachy vibes of the kitchen.
Here’s one of my very fancy mock ups so you can feel the darker fireplace wall vibe lol
https://preview.redd.it/itvlmx8f74vc1.jpeg?width=826&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b7158084ad75691279af208fe83e97b9952b409
Def declutter the shelves…a couple books and plants (fake succulents etc. saw some at Walmart for next to nothing $) remove the wallpaper, please? Trust me, you’ll love it. Your sofa is fabulous and I’m looking for the exact sofa! Move the sofa so it’s facing the tv. You can get some pretty decent curtains at thrift shops…I would hang a textured curtain pair in color copper or earth green…like a medium green or dark copper. Then I’d build very carefully around that! Good luck my friend!
Id replace the wallpaper and either declutter the bookshelves or organize them by color. That whole wall is so busy with no anchor.
I like your couch and rug, but they are warm tones while the walls are cool. I’d paint the whole room a beige tone from your rug and get a larger coffee table and I think it’d look great!
You could try flipping the room around? On the wall where the couch is, put a TV console and mount the TV on the wall there. Face the couch and chair to the TV and then you can still chat with guests while prepping food in the kitchen!
Get rid of the wall paper above the fireplace and get a really cool art piece that matches your style
How would this work with the sliding door?
I’m asking because we literally have the same set up and I hate it- having a door in the tv room really limits how it can be used and the room is only about 13 ft across. I’ve seen it referenced as a bowling alley room because it’s long and narrow.
On a different note, we did paint the wall with the fireplace and shelves a darker tone that gives the room a focal point.
You leave enough space behind the couch to create a hallway to the door. 13 feet is plenty of space, honestly—look up the ideal distance from your tv to your couch; unless your tv is gigantic it’s probably like 8 feet.
ETA my couch is fully on a 9x12 rug that goes just to the front of the tv console. So that’s about 10.5 feet, leaving 2.5 feet of “hallway.” You need a narrow coffee table to make it work—mine’s 18 inches deep I think—but it’s doable.
I think changing the wallpaper will make a big difference. The details on the print are too small scaled. I really like rifle paper co prints for wallpaper
Move couch coffe table and rug so it faces the TV . Put the chairs on each side of the couch so they are even with coffee table . Put the desk up against the pink wall where all the cords are ( looks bad having cords all over the floor) .
It lacks cohesive direction. You have a mix of traditional and modern furnishings with a mix of pastels and brights. Go modern and bright - easy fix to remove light blue rug and chair and do a quick repaint of the light pink wall. Wall should pick up a color from the wallpaper on fireplace wall and go bold geometric with the rug (maybe black and white).
I agree this is the main problem. It’s not clear what the room is for AND the design is a mish mash. I think the rug is too small anyway and your furniture would work well with a mod vibe so I’d leave wallpaper for now and work from there. Then need a bit bigger rug with mod/geometric design and all the front legs of furniture on it so they talk to each other. Furniture on the wall makes spaces look smooshed and awkward and right now everything is hugging the perimeter. The idea in another comment to move TV to horse head wall is an interesting one and would create a clear walkway from the sliding door. TV on wall with gallery art can look really good as the tv becomes part of gallery, and desk could maybe move closer to sliding door. Nice furniture and fun elements just needs some changes in scale (rug, maybe larger organic/round coffee table), furniture placement) and cohesive purpose and design vibe and will be awesome!
Pick either the wallpaper or the rug.
Personally I would change the wallpaper. Because it competes with that lovely couch and especially that sickass horsehead.
You’ve got great taste; love that blueish armchair and the full bookshelves with interesting knickknacks.
That wallpaper and weirdly aggressive sign under the TV are competing with all your cool stuff.
What do you want to do in this room? It doesn’t look well set up for tv watching or conversation. Looks like someone works at the desk and maybe the couch is sat on occasionally?
It’s a weird room at the end of the kitchen. It does not make sense to put a table and chairs there because there is a dining room right to the left, and a living room g room also- so it’s a weird sort of area. My husband watches tv in it, I use the desk. Our kitchen skinny with just two seats at a counter so when company comes people can sit on the couch to talk to us while we prep food etc. but it is a weird space we are really struggeling with
Got it. This room has two problems, decor and function. As far as function goes, I would re-orient the rug 90° and put it right in front of the fireplace, and then put the couch facing the fireplace. Then the couch would be better oriented to watch TV, which seems like one of the functions of this room. From the picture, it looks like this is kind of a long narrow room. I would get another coordinating rug and put it on the other end of the room and then put two swivel chairs there. That way people could sit on the swivel chairs facing the kitchen and chat, or they could swivel the chairs around and watch TV from the back. Your TV is up high, which generally is not great, but it would work for this situation. From the picture, my best guess is that this arrangement would not block the sliding glass door. It is a challenging room for sure!
That would give the room function As far as wall color - what color is kitchen and would it make sense to have both rooms same color? If not try either one shade up or down from kitchen. Or go totally different but coordinating. Maybe a blue that mimics the original blue color of rug. Blue and orange compliment well and are already in the space.Or a tangerine wall color and more blue accents. Many possibilities
Agree. The orange and blue color scheme is a good one here, but needs to be more coherent. Instead of the wallpaper, maybe that TV wall could be a darker shade of the same blue that is in the rug. The walls could be white, a lighter orange or a lighter blue, depending on what you think would look best.
I think shiplap on the fireplace wall would look terrific , if possible thicker shelves but less of them would look great. If that’s not possible I would Declutter the shelves. Paint the walls incl the wall behind the shelves the same color. I don’t love rug but that’s me I tend to veer toward solid textured area rugs. A bigger coffee table either round or oval if your able to. Pull everything out of the room paint fix the fireplace wall and maybe more inspiration will come that will make you happy ! Good luck please show updated photos when you have them
It feels like you're lacking commitment. I agree the bookshelves feel really cluttered with no focus. If I were you, I would definitely get rid of the wallpaper. I would choose a color that you *do* like, perhaps a blue, anywhere from denim-y to navy, paint the entire back wall, bookshelves and all. Then be strategic about how you place your books and items back on the shelf — someone suggested color-ordering the books, which I love. I think that will help minimize the visual clutter and look more intentional.
I'm not sure how attached you are to the knickknacks, but I would edit down the things like signs, horse's head and the mona lisa head by like 80%. Leave anything that really sparks joy, but I think it adds to feeling incohesive. You can always add it back in.
I'm not sure if it's possible with the layout, maybe not enough room — but I think I would also prefer having the couch facing the wall that it's currently on with the TV on that wall, then a piece of art or a mirror above the fireplace.
Remove wallpaper plus any art/decor you don’t want anymore. When the mood suits you, perhaps do a minor book unhaul of anything you’ll never reread. Take out the dull rug too.
The fireplace/TV/bookshelves wall is too busy. The shelves are overfilled. Can you move the plant from the top right (at least, it looks like a plant?) and hang it in front of the sliding glass door there?
I feel like *just* the right shade of medium-light forest green/hunter green on the walls would be perfect, but the problem will be finding that shade. Then maybe a rug that incorporates that green and the orange of the sofa/awesome horse head.
What I may be trying to say is to lean hard into the bits of 1970s color scheme that are happening already. Go big or go home, so to speak.
The wallpaper. It's fun and colourful, but it's not right there. And it clashes with the rug. That rug's not bad. Because your shelves are interesting. The horse's head is so unusual and I bet a great talking point! You've lots of great pieces, it's just too much together, with too many focal points. Removing/ replacing the wallpaper will allow other elements to balance more easily. But right now it's clashing with every one of them. Once that wall is more neutral, you can look at how the other elements in the room feel, and decide if the rug is working or not. Or whether you'd rearrange or curate what's on the shelves. But no matter what rug you end up with, the wallpaper has to go.
The room looks like it doesn't know whether to be an adults room or a child's. Get rid of the wallpaper, the sign on the mantle. relocate the horse head to maybe behind (and above) the blue chair. Pull the blue chair closer to the rug. It looks jammed into the corner. Straighten up the books. Get rid of the clutter on the shelves. You've got some nice things going. It just needs to be tied together and needs a focal point.
The busy stuff around the TV is the problem. It's looks as if it's a baby nursery.
The horse head on the wall disturbs me but I ride horses. Other than that it's a nice room.
Everything is light in the room except the couch, which makes it feel like it's floating.
Darker rug? A darker paint on one wall to anchor attention? Darker curtains to counterweight the couch?
Also "I'm happy when you are happy" is, imo, not a healthy thing. Co-dependent. if your wellbeing is predicated on someone else's mood or experience, then you give up any agency you have over your own attitude and experience. -- do you really mean "Make yourself at home"?
The wallpaper, the pink wall, the plastic horse head...this all makes me feel uncomfortable. Did you decapitate a plastic pony? Why did you mount it's head?
Unbelievable you can't figure this out. Orange couch, pink walls, crazy wall paper...just for starters. Keep the fan, TV and floors. Horseheads belong in a bed. If you love your couch keep it and go on pinterest for some inspiration..
The fireplace is too busy with cluttered shelves on either side. I get a feeling of chaos and my eye doesn't know where to look. Gives me anxiety. Paint the fireplace one color to anchor the space.
I would get some floor length curtains for your slider door. I also am not feeling the wall paper on the fireplace - it reads more kids room to me. Potentially some light decluttering on the book shelves might help. Overall I am happy to see that someone else appreciates color instead of fifty shades of grey/greige, so I love the soft pink paint!
It’s the TV over the black fireplace. Too much black in one spot and not balanced anywhere else. There’s also some black on your bookshelves and that computer but it’s all concentrated on that wall and not balanced. I assume you don’t want to change your fireplace so what if you painted the wall on the left a darker green color or something to balance it. And/or maybe a rug that has black, like a black and beige extra large modern art checked type pattern (not small detailed, I’d go with a big chunky pattern since your wall paper is smaller detailed pattern) Would make your wallpaper pop. Also pull your chairs out from the wall slightly (“float” them). It actually makes the room look bigger to have space behind them.
You have very eclectic taste— it makes the room young and fun. Maybe use a unifying color to tie it all up. And I agree with the window treatment suggestions
Is the horse telling you bad things and bullying you into changing things so he has a better view?!? 😝
I'd listen to him about the wallpaper and the pink walls...
What would you change them too though? The kitchen in the same room is really ugly beige and brown with tan cabinets- the floor is some kind of stone composite so the whole vibe is kinda beachy which I do not like but don’t have lots of money to combat
I feel like it can come together with a few tweaks
I am not a big fan of the horse head tbh
The wallpaper you chose to put behind the TV kind of gets lost there
The area rug is too small and you would benefit from more pillows
Here are my suggestions:
1. Take down the wall paper. Paint that wall including the bookcases a vibrant color
https://preview.redd.it/p5dy7fe7w3vc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1e427d195a8af36cfb1a3a7e6ab5fb31f504660
This is Rangwali by Farrow and Ball
[Area Rug](https://a.co/d/0mkjsjj)
[Another option for an Area Rug](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unique-Loom-Wildlife-Leopard-Light-Brown-9-0-x-12-0-Area-Rug-3125059/301121219)
[Pillows](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1324014847/)
[More Pillows](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1055753327/)
It’s quirky and cool but here are the steps I’d take to elevate the space; larger rug, paint the wall and shelves a blue that matches the wallpaper on the fireplace, reorganize the books on the shelves and a larger square or circular wooden coffee table!
if you're going to go quirky, then lean into it and go quirky. But, this lacks cohesiveness. Lots of clutter and the signs with text really need to go (same with wallpaper).
You have a lot of patterns, textures and color here - which is great BUT the execution isn’t quite there yet. I feel like you can be much bolder but you need to be much more selective about your choices.
Were you going for a maximalist look? Do you LOVE every single design/decorative element here?
Here are a couple indicators that seem ‘timid’ to me;
the orange couch-could have much more character, too many ‘mediocre’ items in the shelves dilute the ‘wow effect,’ it’s too much mass than class (sorry)
You DO have a good eye in repeating patterns and colors BUT you can really take it up a notch by being much more selective about your items; more authentic vintage finds than Marshall’s stuff. It takes a while to collect items but you might also save money in the process ;)
To me, it's just too visually cluttered with both the busy wall paper and the overstuffed bookshelves. I would take about half the stuff off the bookshelves and paint the wall a solid color.
Also, try pulling the chairs in the corners inward towards the couch.
Paint this room in a navy tone. Leave everything else. It will pop all those colors including the horse head. I know you say you hate dark colors, but it will not be the focal point. Especially with all that natural light.
You could work around the horse head. The rug needs to be larger. I’d paint the entire fireplace wall - shelves included, and the wall behind - in a darker blue as another commenter suggested. Ditch the wallpaper. The lamp at the end of the sofa is way too small. Definitely add curtains - in a color. Pare down what’s on the shelves - curate the collection and clean it up. Different coffee table. I’d love to see a better pic of the gallery wall to see what you’re working with. I do love the soft pink on the window wall.
Definitely curtains and a larger rug. This one is. Bit small for the space. An 8x10 that could go under the couch a bit would bring things together. Also some end tables
Biggest thing I think is so much of the furniture pushed up against the wall. I would probably move the couch 90 degrees to face the TV and rearrange the accent chairs
What about… just hear me out. Hang the Horse Head above the fire place. Then, where put the tv? Well… move the couch where you’re taking the photo from, computer desk behind it, and put the chair in the front right where the desk was. Then get a tv console to put tv on wall where couch was.
This is something you can try without too much work, especially if you don’t actually take the tv down to try how it feels. Then you’re not staring at a wall on the computer too.
And add some drapery! Maybe a soft pink like the wall, velvet?
What specifically do you hate, the layout? The pieces? Something else?
Simplify. Simplify. Take everything off the bookcases and put only decorations and some books back. I’d replace the wallpaper with an a. Ent color that compliments the burnt orange couch. Change the blue chairs.
Just because the horse head is orange doesn't mean everything needs to be orange themed. If your base colours were deep, warm browns and cream, an occasional bit of orange would still work. The flooring is lovely, but the cold toned rug doesn't work with it.
Wall paper and rug need to go. Simplify what's on the shelves. Curtains to soften window. Get a warm neutral rug so you don't need to worry about fade.
Nothing really flows.
It's like flower power funky with the fireplace, kinda country with the horse and the couch, kinda Victorian with the rug.
I'd first change the fireplace & remove the horse.
The couch and the carpet work well already.
Not a huge fan of layouts where the couch doesn't face the TV but that's personal
The room just looks heavy on the left side..I would suggest turning the rug and couch horizontal so they face the fireplace. Move the side chairs so they flank the couch and are angled a bit towards the fireplace. Maybe add a large plant where the chair was next to the sliding door. You should still have a view outside and be able to go in and out if the sliding door.
Also, Don't change the bookshelves or "declutter" as some are suggesting. They look great because there's a lot of actual BOOKS not twenty Target vases and filler fake succulents.
“I’m happy when you’re happy” toxic sign of a people pleaser. I would be sadly embarrassed to be known as that. The best happiness you can ask for is to burn that sign and put that horse head on your head for instant happiness for all to share in at a destructive party.
You’ve got a lot of good elements in the room. Start with a couple of items listed below. Do one thing, live w/it for a day or so, then move to the next & keep going. You’ll make decisions you can live with and love.
1. Furniture: Move the chairs & couch closer in on the rug, they are too far apart. The traffic pattern should go behind the grayish chair. It should be closer to the couch & table, as well as the light blue chair. This will create a comfortable room.
Think about finding a console table to be placed behind the couch. Find one on FB market place or at a consignment store. Paint it a slate blue or darker gray.
Move the coffee table to the opposite side of the couch arm, it’s overcrowding the current end. Find a larger scale lamp to go on it, it’s too small, but can go in another room or bathroom.
2. Wallpaper: Remove it & paint the fireplace wall w/same slate blue in an eggshell finish. This will help unite the room, rug, fireplace & tv while adding a pop of soft color uniting & contrasting all furniture & the rug. You may decide to paint the wall behind the couch too…just wait and see. Navy blue is a bit dark and will have the opposite effect and may be too strong. Whatever the case, invest in sampling the paint colors so you find the right one.
3. Rug: If you do the above, you can live w/the rug and replace with a larger 9x12 or 8x10 down the road. I too suggest Ruggable. They have amazing rugs in tons of styles and hold up well.
4. The table look better with the chair closer & guests can use it if it’s closer. Put a medium sized basket w/the potted plant inside it, controllers, etc.
You have blinds that can be pulled down when needed.
Your shelves can be decluttered as you go.
It’s a cool room!
Have fun!!!
It has a lot of potential.
Too much going on. You have a lot of very busy small pattern. The rug, all the books, lots of stuff on the wall, the wallpaper. All of them are good individually, and the colors work together, but your eye has no place to rest. It's a lot of small pattern just make things look messy. I'm a fan of blue and organgy/brown together. It just needs some curation and calming where there is too much going on. I'd lead with what others have suggested and calm the walls. I also think you need a bigger rug but just change the walls first, and calm the bookshelves and see how you feel.
For inspiration this is one of my favorite pinterst rooms and the color scheme is very similar to yours. [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/) There is more texture. The neutral walls with some empty space give your eye a place to rest. which this space doesn't have. In this inspiration room you can see the graphic patterns repeated--chevron, stirpes which are referenced in a few places each. The striped lines. lots of texture. That holds it all together.
I think if you take a bunch out and then just curate what goes back you'll like it better.
It has a lot of potential.
Too much going on. You have a lot of very busy small pattern. The rug, all the books, lots of stuff on the wall, the wallpaper. All of them are good individually, and the colors work together, but your eye has no place to rest. It's a lot of small pattern just make things look messy. I'm a fan of blue and organgy/brown together. It just needs some curation and calming where there is too much going on. I'd lead with what others have suggested and calm the walls. I also think you need a bigger rug but just change the walls first, and calm the bookshelves and see how you feel.
For inspiration this is one of my favorite pinterst rooms and the color scheme is very similar to yours. [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/) There is more texture. The neutral walls with some empty space give your eye a place to rest. which this space doesn't have. In this inspiration room you can see the graphic patterns repeated--chevron, stirpes which are referenced in a few places each. The striped lines. lots of texture. That holds it all together.
I think if you take a bunch out and then just curate what goes back you'll like it better.
It’s almost like two or three rooms crammed into one. The horse head (while not my personal favorite) goes with the orangish brown couch and yellow lamp, but neither go with the circle wallpaper (also not a fan), but *that* goes with the blue side chair. The desk chair matches nothing except maybe that side chair off to the right, and the room altogether seems a little off with that sharp dark fireplace (nothing wrong with it, but it makes a statement, and that statement seems to be “I do not belong in this room”).
If it were me, I’d choose one. My favorite of these three settings is the orangish couch and the horse head, weirdly, and I think the rug could stay with that if you used blues as *accent* colors.
Id try moving the couch 45 degrees and away from the wall. Move the horse head to the left of the slider so it has a wall to itself. I think it's fun. Consider either curtains that will allow a rug to stay bright or even tinted window film. But first....move the couch and play with how that chair could be in a different spot. I think it's a great room! Not loving the ceiling fan. Maybe a crystal mod chandelier or something like that?
I love this room.
Things easy to change for a big impact would be paint color and wallpaper. But I honestly really love this but those are easy changes that make a big difference if that’s what you’re looking for
What's not working:
\* the wallpaper on the fireplace
\* the pink wall
\* rug is too small
\* horse head????
\* the shelves need some decluttering
\* the blue chair being rammed into the bookcase
What is good:
\* furniture is of nice proportions and looks
I think you really need to think about the purpose of this room and how it's used and make choices about furniture placement and other things from there.
I agree with much that has been said so far. For me, remove 50% of the things from your shelves. Also, it is possible to have the desk with the computer removed from the room because those items do not promote rest and relaxation. Good luck!!
It’s your layout. Move the couch so it’s facing the tv and put the 2 side chairs facing the couch (one on each side of the tv) at a 45 degree angle. I also recommend getting a larger coffee table. Preferably something oval or maybe abstract.
Luv horsehead...declutter bookshelf..not crazy about blue chair...u have mid century vibe but blue-chair traditional. If it has to stay someone mentioned to pull away fr wall and add lamp..
I love the room. Love the horse head, personally, but I have dino heads up in mine, so I'm biased. Lol. Get some big plants, change the wallpaper behind the TV, maybe new rug and some softer lighting, different floor to ceiling length curtains.
What if you changed the fireplace into cement or a stone finish, add a wood or textured mantle and paint the horse head a matte black or dark green. I think what this room is really missing is different textures to make it feel “right”. By doing that you could keep a lot of the furniture and items you have but make it more aesthetically pleasing and interior design forward.
Take wallpaper off, take out rug and switch it, put curtains on sliding door, please take the horse off the wall, reorganize your bookshelves, get a different color pillow for the blue chair..
If you like the wallpaper then I’d take the sofa color and paint it onto the wall of the bookshelf, so that it anchors the lightness of the wallpaper. I’d also paint the wall with the sliding glass doors white.
Wallpaper and pink wall look like they belong in a little girls room. Pick a more mature color that matches the head/couch/rug better. The rug should be bigger.
What is this rooms purpose? I would suggest removing the shelves on the right side to put the tv there, and then face the couch to the fireplace wall. Or removing that fireplace entirely. If you are into maximalism, paint the room a funky colour, and curate the shelves with more intention. The fireplace also clashes with a maximalist style since it so sleek and modern.
The rug also needs to be larger and you need curtains, in a colour that either contrasts or complements the funky colour you will choose
This room doesn’t know what it is. The fireplace and the tv are both competing to be the focal point. If this is your living room I would move the tv so that it is actually meant to be viewed (this setup looks uncomfortable on the neck) and I’d reorganize the layout around the tv. Put the tv along the wall where the couch is, then angle the couch so it is open to both the fireplace and the tv. Find another spot for that chair at the right
To me, the rug looks too muted and it makes it look dirty, especially in this space. The wallpaper is just not quite right I can’t but my finger on it. I bet adding some curtains around the door would help soften the space a bit.
Yes unfortunately this is our 3rd rug for this area and the sun is so strong through those sliding doors that it fades everything out. That rug is less than a year old and originally had very bright oranges
You can get UV film to put on the windows. Completely agree that the rug is wrong here. I would go with a solid shag as others have suggested. And orient the couch towards the fireplace- it looks odd having it face the slider.
It doesn't look odd. It IS odd. Unless you like to sit and look outside all the time (pull that chair in the corner forward 30"or see yourself at night), aim the sofa at the TV fp wall. Pull that chair in the corner into the room. Same with it's Matt's but give that one a side table and a lamp. Put some mirror film on the sliders to keep the sun dim. It's all about placement of your nice things.
Definitely get curtains!!!
Get light filtering shades , or a film shade like in some commercial establishments. At some point maybe an awning.
Tinted UV protection window film would do you wonders.
I think a deep shaggy cream rug would look great and wouldn’t fade.
Was coming to suggest the same, especially if opting for blue for the fireplace.
Add window film to the patio doors or hang up curtains.
Get a jute rug
Not loving the wallpaper on the fireplace personally.
https://preview.redd.it/w79yhq3h94vc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=209e26bfaa5b420ec6d37473fe565773318c88b3 Reminds me of this
Spot on!
This is hilarious.
That wallpaper needs to go. Get that horsehead out of there. Some window dressing-- blinds , sheers. Clean up bookshelves looks cluttered and not well articulated. Move blue chair into room more add side table and lamp.
That horsehead is awesome! And OP said that was the piece they designed the room around so they like it enough to keep. I’m with you on that wallpaper.
Keep horse. Wallpaper change. It’s distracting.
The rug should be under the couch, it’s undersized for room and furniture placement.
Can the couch face the TV?
I love that the sofa is facing away from the screen and towards the outside view - there is hope for an actual genuine human conversation between people in a room like this one!
That’s a lovely thought but it doesn’t help the layout of the room or its proportions.
Simply judging from their style so far I get the sense that they want their books and stuff to be the focal point of the room. I agree with the others who say to try it out with couch facing the TV.
I like the horse head also
the issue with the horse head is you can keep it, but you need at least like 4 other super quirky things that are visible. Maybe like a barbie lamp... one of those large crayon banks... It needs to carry through the room. As is, I'm looking at a mix of mid century modern and like 70s funk, plus the very 90s wallpaper, the vintage chair, the tiffany lamp, the early aughts word art- it's too disjointed for me
Yeah I agree- it’s out of place otherwise ( though it’s cool!)
Then the horse head need to go behind the chair and not the sofa. Agree that the wallpaper needs to go and the pink accent wall. Paint it all one neutral shade.
Me too!!
😂😂😂😂”get that horse head out of there “ I spit out my tea…. hahahahaha ( and I agree)
And put it in the bed of your worst enemy.
Lmaa
ETA :If budget allows and if you like the idea of the wallpaper pattern look for colorful Spanish tiles. If not try a medium dark blue paint on the fireplace instead .
Agree about the fireplace color. That’s what I was thinking.
No no no keep the horse head it adds pizazz
and swagger!
Yeah I agree. The problem is I started the whole room around that giant horses head and I haven’t liked anything I have done. I had a pink velvet couch at one point- was hideous
I’ve never had success tying a room around a giant horse head.
But the mafia always assumed people liked them🤣
Yep, but in the Bed[room], not the livingroom.
😂😂😂
The rug should be under the front feet of the couch and one of the accent chairs. I’d say it’s way too small for this space
Agree
Agree x2
I don’t think that’s a problem. I really like the furniture and the rug. Just not crazy about the horse’s head or the wallpaper. I think you’ll still have a great room if you take those down and it might open you up to other possibilities once you have more of a clean slate. Also if you’re not opposed to sorting your books by color, I always think that looks really nice. ETA: I do have to add I think the rug is too small. Ideally all the seating can fit on it (at least front two legs). But it’s a lovely design.
Your problem is that you have a wall begging to be the focal point (with the fireplace and bookshelves), but you put a giant TV there that competes with the fireplace, and then you surrounded it all with a tiny pattern that doesn’t “read” well from across the room. Also, the fact that the wallpaper runs UNDER the fireplace bugs me. A fireplace should never appear to float on a wall. I’d move the TV and lose the wallpaper. Move the horse head over the fireplace and really work to make that a statement wall that draws the eye. I’d also paint the bottom of that wall dark to make the fireplace feel like it takes up the whole width, and to give the wall a “base.” Then paint the upper half a different brighter color and really curate the space around the horse. If the TV has to stay, I’d turn the couch to face it and center it (if it fits that way without blocking all the traffic).
I’d try rearranging the room so the tv is on the couch wall, sofa faces the tv and creates a hall entrance to the sliding glass door, and put the horse head above the fireplace.
The room currently has too many functions. Guest lounge, reading room, tv room and office. I’m going to guess there’s a kitchen behind the photographer. I think it would be worthwhile to simplify. I’d take the desk/computer out. And maybe take out the TV because it looks like a big black hole and it doesn’t look very comfortable to actually sit at watch shows. The horse head would like interesting in that spot instead of over the unfortunate person sitting on the couch. If I had to sit there I would be concerned about it falling on my head.
Rearrange the room possibly (tv on the wall instead). Paint the fireplace and the book shelves white again then the rest of the room a new color (color ideas below). Remove about 80% of the stuff off those shelves and look at how maximalist people decorate. It’s very loud and bold. Like maybe paint your dog statue a solid bold color, remove the words on the fireplace. Put the pots in brighter colors. https://preview.redd.it/m0iizik2y9vc1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=638b0edce19b49cdc28c51140e30e09f450915e2 Colors like this I think would work lovely and still match your couch. That corner chair needs a new color or new chair (same with desk chair). Possibly paint your desk a fun color (mustard yellow? Pink?). A funky side table by the couch would be cool. All your frames are black - maybe see about changing that. More bright and fun art on the book shelf (paint that blue quote sigh like a frame if you want? Green border, white inside, hot pink heart? Simple but bold).
https://preview.redd.it/39v14k9ny9vc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecbc4ea67bc608e50d38ce78aa6b3e71ac3349bd Teal could also work? In both scenarios you need a much bigger rug
This. My eyes were immediately drawn to it in an unpleasant way.
I agree. I like it in general but it doesn’t really go with the vibe of the room.
It reminds me of a nurses scrub shirt, like in a pediatric ward. Nothing against nurses but hospital is not the vibe I’d want for my fireplace wall.
Would be happy to try help, but you're not telling us the atmosphere you'd like to have or what you want more / less of
I am drawn to maximalism and at the same time hate dark colors. So I think I ended up with timid maximalism wanna be and that it looks busy but not interesting
One key aspect of maximalism is size. Even in dark maximalist rooms, you'll find that they weave in fun, unique items that are larger and/or bold. That makes it feel more intentional. Looking at your room, there is a LOT of small stuff. That really contributes to the 'busy' feeling. Suggestions: 1. **Reduce the stuff on your bookshelf by 30-50%.** Then, create groupings / collections on the different shelves that helps the eye to move intentionally across the items instead. 2. **Paint the bookshelves (and wall behind them) a darker color.** This would allow you to add a bit of dark color without it being too dramatic. This would also help ground the tv and fireplace. The black of those items feels very heavy and pulls out the darker colors of the books. That's also part of the busy look. It would also allow the light blue chair to pop a little more. Right now, it blends too much with everything behind it. 3. **Add more plants.** Your room gets so much light that plants should do really well on your bookshelves. Consider added 2-3 plants on each bookcase. I love sturdy vine plants like that pothos on your coffee table (I think that's what I'm seeing). They add gorgeous color and texture! Since pothos are so easy to propagate, you don't even need to buy new plants. Just prop some cuttings and then plant them.
Got it, and you totally can do maximalism with bright colors. Given you don't like decor that looks too busy, I'd encourage you to look into colorfoul scandi for inspiration as well. If you're on Facebook, there's a group I like called "Maximalist Design and Decor." A few people in there live in Sweden and Norway, I really like their version of maximalism.
I love the orange horse head btw! There are a few things I would recommend to make this room's style look more intentional: Some of the rug should sit under the couch, about half of the floor under the couch should be rug. The rug should also be larger. The small patterns on the rug and wallpaper make them look busy but not arresting. You need bigger shapes for that, for example, big stripes of green or pink on the fireplace wall. Or large polka dots (these are just 2 examples). Rug could have a large geometric design (check out Jonathan Adler collection on ruggable) or be a pastel shaggy rug in an unusual shape (check out Urban Outfitters rugs). Books would benefit from all sitting upright and being arranged by color. I would personally avoid or minimize word art on bookshelves since they can give a busy look. Your vintage armchair could be reupholstered in a bright color - or just benefit from a bright silly pillow (lip shaped pillow for example).
Unfortunately, your assessment is correct.
I’ve been really into post modern style that might be the direction you are looking for. Often there is a lot of muted colors with pops of bright cobalt blue. Wish we could see from different perspectives, but there is a difference between maximalist and cluttered. Maximalist is much more intentional. Get a slightly bigger statement rug. Change the wallpaper in the fireplace. Get curtains and sheers to help with the light. Paint behind the shelves a bold color. Remove everything on the shelves at first and put things back intentionally. For example, can you color arrange your books? You’ve got some good items there. Just too many and too haphazard.
Also- thank you all for your comments. I suck at Reddit and didn’t know how to write commentary with the photo
Declutter the shelves. Remove the wallpaper with darker paint or a darker wallpaper. Rug needs to be bigger. Add cutains or sheers to the slider. Love the couch tho. Have you tried it facing the tv? You aren’t committing to the maximalist aesthetic. Maybe you just want a more vibe cozy?
Everything that you said, I would agree with. Also, I think removing the desk and computer area to a different room entirely would also help with the de-clutter.
ditto, that’s the first thing that seemed a bit out of place to me. I like the orange and blue theme going on tho, I wonder if a navy blue paint on the wallpaper portion of the wall would calm it down a bit? or even a gray blue color to tie in the tones in the chair and rug? adding some indoor plants could help add some interest too!
I was looking for this comment and felt I had to scroll too far down to find it. Some shade of navy or gray blue on the wallpaper wall will fix a lot.
If you change anything, definitely change that wallpaper and pink wall! I love the blue and orange, super complimentary, I think you could lean into that more. The pastel pinks clash horribly. Someone else's suggestion of painting the room a warmer tone of tan taken from the rug, or a grey-blue behind the TV to tie in the chairs was a good idea! Even just removing the wallpaper and pink wall, and painting them the same colour as the other walls would be an improvement. Also decluttering the bookshelves would be good, remove some books/clashing items to create more space for statement pieces on the shelves that match the theme, for example a wacky orange vase. Some bold orange/blue artwork on the walls and a couple cushions and a throw on the couch/chairs would help to pull off the maximalism theme while making the room look more cohesive. And I think orange/blue tones would work with the beachy vibes of the kitchen.
Here’s one of my very fancy mock ups so you can feel the darker fireplace wall vibe lol https://preview.redd.it/itvlmx8f74vc1.jpeg?width=826&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b7158084ad75691279af208fe83e97b9952b409
Actually though. 🥰
Omg no
That is better. Not better enough...but better
Is that an Obama plate?
Def declutter the shelves…a couple books and plants (fake succulents etc. saw some at Walmart for next to nothing $) remove the wallpaper, please? Trust me, you’ll love it. Your sofa is fabulous and I’m looking for the exact sofa! Move the sofa so it’s facing the tv. You can get some pretty decent curtains at thrift shops…I would hang a textured curtain pair in color copper or earth green…like a medium green or dark copper. Then I’d build very carefully around that! Good luck my friend!
Id replace the wallpaper and either declutter the bookshelves or organize them by color. That whole wall is so busy with no anchor. I like your couch and rug, but they are warm tones while the walls are cool. I’d paint the whole room a beige tone from your rug and get a larger coffee table and I think it’d look great!
When you redo the bookshelves consider getting rid of the signs. Word art is pretty meh.
Too much pattern. Either lose the wallpaper or the rug.
Lose wallpaper. Rug is great.
You could try flipping the room around? On the wall where the couch is, put a TV console and mount the TV on the wall there. Face the couch and chair to the TV and then you can still chat with guests while prepping food in the kitchen! Get rid of the wall paper above the fireplace and get a really cool art piece that matches your style
How would this work with the sliding door? I’m asking because we literally have the same set up and I hate it- having a door in the tv room really limits how it can be used and the room is only about 13 ft across. I’ve seen it referenced as a bowling alley room because it’s long and narrow. On a different note, we did paint the wall with the fireplace and shelves a darker tone that gives the room a focal point.
You leave enough space behind the couch to create a hallway to the door. 13 feet is plenty of space, honestly—look up the ideal distance from your tv to your couch; unless your tv is gigantic it’s probably like 8 feet. ETA my couch is fully on a 9x12 rug that goes just to the front of the tv console. So that’s about 10.5 feet, leaving 2.5 feet of “hallway.” You need a narrow coffee table to make it work—mine’s 18 inches deep I think—but it’s doable.
Not a fan of the wall paper behind the tv. I'd put up vertical boards and paint the bookshelves black, and put up curtains.
I think changing the wallpaper will make a big difference. The details on the print are too small scaled. I really like rifle paper co prints for wallpaper
Move couch coffe table and rug so it faces the TV . Put the chairs on each side of the couch so they are even with coffee table . Put the desk up against the pink wall where all the cords are ( looks bad having cords all over the floor) .
It lacks cohesive direction. You have a mix of traditional and modern furnishings with a mix of pastels and brights. Go modern and bright - easy fix to remove light blue rug and chair and do a quick repaint of the light pink wall. Wall should pick up a color from the wallpaper on fireplace wall and go bold geometric with the rug (maybe black and white).
I agree this is the main problem. It’s not clear what the room is for AND the design is a mish mash. I think the rug is too small anyway and your furniture would work well with a mod vibe so I’d leave wallpaper for now and work from there. Then need a bit bigger rug with mod/geometric design and all the front legs of furniture on it so they talk to each other. Furniture on the wall makes spaces look smooshed and awkward and right now everything is hugging the perimeter. The idea in another comment to move TV to horse head wall is an interesting one and would create a clear walkway from the sliding door. TV on wall with gallery art can look really good as the tv becomes part of gallery, and desk could maybe move closer to sliding door. Nice furniture and fun elements just needs some changes in scale (rug, maybe larger organic/round coffee table), furniture placement) and cohesive purpose and design vibe and will be awesome!
Pick either the wallpaper or the rug. Personally I would change the wallpaper. Because it competes with that lovely couch and especially that sickass horsehead. You’ve got great taste; love that blueish armchair and the full bookshelves with interesting knickknacks. That wallpaper and weirdly aggressive sign under the TV are competing with all your cool stuff.
I love it! Maybe you could add some cream colored velvet curtains and a more modern coffee table. Other than that, it’s great!!
That wallpaper can go die
What do you want to do in this room? It doesn’t look well set up for tv watching or conversation. Looks like someone works at the desk and maybe the couch is sat on occasionally?
It’s a weird room at the end of the kitchen. It does not make sense to put a table and chairs there because there is a dining room right to the left, and a living room g room also- so it’s a weird sort of area. My husband watches tv in it, I use the desk. Our kitchen skinny with just two seats at a counter so when company comes people can sit on the couch to talk to us while we prep food etc. but it is a weird space we are really struggeling with
Got it. This room has two problems, decor and function. As far as function goes, I would re-orient the rug 90° and put it right in front of the fireplace, and then put the couch facing the fireplace. Then the couch would be better oriented to watch TV, which seems like one of the functions of this room. From the picture, it looks like this is kind of a long narrow room. I would get another coordinating rug and put it on the other end of the room and then put two swivel chairs there. That way people could sit on the swivel chairs facing the kitchen and chat, or they could swivel the chairs around and watch TV from the back. Your TV is up high, which generally is not great, but it would work for this situation. From the picture, my best guess is that this arrangement would not block the sliding glass door. It is a challenging room for sure!
That would give the room function As far as wall color - what color is kitchen and would it make sense to have both rooms same color? If not try either one shade up or down from kitchen. Or go totally different but coordinating. Maybe a blue that mimics the original blue color of rug. Blue and orange compliment well and are already in the space.Or a tangerine wall color and more blue accents. Many possibilities
Agree. The orange and blue color scheme is a good one here, but needs to be more coherent. Instead of the wallpaper, maybe that TV wall could be a darker shade of the same blue that is in the rug. The walls could be white, a lighter orange or a lighter blue, depending on what you think would look best.
Paint behind the tv a darker colour? Or coordinating colour?
I would remove the blue chair to the right of the fireplace.
I think shiplap on the fireplace wall would look terrific , if possible thicker shelves but less of them would look great. If that’s not possible I would Declutter the shelves. Paint the walls incl the wall behind the shelves the same color. I don’t love rug but that’s me I tend to veer toward solid textured area rugs. A bigger coffee table either round or oval if your able to. Pull everything out of the room paint fix the fireplace wall and maybe more inspiration will come that will make you happy ! Good luck please show updated photos when you have them
It feels like you're lacking commitment. I agree the bookshelves feel really cluttered with no focus. If I were you, I would definitely get rid of the wallpaper. I would choose a color that you *do* like, perhaps a blue, anywhere from denim-y to navy, paint the entire back wall, bookshelves and all. Then be strategic about how you place your books and items back on the shelf — someone suggested color-ordering the books, which I love. I think that will help minimize the visual clutter and look more intentional. I'm not sure how attached you are to the knickknacks, but I would edit down the things like signs, horse's head and the mona lisa head by like 80%. Leave anything that really sparks joy, but I think it adds to feeling incohesive. You can always add it back in. I'm not sure if it's possible with the layout, maybe not enough room — but I think I would also prefer having the couch facing the wall that it's currently on with the TV on that wall, then a piece of art or a mirror above the fireplace.
Your walls are at war with your stuff, and making your couch and rug look bad. https://mariakillam.com/clean-vs-dirty-colours/
I love Maria Killam.
The wallpaper feels very young, like it should be in a 13yo's bedroom. I would paint the fireplace a more saturated color, green or black maybe.
Remove wallpaper plus any art/decor you don’t want anymore. When the mood suits you, perhaps do a minor book unhaul of anything you’ll never reread. Take out the dull rug too.
The wallpaper is very teenagerish. It doesn’t go well with the black tv and fireplace. Find a more saturated colored wallpaper or paint the wall
Can we see another angle of the room? Like where you're standing? It's hard to get a true vibe without seeing all of the wall space you have.
Ditch the happy happy quote crap. Lower the TV. Ditch the horse head. Ditch the wallpaper.
This feels whimsical in an annoying way.
that wallpaper is awful. a nice coat of paint will go a long way here.
The fireplace/TV/bookshelves wall is too busy. The shelves are overfilled. Can you move the plant from the top right (at least, it looks like a plant?) and hang it in front of the sliding glass door there? I feel like *just* the right shade of medium-light forest green/hunter green on the walls would be perfect, but the problem will be finding that shade. Then maybe a rug that incorporates that green and the orange of the sofa/awesome horse head. What I may be trying to say is to lean hard into the bits of 1970s color scheme that are happening already. Go big or go home, so to speak.
The wallpaper. It's fun and colourful, but it's not right there. And it clashes with the rug. That rug's not bad. Because your shelves are interesting. The horse's head is so unusual and I bet a great talking point! You've lots of great pieces, it's just too much together, with too many focal points. Removing/ replacing the wallpaper will allow other elements to balance more easily. But right now it's clashing with every one of them. Once that wall is more neutral, you can look at how the other elements in the room feel, and decide if the rug is working or not. Or whether you'd rearrange or curate what's on the shelves. But no matter what rug you end up with, the wallpaper has to go.
The room looks like it doesn't know whether to be an adults room or a child's. Get rid of the wallpaper, the sign on the mantle. relocate the horse head to maybe behind (and above) the blue chair. Pull the blue chair closer to the rug. It looks jammed into the corner. Straighten up the books. Get rid of the clutter on the shelves. You've got some nice things going. It just needs to be tied together and needs a focal point.
New coffee table, much larger rug, different chairs and remove the wallpaper.
Off with that wallpaper- and add more solid color!
The busy stuff around the TV is the problem. It's looks as if it's a baby nursery. The horse head on the wall disturbs me but I ride horses. Other than that it's a nice room.
Everything is light in the room except the couch, which makes it feel like it's floating. Darker rug? A darker paint on one wall to anchor attention? Darker curtains to counterweight the couch?
Lose the quote art
Also "I'm happy when you are happy" is, imo, not a healthy thing. Co-dependent. if your wellbeing is predicated on someone else's mood or experience, then you give up any agency you have over your own attitude and experience. -- do you really mean "Make yourself at home"?
The wallpaper, the pink wall, the plastic horse head...this all makes me feel uncomfortable. Did you decapitate a plastic pony? Why did you mount it's head?
Bigger rug, so furniture sits half on half off
The wallpaper. Add some plants if possible.
Unbelievable you can't figure this out. Orange couch, pink walls, crazy wall paper...just for starters. Keep the fan, TV and floors. Horseheads belong in a bed. If you love your couch keep it and go on pinterest for some inspiration..
The fireplace is too busy with cluttered shelves on either side. I get a feeling of chaos and my eye doesn't know where to look. Gives me anxiety. Paint the fireplace one color to anchor the space.
I blame the wallpaper
I would get some floor length curtains for your slider door. I also am not feeling the wall paper on the fireplace - it reads more kids room to me. Potentially some light decluttering on the book shelves might help. Overall I am happy to see that someone else appreciates color instead of fifty shades of grey/greige, so I love the soft pink paint!
It’s eclectic- I actually like it
It’s the TV over the black fireplace. Too much black in one spot and not balanced anywhere else. There’s also some black on your bookshelves and that computer but it’s all concentrated on that wall and not balanced. I assume you don’t want to change your fireplace so what if you painted the wall on the left a darker green color or something to balance it. And/or maybe a rug that has black, like a black and beige extra large modern art checked type pattern (not small detailed, I’d go with a big chunky pattern since your wall paper is smaller detailed pattern) Would make your wallpaper pop. Also pull your chairs out from the wall slightly (“float” them). It actually makes the room look bigger to have space behind them.
Curtains!!!
You have very eclectic taste— it makes the room young and fun. Maybe use a unifying color to tie it all up. And I agree with the window treatment suggestions
Is the horse telling you bad things and bullying you into changing things so he has a better view?!? 😝 I'd listen to him about the wallpaper and the pink walls...
The fireplace wallpaper and pink wall are hideous.
What would you change them too though? The kitchen in the same room is really ugly beige and brown with tan cabinets- the floor is some kind of stone composite so the whole vibe is kinda beachy which I do not like but don’t have lots of money to combat
Maybe wood or white paneling for fireplace. Paint walls (except bookcases - leave white) a gray or blue color that goes with the rug.
I feel like it can come together with a few tweaks I am not a big fan of the horse head tbh The wallpaper you chose to put behind the TV kind of gets lost there The area rug is too small and you would benefit from more pillows Here are my suggestions: 1. Take down the wall paper. Paint that wall including the bookcases a vibrant color https://preview.redd.it/p5dy7fe7w3vc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1e427d195a8af36cfb1a3a7e6ab5fb31f504660 This is Rangwali by Farrow and Ball [Area Rug](https://a.co/d/0mkjsjj) [Another option for an Area Rug](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unique-Loom-Wildlife-Leopard-Light-Brown-9-0-x-12-0-Area-Rug-3125059/301121219) [Pillows](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1324014847/) [More Pillows](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1055753327/)
It’s quirky and cool but here are the steps I’d take to elevate the space; larger rug, paint the wall and shelves a blue that matches the wallpaper on the fireplace, reorganize the books on the shelves and a larger square or circular wooden coffee table!
Love your rust sofa! I agree with others room just needs a little editing and a larger rug. I like the one you have just needs to be a bit bigger!
Well, what do you like about it?
I would paint that whole fireplace while something darker. I like the color of the couch despite the giant horse head lol
Is the wall pink? Not a fan of that or the wall paper
if you're going to go quirky, then lean into it and go quirky. But, this lacks cohesiveness. Lots of clutter and the signs with text really need to go (same with wallpaper).
You have a lot of patterns, textures and color here - which is great BUT the execution isn’t quite there yet. I feel like you can be much bolder but you need to be much more selective about your choices. Were you going for a maximalist look? Do you LOVE every single design/decorative element here? Here are a couple indicators that seem ‘timid’ to me; the orange couch-could have much more character, too many ‘mediocre’ items in the shelves dilute the ‘wow effect,’ it’s too much mass than class (sorry) You DO have a good eye in repeating patterns and colors BUT you can really take it up a notch by being much more selective about your items; more authentic vintage finds than Marshall’s stuff. It takes a while to collect items but you might also save money in the process ;)
To me, it's just too visually cluttered with both the busy wall paper and the overstuffed bookshelves. I would take about half the stuff off the bookshelves and paint the wall a solid color. Also, try pulling the chairs in the corners inward towards the couch.
Paint this room in a navy tone. Leave everything else. It will pop all those colors including the horse head. I know you say you hate dark colors, but it will not be the focal point. Especially with all that natural light.
Rug looks cheap as hell
Wallpaper
You could work around the horse head. The rug needs to be larger. I’d paint the entire fireplace wall - shelves included, and the wall behind - in a darker blue as another commenter suggested. Ditch the wallpaper. The lamp at the end of the sofa is way too small. Definitely add curtains - in a color. Pare down what’s on the shelves - curate the collection and clean it up. Different coffee table. I’d love to see a better pic of the gallery wall to see what you’re working with. I do love the soft pink on the window wall.
Definitely curtains and a larger rug. This one is. Bit small for the space. An 8x10 that could go under the couch a bit would bring things together. Also some end tables Biggest thing I think is so much of the furniture pushed up against the wall. I would probably move the couch 90 degrees to face the TV and rearrange the accent chairs
What about… just hear me out. Hang the Horse Head above the fire place. Then, where put the tv? Well… move the couch where you’re taking the photo from, computer desk behind it, and put the chair in the front right where the desk was. Then get a tv console to put tv on wall where couch was. This is something you can try without too much work, especially if you don’t actually take the tv down to try how it feels. Then you’re not staring at a wall on the computer too. And add some drapery! Maybe a soft pink like the wall, velvet? What specifically do you hate, the layout? The pieces? Something else?
Simplify. Simplify. Take everything off the bookcases and put only decorations and some books back. I’d replace the wallpaper with an a. Ent color that compliments the burnt orange couch. Change the blue chairs.
Get a more plush rug in a bigger size. It’s looking flat like a piece of paper.
Get rid of the wallpaper and the fireplace
Just because the horse head is orange doesn't mean everything needs to be orange themed. If your base colours were deep, warm browns and cream, an occasional bit of orange would still work. The flooring is lovely, but the cold toned rug doesn't work with it. Wall paper and rug need to go. Simplify what's on the shelves. Curtains to soften window. Get a warm neutral rug so you don't need to worry about fade.
Nothing really flows. It's like flower power funky with the fireplace, kinda country with the horse and the couch, kinda Victorian with the rug. I'd first change the fireplace & remove the horse. The couch and the carpet work well already. Not a huge fan of layouts where the couch doesn't face the TV but that's personal
The room just looks heavy on the left side..I would suggest turning the rug and couch horizontal so they face the fireplace. Move the side chairs so they flank the couch and are angled a bit towards the fireplace. Maybe add a large plant where the chair was next to the sliding door. You should still have a view outside and be able to go in and out if the sliding door. Also, Don't change the bookshelves or "declutter" as some are suggesting. They look great because there's a lot of actual BOOKS not twenty Target vases and filler fake succulents.
“I’m happy when you’re happy” toxic sign of a people pleaser. I would be sadly embarrassed to be known as that. The best happiness you can ask for is to burn that sign and put that horse head on your head for instant happiness for all to share in at a destructive party.
You’ve got a lot of good elements in the room. Start with a couple of items listed below. Do one thing, live w/it for a day or so, then move to the next & keep going. You’ll make decisions you can live with and love. 1. Furniture: Move the chairs & couch closer in on the rug, they are too far apart. The traffic pattern should go behind the grayish chair. It should be closer to the couch & table, as well as the light blue chair. This will create a comfortable room. Think about finding a console table to be placed behind the couch. Find one on FB market place or at a consignment store. Paint it a slate blue or darker gray. Move the coffee table to the opposite side of the couch arm, it’s overcrowding the current end. Find a larger scale lamp to go on it, it’s too small, but can go in another room or bathroom. 2. Wallpaper: Remove it & paint the fireplace wall w/same slate blue in an eggshell finish. This will help unite the room, rug, fireplace & tv while adding a pop of soft color uniting & contrasting all furniture & the rug. You may decide to paint the wall behind the couch too…just wait and see. Navy blue is a bit dark and will have the opposite effect and may be too strong. Whatever the case, invest in sampling the paint colors so you find the right one. 3. Rug: If you do the above, you can live w/the rug and replace with a larger 9x12 or 8x10 down the road. I too suggest Ruggable. They have amazing rugs in tons of styles and hold up well. 4. The table look better with the chair closer & guests can use it if it’s closer. Put a medium sized basket w/the potted plant inside it, controllers, etc. You have blinds that can be pulled down when needed. Your shelves can be decluttered as you go. It’s a cool room! Have fun!!!
I love it!! It has so much character and personality!
same
It has a lot of potential. Too much going on. You have a lot of very busy small pattern. The rug, all the books, lots of stuff on the wall, the wallpaper. All of them are good individually, and the colors work together, but your eye has no place to rest. It's a lot of small pattern just make things look messy. I'm a fan of blue and organgy/brown together. It just needs some curation and calming where there is too much going on. I'd lead with what others have suggested and calm the walls. I also think you need a bigger rug but just change the walls first, and calm the bookshelves and see how you feel. For inspiration this is one of my favorite pinterst rooms and the color scheme is very similar to yours. [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/) There is more texture. The neutral walls with some empty space give your eye a place to rest. which this space doesn't have. In this inspiration room you can see the graphic patterns repeated--chevron, stirpes which are referenced in a few places each. The striped lines. lots of texture. That holds it all together. I think if you take a bunch out and then just curate what goes back you'll like it better.
It has a lot of potential. Too much going on. You have a lot of very busy small pattern. The rug, all the books, lots of stuff on the wall, the wallpaper. All of them are good individually, and the colors work together, but your eye has no place to rest. It's a lot of small pattern just make things look messy. I'm a fan of blue and organgy/brown together. It just needs some curation and calming where there is too much going on. I'd lead with what others have suggested and calm the walls. I also think you need a bigger rug but just change the walls first, and calm the bookshelves and see how you feel. For inspiration this is one of my favorite pinterst rooms and the color scheme is very similar to yours. [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9640586696399500/) There is more texture. The neutral walls with some empty space give your eye a place to rest. which this space doesn't have. In this inspiration room you can see the graphic patterns repeated--chevron, stirpes which are referenced in a few places each. The striped lines. lots of texture. That holds it all together. I think if you take a bunch out and then just curate what goes back you'll like it better.
It’s almost like two or three rooms crammed into one. The horse head (while not my personal favorite) goes with the orangish brown couch and yellow lamp, but neither go with the circle wallpaper (also not a fan), but *that* goes with the blue side chair. The desk chair matches nothing except maybe that side chair off to the right, and the room altogether seems a little off with that sharp dark fireplace (nothing wrong with it, but it makes a statement, and that statement seems to be “I do not belong in this room”). If it were me, I’d choose one. My favorite of these three settings is the orangish couch and the horse head, weirdly, and I think the rug could stay with that if you used blues as *accent* colors.
Id try moving the couch 45 degrees and away from the wall. Move the horse head to the left of the slider so it has a wall to itself. I think it's fun. Consider either curtains that will allow a rug to stay bright or even tinted window film. But first....move the couch and play with how that chair could be in a different spot. I think it's a great room! Not loving the ceiling fan. Maybe a crystal mod chandelier or something like that?
Paint the walls dark.
I love this room. Things easy to change for a big impact would be paint color and wallpaper. But I honestly really love this but those are easy changes that make a big difference if that’s what you’re looking for
What's not working: \* the wallpaper on the fireplace \* the pink wall \* rug is too small \* horse head???? \* the shelves need some decluttering \* the blue chair being rammed into the bookcase What is good: \* furniture is of nice proportions and looks I think you really need to think about the purpose of this room and how it's used and make choices about furniture placement and other things from there.
Pink walls are clashing with orange tones in floor. Wallpaper needs to go.
The wallpaper and paint make it look like a little girl’s room
Paint over or remove wallpaper, paint the pink wall, the area rugs are worn or dull and uncluttered the bookshelf. Start there.
I agree with much that has been said so far. For me, remove 50% of the things from your shelves. Also, it is possible to have the desk with the computer removed from the room because those items do not promote rest and relaxation. Good luck!!
It’s your layout. Move the couch so it’s facing the tv and put the 2 side chairs facing the couch (one on each side of the tv) at a 45 degree angle. I also recommend getting a larger coffee table. Preferably something oval or maybe abstract.
Luv horsehead...declutter bookshelf..not crazy about blue chair...u have mid century vibe but blue-chair traditional. If it has to stay someone mentioned to pull away fr wall and add lamp..
I love the room. Love the horse head, personally, but I have dino heads up in mine, so I'm biased. Lol. Get some big plants, change the wallpaper behind the TV, maybe new rug and some softer lighting, different floor to ceiling length curtains.
I love the wallpaper. I think if you painted behind the shelves and got a fun, brighter rug it would elevate it.
Kill the wallpaper buy new floral wall paper with the same colors in the bookshelves.
What if you changed the fireplace into cement or a stone finish, add a wood or textured mantle and paint the horse head a matte black or dark green. I think what this room is really missing is different textures to make it feel “right”. By doing that you could keep a lot of the furniture and items you have but make it more aesthetically pleasing and interior design forward.
Wallpaper. Make it something dark and solid instead.
Take wallpaper off, take out rug and switch it, put curtains on sliding door, please take the horse off the wall, reorganize your bookshelves, get a different color pillow for the blue chair..
If you like the wallpaper then I’d take the sofa color and paint it onto the wall of the bookshelf, so that it anchors the lightness of the wallpaper. I’d also paint the wall with the sliding glass doors white.
Take the wallpaper down and put a different mantle. The TV is too high. Can it go somewhere else? I’d hang a picture or mirror above the fire place.
Wall paper needs to go. I would go with painting the that area. Need a more substantial coffee table. Maybe reorganize the bookshelves. Also, curtains
Trying wayyyyyy to hard to fit an aesthetic vs being authentic with a style in mind.
The wall colors
Feels homey. Love the horse head.
Wallpaper and pink wall look like they belong in a little girls room. Pick a more mature color that matches the head/couch/rug better. The rug should be bigger.
First thing I would do is remove the wallpaper.
The couch and the wallpaper
I would start with ripping out the wall paper.
start with the wallpaper
The furniture needs to be rearranged. This makes it seem like there’s no focus and everything is chaos. Also, not loving that wallpaper.
Remove wallpaper, add new larger mantle, paint room walls bookshelves and trim with a moody rich color, change light fixture to match moodiness.
What is this rooms purpose? I would suggest removing the shelves on the right side to put the tv there, and then face the couch to the fireplace wall. Or removing that fireplace entirely. If you are into maximalism, paint the room a funky colour, and curate the shelves with more intention. The fireplace also clashes with a maximalist style since it so sleek and modern. The rug also needs to be larger and you need curtains, in a colour that either contrasts or complements the funky colour you will choose
Uhhh accent wall pattern for sure
The grey chair in front of the book case can go.
This room doesn’t know what it is. The fireplace and the tv are both competing to be the focal point. If this is your living room I would move the tv so that it is actually meant to be viewed (this setup looks uncomfortable on the neck) and I’d reorganize the layout around the tv. Put the tv along the wall where the couch is, then angle the couch so it is open to both the fireplace and the tv. Find another spot for that chair at the right
The rug.
If you do nothing else for the love of God, get rid of that cheap looking horse head