Use creamy colours, fresh florals and streamlined storage to turn a bland space into a grown-up lounge with room for dining.

DARK AND CLUTTERED
Some effort had been made to bring order to this living room, but it just was not working! The storage baskets were overflowing with books and magazines, and the all-white soft furnishings looked bland and boring rather than harmonious. The doors and picture rail were painted in dark maroon which did nothing to lift the scheme, and the scuffed laminate flooring made the room feel cold and drab.
The room also has to serve as a dining room with a table and chairs tucked into a corner at the opposite end of the room. Dual-purpose spaces can be tricky to decorate and furnish as both areas need to be defined, yet work as a whole. This room needed a definite theme to unify the space, as well as some practical storage to create a more calm and welcoming atmosphere for relaxing and dining.
Finally, bright accessories and soft patterns were needed to freshen up and modernise the whole space.

Rearrange the furniture
In its original position, the sofa dominated the room, so it was moved to sit neatly under the window, creating more uninterrupted floor space and ensuring the dining area at the opposite corner is not crowded. A single mattress and duvet are cleverly disguised as a pouffe so the room can also double as a guest room when neede.

Install neat shelves
Open shelving works well in a living room. It keeps books and magazines under control yet close to hand, and allows you to create attractive desplays of decorative objects like these pretty goblets. These shelves were put up in an unused corner of the room then painted in the same colour as the walls to give an open, spacious effect. The MDF shelves have been finished with scalloped edging, and fitted onto ornate carved brackets, for a softer look.

Lay warm and cosy flooring
The old laminate flooring was well past its best. It also felt cold underfoot and caused a problem with noise for the people living in the flat below, so it was replaced with carpet foor a more welcoming feel and quieter footfalls. The neutral maize colour of the carpet complements the walls painted in ivory cream, and keeps the look light and airy. As the carpet has a loop pile, it must be vacuumed with a non-rotating bristle brush attachment to keep it looking its best.

Introduce soft colour
Floral fabric in fresh pink and green tones has revitalised the whole room, adding splashes of colour and much-needed pattern. The charlotte khaki fabric has been used to make curtains, cushions, and a table runner for the dining table, bringing a coordinate theme to the living and dining spaces. While the motif is bold, the soft colours and creamy background keep the overall impression subtle and chic.