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Design Dilemma
massyhakim

i am bored with the look of my home!

10 years ago
hi everyone! i am from singapore and i lived in a 2-bedroom flat. its tiny but livable. have lived here for 2 years. im so jealous when i see a really nice home with nice decor and i thought i could do something to my home particularly my living room. it needs to revitalize! please i would appreciate advise and suggestions ways to renew, repair, change, discard or add stuff to make this room look better? i have limited budget, so if i can create something that cost little money then it would be great! btw, i love joanna gaines from fixer upper...i think she is brilliant!
Featured Answer
  • 10 years ago
    Hi. You have a few choices of colour given it is black and white but I think a yellow will work to warm the room. I'd add either a yellow wallpaper or paint. Images attached are from dstdesign and whitehorselounge. I'd add cushions to the sofa in yellow and some black and white patterned ones, geometric would be good if going for paint. A new throw for the chair to coordinate would be good if you have the budget. The room would also be softened and space maximised with floor to ceiling curtains which hopefully you could achieve cheaply (although given where you are located blinds may be necessary!) I can't see what ceiling light you have but if you have the budget a statement ceiling light would look great. Just a little declutter of the bookcases would help but I can see photos are important to you so maybe move some of the other bits.

    Comments (26)

    • 10 years ago
      hi minnie

      thanks for your response! wow i'd never imagine yellow to be one of my chosen colours but it looks really good! my husband would not agree to a yellow wall, but i love to add yellow cushions. inknow my bookshelves are a mess but really i dont know what else to do!
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    • 10 years ago
      Yes it does look great with black and white but maybe not for the fainthearted! Maybe some yellow cushions then and how about 1 or 2 yellow vases or ginger jars on the bookcase? I don't know if you can get chalk paint there but your chair would look great in yellow with the wood in black!
    • 10 years ago
      I'd thought yellow, if it's a bit much how about turquoise? Colourful accessories would look great with it.
    • 10 years ago
      i showed my husband your comment minnie, and he was wide eyed! lol!

      he was okay about a couple of yellow cushions and vases but nope for a yellow wall!

      both of us were done with colors as our first home was like a playground...we had a light green wall in the living room, a red wall in the dining area and yes, yellow kitchen cabinets - no kidding!

      im sitting in front of my bookshelves right now and planning to declutter. will show you the changes soon! thanks again!
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    • 10 years ago
      hi mrsmcee

      infact, i did talk to my husband about having a turquoise wall in the living room when we first moved in, but afraid that things wont match. so we played safe and just painted white. now i feel the effect - boring, huh? i need to go ikea to shop for some accessories so we'll see what happens later.
    • PRO
      10 years ago
      Looks like you already have quite a lot of Ikea-like things so maybe look at something a little different. I am a fan of Ikea but too much of it can make it feel a little flat and boring. I agree with the colour idea, and as Singapore is so hot and humid (I worked there for a while) I would go with a cool colour like the turquoise suggested above. Not sure why it wouldn't go. If you don't want to paint the walls the what about painting or even papering the backs of the bookshelves? Some pattern would be good in contrast to the plain walls and even the zebra.

      Some suggestions to add a bit of personality and interest, there some overlap so easy to add:

      1) Age - add some more personal and ideally older objects. Older objects tend to ground a room and give it some substance and newer items tend to lift a room and make it lighter so in a modern room it's great to have some older pieces and visa versa. This can be pieces of furniture or accessories. Actual older pieces rather than repro. They have a different feel to them. Maybe replace that chair with something older and made of real wood.

      You say you live in Singapore but there is no hint of it in the room, it could be anywhere. Consider bringing a bit of the outside in, some oriental pieces or a piece of real artwork with texture (as opposed to a print).

      2) Texture - add some texture to the room using fabricand some pattern ... cushions, curtains or throws. You could also use some plants for that. A tall ficus fern or similar. Have you considered changing your rug to something bigger and more colourful?

      3) Wood - or something 'alive'. Add some wood and/or live plants ... a new coffee table ... maybe a vintage piece with some curves, made of wood. Plants would definitely make a difference.

      4) Shapes - the room is very angular/linear/hard. Think about adding some curves and softness... round cushions, or with curvy patterns, Curtains would help or even some fabric draped across the top and down the side to add some interest and softness. Plants again, with softer texture (not big sharp leaves).

      Have fun and remember to post an 'after' photo.
    • 10 years ago
      hi stellahome

      gosh, thanks so much for your great ideas, i have to read twice to understand better! in fact i was already imagining in my head as i read.
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    • 9 years ago
      hey everyone! ive finally got to do a little makeover for my living room. ive gotten your advise...splashes of yellow, a plant, rearrange the bookshelves, extra cushions, a new sidetable lamp and a new coffee table. im thinking to get a square or rectangle tray for my coffee table, and intend to place a small vase with green plant and a nice decorative bowl or a candle. what do you think should i add more?
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    • 9 years ago
      photo 1
    • 9 years ago
      photo 2
    • 9 years ago
      photo 3
    • 9 years ago
      photo 4
    • 9 years ago
      photo 5
    • 9 years ago
      photo 6
    • 9 years ago
      photo 7 - i got a new smaller sofa too!
    • 9 years ago
      photo 8
    • 9 years ago
      Definitely more yellow needed.
    • 9 years ago
      I think I would colour your wall a beige colour keeping it neutral but warm. You can add colour with accessories without over doing it.
      Add fabric footstools.
      I like the big mirror but it lacks character, so probably have a more elaborate frame.
      I like the room though, it just needs a little love.

      Maxine
    • 9 years ago
      Hi. It's looking really good and you've done well with the bookshelves! ! I love the new sofa! I would say just a tad more yellow if your husband can bear it, doesn't have to be solid yellow. I'd add something else on the left shelves (I'd move one shelf of photos to the right hand shelving and swap for some books), maybe a ginger jar if you can get an old one. Maybe a patterned throw or cushion for your wooden chair and a small yellow throw for the bench just draped over the corner. Table idea sounds great. Are you happy with it? I think it's made such a big difference
    • 9 years ago
      hi everyone! thanks so much for your comments...
    • 9 years ago
      hi everyone! thanks so much for your comments...
    • 9 years ago
      gosh. i wrote more than just that line...i wonder whats wrong...
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    • 9 years ago

      great improvement bro! any updates to this?

    • 8 years ago

      Those are nice contrasting cushions you put on the sofa. For the wall instead of having small photo frames, try a big framed up photo or painting or abstract art piece, adds touch of grandeur to a small space. Add more plants, they liven up the space ! My living area is small also and I didn't spend much doing it up.

      0
    • PRO
      8 years ago

      feimao747 this is over a year old, if you read the comments they have already made the changes.


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