Formal living room decorating

[Deleted]

I *love* your sofas, JG. I want one for my house. I'm a mess when it comes to decor. At least I finally have an area rug I love.

[veganontuesdays]

Oh man I love those couches!!

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2016 12:19:43 GMT -5 privacy said:

I have no advice. But can you please come do my house next. ?

this.

[Deleted]

I think I would do a rug with either more muted colors or with bright colors but in a less bold graphic pattern. I feel like there's a formality mismatch between the rug, the couches, and the fireplace.

[Deleted]

uconn turned me on to Zinc Door. I can't afford some of the stuff, but I certainly like looking at their selection. www.zincdoor.com/

[lilorangekitty]

Jul 14, 2016 12:20:46 GMT -5 @bruxannie said:

Jul 14, 2016 12:19:43 GMT -5 privacy said:

I have no advice. But can you please come do my house next. ?

this.

I love what you have done!

And I love the rug!

Basically, I am no help.

[Deleted]

I'd probably do a chair instead of the console table just because if I am hosting I need more room for guests. If you have more seating or don't use this room when you have parties then disregard. Do you need more surface space in the room? I like to buy everything with an eye to practicality and what I would actually use.

I have so much random kid stuff around the house, I need something to stash random crap in within every room (so more storage for you). Doesn't look like from this picture you have that problem. I have no idea how to get rid of this problem except to throw out everything they own and make sure they pick up everything 5 times a day.

Is the room blueish or more gray? I love accenting gray (and works for blues too) with a deep yellow with a tad of mustard, but not a brown yellow.  I also love blue and green together. 

[abvintage]

Oooh I love to play decorate. Personally I'd definitely do a bigger rug. What are some of your style inspirations. Give me all the pinterest pictures.

[kbw12]

I really like the color on your walls and your couches.

I second what others have said and would go for a more neutral colored rug.

[yogini kiki]

Jul 14, 2016 12:35:13 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

Also, question. Are family pictures a no go in a formal living room? This is my first time ever having one so I'm not sure of all the rules.

I feel like formal living rooms are the places I most often see the formal family portraits.

[kbw12]

Jul 14, 2016 12:35:13 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

Also, question. Are family pictures a no go in a formal living room? This is my first time ever having one so I'm not sure of all the rules.

I feel like as long as they were in the right style frames they would be fine. But as I'm learning as I'm redoing the decorating in my house, I don't know much about style.

[abvintage]

To me I think those shops tend to have a lot of texture to them. Maybe a run kinda like shown here but textures like mirrors, and emboidered pillows, faux fur, etc.



For the fireplace you could do something like this in the color scheme you want


If these are the wrong direction let me know.

[yogini kiki]

Jul 14, 2016 12:40:34 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

Jul 14, 2016 12:36:57 GMT -5 yogini kiki said:

I feel like formal living rooms are the places I most often see the formal family portraits.

See, I thought I had heard the opposite. That they go in the family room. I probably won't put them in there because I have them in the hallway that runs along this room, but it's hard for me to find art I like enough to put up so just need to understand my options.

I feel like if you want something on the wall, but you also want to hold out for a piece that you LOVE (which I think is totally worth it when it comes to art), it makes sense to use family portraits.  I don't think anyone would side eye a family portrait in the formal living room....and at least you know it is something you won't mind looking at while you are waiting to fall in love with a forever piece.

[Cherhorowitz]

I love the work you did on your fireplace. I would do a bigger rug. I say family pictures are ok.

[thepardoner]

What if you did white or linen-colored sheers for the windows to soften the space? Sheers would allow all the light to come through like this:

[thepardoner]

I also think you need a bigger rug.

[yogini kiki]

I am googling Bar Carts...it seems like you favor dark natural wood and wicker. Do you want to keep that material preference for a bar cart or are you interested in Metallic? Do you prefer silver or gold tones?

[abvintage]

You could do the curtains along that wall and not block the actual window then curtain the side windows for their actual size.

[abvintage]

Oh and for bar carts there's this

[flojo973]

I would do window treatments. Maybe valances for the windows next to the fireplace (and one for the dining room window) and drapes for the big window. Something in a light fabric. I really think window treatments complete a room.

Lulu and Georgia has some cute bar carts that I think you might like. And cute stuff in general.

[abvintage]

Jul 14, 2016 13:19:34 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

I should mention that I already have a bar in the dining room adjacent to this room. Is that overkill?

One can never have too many places for alcohol

[thepardoner]

Jul 14, 2016 12:57:26 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

Jul 14, 2016 12:52:11 GMT -5 bluebird44 said:

It's a beautiful room. I think you need curtains to frame the windows though. That can also help add some texture.

Curtains were on my list initially but I love the custom blinds so much that I can't decide. Also, if I do curtains on the front windows, do I need to also do them on the side windows and in the dining room window, which is connected to this room?

The only room in the house that has a curtain is DS's room for black out reasons. I'm not huge on curtains but I could be convinced.

I think if you stay with sheers you'll still see the blinds. They'd just be for texture. I would say yes for the side windows-just do one panel on each and drape away from the fireplace.

[daffodilsandcoffee]

I love what you've done so far! Our new house has way more rooms than we previously had, and I had no clue where to start. So far, we turned our formal living space into more of a library. I also love the idea of a fun patterned/ texture chair in the room, too. I will be stalking the thread for more ideas.

[thepardoner]

What if you did a small reading chair/area in the corner by the large window?

[thepardoner]

On the large empty wall you could do something like this:

Put large baskets or storage ottomans underneath

[Deleted]

I just saw this and I have thoughts but I need to shower first!

[thepardoner]

Jul 14, 2016 14:20:29 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

Jul 14, 2016 14:03:38 GMT -5 thepardoner said:

On the large empty wall you could do something like this:

Put large baskets or storage ottomans underneath

I love this! I would probably want art instead of the mirror but I like the staging. Love that table too.

Yes. I would definitely do art too, but I like how you can get an idea of size and scale of furniture.

[Deleted]

You NEED curtains. From the ceiling to the floor like the ones bluebird44 posted. They will add a sense of grandeur and help break up the walls. I would go sheer white or cream, maybe with a light pattern.
             
www.westelm.com/products/roar-rabbit-graphic-patch-curtain-t2477/?pkey=cwindow-panels-curtains-shades


The rug should be bigger and have texture. Do you feel strongly about it being blue?



www.westelm.com/products/vienna-wool-kilim-t3157/?pkey=crugs-flooring



www.westelm.com/products/multi-pixel-woven-rug-t1384/?pkey=crugs-flooring

What about a bookshelf in the back corner on the same wall you want the art?


www.westelm.com/products/tiered-tower-bookcase-h539/?pkey=cliving-room-bookcases%7Cbookcases

I will do some more thinking, but I need to get ready for work. I love your couches and fireplace. At a glance, I thought your dining chairs were cowhide print. I'm a little sad they aren't, but I understand. I adore that room's light fixture.

[cbowl]

Looks so great! I agree on a bigger rug. Rugs USA has great prices on a crazy selection of rugs. I currently am loving the over dyed vintage type rugs like this:

www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-printed-persian-overdyed-vintage/Blue/200MCGZ01C-4106.html

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

I love your style! That rug is awesome and I like your table choice too.