Bachelor living room pad in need of help.
no artisitic pov
i just finished college and has relocated to florida for work. i have made alot of purchases in the recent months but nothing seems to be working together very well. everytime i go shopping for home decor i have no clue what to buy or what will work with what i currently have. i want to leave the college decor of posters and such behind and move toward a more contemporary and sophisticated design. i am still on a tight budget since i am just starting out, can anyone help me out? i live in a apartment, so i'd like to avoid painting. attached are a few pictures of my living room - needs major work! any help would be greatly appricated.
catwoman708
Not bad for a bachelor fresh out of college. The room is just a little "off balance", unfinished looking, and you have a couple of styles that clash. Don't worry, its easily fixable.TV wall: If you want to leave the furniture placement as it is now, then lose the shelves in the corner by the TV (or move them elsewhere), center the TV on the wall, center the wall shelves over the TV (they can still be staggered) and rearrange or swap the items on the shelves (the 3 items lined up on the right shelf are "off", maybe just 2 items of varied heights). Hide as much of the electronic items and cords as possible, making the big screen TV the focal point of that wall. (Real decorators would have a fit over actually decorating around electronics, but geesh, that's how real people live, isn't it?)Sofa, coffee & end tables:The coffee table is great with the sofa, nice mocha colors go well with the contemporary, slightly masculine, minimalistic look. But the end table and lamps clash with the sofa and coffee table. Try to find end tables in similar look/color as the coffee table, and maybe some different lamps. I picture some bold sophisticated, contemporary lamps, maybe chrome? Add something on the wall over the lamp to the left of the sofa (picture #4). The tan pillows clash with the mocha colored sofa, the dark ones look good. You could just remove the tan ones or replace with a splash of color (off white, orange, red, a trendy light blue/turquoise/aqua) or a pattern using shades of brown & mocha).For overall balance:The window at the end of the room isn't centered in the wall, and the curtains are parted off kilter. Sounds picky, but either keep the curtains closed and even out the spacing of the folds/pleats in the curtains, or part them more in the center or to the right. (From 2nd picture) Add something on the wall to the right of the window. Medium, possibly a vertically placed painting, piece of artwork, a mirror, or even a tall plant (silk or real, about 6' tall). Misc:Mix up your throw pillows and don't spread the throw blanket over the back of the sofa, just gather it and toss it over the back or arm of the sofa or move it out of sight. De-clutter the tables (if those are dumbbell weights or a spool of cable under the end table, move it out of sight to the other side of the sofa). Whatever items you display on the tables, keep it very simple, vary the heights, textures, and colors of the items. Example: 24" tall chrome lamp, 16" tall piece of stone sculpture, 8" tall pillar candle, ashtray or decorative wooden bowl (for that little clutter that accumulates). On coffee table: that black, square thing already there (to hold remotes, decorative stones, or a substantial candle), stack of attractive coasters, a couple of nice hardback books.Your shopping list:End table(s)2 lamps and shades2 pieces of artwork, wall hanging, mirror, or photo collage frame.Display items (knick knacks, candles, sculpture ...) as needed or as found (don't overdo it with little things, or things all of the same height, size, or texture). You could also try rearranging furniture slightly, and adding a chair. Like angle the TV across the corner to the left of where it is now, angle the sofa across from it, and add a chair to the corner between the windows. That gets a little more complicated, might require a different shaped area rug, and might impede flow of "traffic" in and out of the room, not to mention lamp cords and stuff. I'd just suggest you keep it simple for now. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out. There's not much traffic on this board.
Shapeshifter78
I totally agree with catwoman. If you angle the TV in that off-set corner, try moving the couch to face both the TV and the view. You would probably be able to find some sort of a console table to go across the back of the couch to double as a desk, add a coordinating lamp and you would have work space and reading light. Put your shelf in the opposite corner on an angle and do your shopping like cat woman suggested to add more interest to the empty space where the TV is now. Haunt the 2nd hand furniture stores, Salvation Army, GoodWill, BigLots, Dollar General and stores like that for low cost trendy decorating solutions.
no artisitic pov
wow! great responses you two. this is great advises, more than i had ever expected. i will take your advise and i will keep you posted on how things turn out. catwoman, your term "off-balance" is the perfect description for my living room, you couldnt of described it better. ive been wanting to swap out the end table, it was passed down to me so i didnt really find the need to replace it. but now that you have mentioned and after looking at the pictures now it does seem out of place. ive been shopping for display items, been looking at consignment shops, tj max, pier1 imports, etc.. but i cant seem to find the items to match the decor. any suggestions? or where else should i look?the crome lamps sounds like a great idea, i saw one at target that might work well; i will look again and decide then. one question though, circlar shaped base or square? same for shades. shapeshifter78 i like your idea of putting a console table behind the couch to double as a desk. i am tired of leaning over my coffee table to read my mail and such. great idea, i might try it. about an additional lounge chair, should i get a recliner or more of an accent chair? i was thinking maybe tan leather or stick with micro-fiber of the same color? and if i was to keep the same orientation, would it fit adjacent to the couch? i know ive asked many additional question, thanks again! gretly appricated.
Shapeshifter78
If you are currently a family of one, instead of an additional lounge chair, consider a couple of ottomans [otttomen?], pick ones that the tops come off and provide additional storage within. However, you really do deserve a recliner lol but maybe pick a design that doesn't look so much like a recliner. Personally, I'd stick with the espresso color. If you moved the couch around to face the TV/window wall, you may be able to angle the recliner where the couch currently is. At our local Salvation Army, I have come across some mid-century furnishings that I think would work nicely with your coffee table. Also, do you have BigLots stores in your area? They have low cost good looking accessories, but you do have to shop. Keep up the good work!
catwoman708
As far as the lamps, I don't think shape makes that much difference. One of the basic design elements* is repetition, and another is contrast, and your coffee table has both circular and square design elements, so you could go either way, just keep that "modular" or contemporary look. I'd go with something big and chunky myself, and chose a lamp shade to go with the lamp. If you aren't sure you can always ask a sales person for advice, or "rely on the kindness of strangers" and ask the first stylish looking person that walks by. You can also look in design magazines, or cruise through a few nice furniture stores and check out the displays.I like Shapeshifter's console table/desk idea too, sounds like a great place to put the mail, keys, etc. Maybe a desktop mail sorter/organizer with slots for mail, envelopes, and compartments for pens, notepads, stamps, etc... Just don't let clutter accumulate, and maybe put a wastepaper basket under the table for junk mail, (maybe dark brown leather?) and possibly one of those ottomans Shapeshifter mentioned, for extra seating.An accent chair with ottoman would definitely look better and probably fit better. A recliner would probably be pretty comfy, but takes up a lot of room. Live like a bachelor while you can, and do what you want! I'd just stay away from tan, it would clash with the mocha/taupe color of the sofa. Dark brown would look really good, or one of the colors in your area rug.If you can't find any display items at Pier 1, then the sales people must have been in a coma! If you have any stores called Hobby Lobby, that's a really good place too, and sometimes they have a few accent furniture pieces. Take your photos with you for reference.P.S. *There are some basic design elements of: design, scale, balance, harmony, focus, rhythm, accent, and unity. Its hard to explain them all without examples, but most people "get it" after its pointed out to them, and you probably know these things without being aware of it, like common sense stuff. Your color scheme is "monochromatic", meaning you have several shades of brown, from off white, beige, taupe, mocha, brown, dark brown (espresso), which is very chic, "in", and stylish, so you're off to a good start.
I.N.O.A.
Well, considering you can't paint the walls, you definately need some color. I would suggest colorful accent pillows, for example, an orange pillow with a geometric pattern, for the sofa. And about that sofa... If you're going for sleek and contemporary, that particular sofa may not be the best choice. I personally love chocolate brown leather sofas, such as this. Of course, they have several faux-leather models.
ju-ju
I think that your "bachelor pad" looks pretty good. I wouldn't spend alot of cash to "finish" it right away, you'll probably be happier with your purchases in the long run, if you buy things that you like along the way. To cozy it up a bit, I might suggest to move around some furniture pieces (and my advice for that would be to play with it until you like it and you are comfortable with it) and then I'd add some color. Perhaps some throw pillows on the couch and window treatments with some color (a nice red??) would add some zest to the otherwise completely neutral room. I'd also add some life with some plants (a potted pair of palms??) and definitely add some wall art. A good resource for that is art.com, they have an enormous selection and you can get some idea of what kind of art you like. Good luck and have fun with it!
AustinGal
the lamps are actually buffet lamps, too tall and spindly for the furniture you have...but if you adopt the console table/desk behind the sofa idea, they would be idea on that table at either end. either stay all brown/tan or add an accent color in more than one way...not just one pillow, but perhaps, 2-5 pillows, lamp shades, candles...candles may be an easy solution to your 'can't find accents' dilemma...several chunky accent color candles of different heights on dark brown saucers/plates would look super. I like pale ice blue with dark brown, my own self! Put your $ into the big pieces, as you have, and buy easy to replace accents, so you can change up when the feeling hits you!
Irish_Red
I think you should find another place for the square shelving unit you have beside the TV. If you really want shelving beside the TV I would opt for 2 identical ones on either side of the tv. The coffee table you have is terrific, but if you are going for contemporary a new couch should be your next purchase. The big puffy arms scream the 80's. Paint is a very easy way to update the look of anyplace, and if you think you will be living there for at least 3 years, go for it! Most landlords will repaint after that amount of time too. Something sleek for the couch and side table that have the same low, funky look as your coffee table would be a great match. If you truly want a contemporary look resist the urge to purchase a recliner. I would go for 2 matching chairs that will match the STYLE of your new sofa (preferable not to have the same colour) and put them opposite the empty wall with the windows. Happy decorating!
Wendy267
I definately agree with I.N.O.A, you really need some color to accent the room. I would go with orange, mint green or a yellow. Also, your curtains can use a pick me up, try putting up a valance or swags with a pattern in them (being that your curtains are a solid color). Otherwise, it's not bad for a bachelors pad!!
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