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I could use some help making my family room feel more colorful and traditional. I am drowning in variants of beige and limited on funds.

Does anyone have any ideas for paint colors or other budget friendly tips to help me with my family room?

I appreciate it!

Question:
1

Choices:
1
2

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nostyle4me,

Here is another pic of 1 of 2 sofas that are matching

I think what you are missing is layering. Start with an area rug that will blend with your colors. Make certain it is large enough to anchor all the seating. It also appears you could use a cocktail table to which you can add a few accessories for additional color. Don't try to accessorize everything at once but rather add things as you go.

I agree. Your spaces lacks pattern interest (tho I think your upholstered chairs have some) and a printed area rug featuring the neutrals present plus accents for a punch of color will go a long way to kick this space up a notch. It's a worthwhile investment, but do shop locally. Carry samples of the colors present (drapery, an arm cover or pillow, etc. w/ you for reference. Once this rug is found, pull a color for the walls that acts as a complimentary and contrasting backdrop to your furniture. At the least, an accent wall (namely the one w/ the fireplace and tv) will provide some drama to this neutral space and draw the eye.

BTW, not only will a printed rug establish your room scheme, but some of the colors used in this space should carry into adjoining public spaces. Predomniances of any color and hue values can vary from space to space however. Perhaps adjoining spaces already give cues to what colors to carry into this space (?).

The current trend is to feature some painted furniture pieces. This can also bring a punch of color to your space. A painted chest that can serve as coffee table or end table as well as storage may be a consideration.

I also agree that the rug should anchor your main grouping w/ at least the front feet resting upon it. Your room appears quite spaceous so a bolder print in the rug is a good idea.

I feel your layout is too disjointed for ease of conversation. Resist the urge to align all pieces along walls. Bringing some out into the room can help w/ this as well as define a multi task space. Keep traffic flow and focal points in mind.

Also, the balance of a room is important as well as breaking up the horizontal line w/ a tall piece of furniture. If the wall opposite the fireplace is void of a piece such as this, consider adding one. Some ideas could be a secretary desk, an armiore, a grandfather clock a curio or bookcase unit.

Agree with others, the room needs a colorful area rug and pillows with color pulled from the rug. Also, it seems all your furniture is hugging the walls and there is no intimate grouping. Also would like to see whats behind the other leather sofa - a wall? You've got a lot of options to make it more cohesive and colorful.

Could the two chairs be placed in the bay window area ? The sofa seems too awkward there. Do you need all of the seating in that room?

Perhaps one of the leather pieces could be moved to another room. It is a very pretty room, btw!

Thank you for all the feedback so far. I did not even think of putting an area rug over existing carpeting. This will surely give room some colors.

The other sofa where you can only see the top, is up against a half wall that opens to the kitchen area. There are 3 symetrical openings on the wall for passage. I took the pictures from the one with half wall. I will post more pics if I can.

I am going to try to get my hubby to help me move furniure around. If I can get furniture off the wall, that will also help reduce size of area rug (room is quite big). I will share again.

Thank you all. I really appreciate the advice.

Karastan makes a patterned rug called Sereno which I think would be perfect in your room.
It would pull in the colors from that amazing picture you have over your fireplace.

IF you don't want to go to the expense of buying a rug, I think just throw pillows of the same colors in your picture would be lovely.

While you've received some good advice I would think twice about putting an area rug on top of carpet. I have never had great success with doing that because the area rugs always shift and need frequent repositioning. With a proper rug underlay it's better but still a problem. I currently have one in a seldom used room and it's anchored by the bed so doesn't shift. Before that I was constantly aligning it. If you can anchor it with furniture on a couple of sides it might be OK.

I recommend thinking and planning your color scheme so you have a plan as to what would be most suitable for this room. Your existing color scheme is a good start. While it's predominantly tones of beige you also have brown and olive green. I also see a rust colored pillow. You might look for a print having brown, olive, and another few colors from which to choose.

It looks as if the adjoining room is blue. Would that be a color you want to add to the brown and olive scheme? If you can find a print with that combo it might work. I also see blue in the painting over the FP. I know that might seem like a strange color combo to some people but I think it could work with the proper print. If you sew you can make cushions for very little cost and even if you have to hire someone to do so it will likely be a low budget item.

A coffee table would be a good addition to this room if it's something you'd like. Coffee tables are great places to decorate and add color with accessories.

Of course if you decide to paint the walls of this room you could really add some great color.

Why is everything so far away from each other? Or at least it looks that way in your pic's. I like what you have in your space I just think the placement needs to be tweeked.

I would try a rug and see how you feel about it, you could always return it.

I really like your room. I love the color green in your drapes and chairs, which really makes the lovely picture above the fireplace pop. As others have mentioned , an area rug could tie it together. Can you post pictures at different angles?

can you tell me what the name of your paint color is?

Hi Nostlye. I am confused by your poll. What exactly is it that we are supposed to be voting on?

I think your room has the foundation and just needs the accessorizing and tweaking. Looks like you need color, pattern and personal touches.

You need coffee type furniture pieces (could be ottomans or such) and end tables.

The t.v. niche seems to be fighting with the fireplace/mantel wall to be the center of interest. Could you add doors when t.v. is not in use? Are the large dark things speakers? If so it would be nice to camouflage them in some way. Overall though a nice space and you seem to have resources to solve the other problems.

Is the art piece over the mantelpiece a photograph or painting? It looks nice in the pic but the accessories on the mantel piece should maybe have a little more substance and/or importance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

Too much furniture lined up against the walls?

You have a fabulous room to work with. Wondering if you placed the sofas opposite each other how that would work. Then moving the 2 recliners where the one sofa currently sits facing the fireplace and the TV might pull the space together better for viewing and conversations when not viewing. If your floor has outlets you could have a table between the 2 recliners/chairs with a nice reading light on it. I agree with another poster, who mentioned larger items on the mantle. I can visualize tall topiaries on each end of the mantle not necessarily "matchy matchy"...but that would look great, too. Your high ceiling allows you to have a really tall 3 sphere topiary on each side or you can group several sizes. Topiaries give a lot for the **$. Great places to find reasonable prices are Ross Dress For Less, TJMaxx, and Old Time Pottery for very reasonable amounts. If you have things that are tall, such as vases, you could use that on one end and topiaries on the other. Shop your house for items you might not have planned to use in this house, but yet they would be perfect for spots where you need to raise the eye view. A shawl or Pashmina draped over the back of a chair would add color and lift the eyes. Shopping the closet is free! As I write...I'm reminding myself of places to look for forgotten accessories, too. Don't be afraid to trust your view...you can see far more than any of us. Hope you have fun!