Terrible at Decorating

pengwinn

Hi everyone! My fiance and I moved into a very small city apartment a few months ago. I have a hard time decorating from a clean slate. I just can't. I don't want to worry about it anymore, and just want to love where I live (despite any downfalls that we are already stuck with). Does anybody have any advice for this space?
[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2v9vek4.jpg[/IMG]

musictchr25

I think that furniture is too big for the space. It looks bulky and dated. If you want to freshen up the space, get some furniture that is smaller in size, both in the fluffyness and in the overall bulk, and get neutral colors, that way you can accessorize with color.  

Also, not sure what is on the wall to the right in this picture, but if you rearrange the furniture, it may help the flow of the room more. So instead of walking into the room and having to go around the back of the couch to sit down, put the couch against the wall that the chair is on and the TV across from that. It will open up the space and make it look bigger since the largest piece of furniture won't be in the middle of the room.  

A larger area rug may also help make the room more comfortable, but I'm not sure how large you can go or what the rug would look like if you switched around the layout.

It looks like you have a table off to the side - you may want to change that from an oval/round table to a square/rectangular table to help it fit the space better. And, if you make it smaller, you may even be able to find a different spot for it in the living area, and then you would have room for a small movable kitchen island cart to give you more countertop space.  The kitchen island could also give you more storage space since your countertops look cluttered, and you can take it with you to your next place, too!

Are you allowed to paint? A nice color on the wall would really help to bring the room together. Clear the color with your landlord first, though.  

Hope that these tips help! Good luck!

pengwinn

Thanks I really appreciate the tips! Some of it we can't really do - for example and island would not fit in here. And also the furniture arrangement is the only one that makes sense with tv hookups and such - unless we find some kind of way. The kitchen is very tiny (which is why the counter looks cluttered). I don't think we want to buy new furniture either because we DO want to move in April when our lease is up to a bigger place. I guess maybe we will just have to wait it out...I don't know, I don't know what to do.

Again thanks so much for the suggestions!

cakergirl

A simple fix would be to swap the sofa and chair. I actually love how the sofa ties in with the darker wood trim, but it really does "cut off" the room makes it look really closed in and probably feels claustrophobic. Wo cares if one person needs to turn a little to see the tv. We all place wayyyyy to much emphasis on "where the tv is" then wonder why the rest of the layout and decor doesn't feel right. I would also consider getting rid of the kitchen table and adding in one of those portable island/bar things, push it up against the ledge that leads into the kitchen, and buy 2 bars stools or chairs to use at it. You could treat it as a breakfast bar and it would add more shot rate and "counter space" to the kitchen.

pengwinn

Switching the couch and chair is an idea we can definitely try. My other thoughts ... adding a small gallery wall to the blank wall, a glass coffee table, and I bought some more neutral pillows instead of the other ones just because of the season change (lol...) Not to mention that chair needs a slipcover, it' lumpy and ugly, but those are pretty pricey.

missmatch132

I would suggest hanging a large mirror on the wall where the armchair currently is.  That will bounce light around the room.

I sense there is a window in the corner...if that's all it is, is there room to angle the back of the chair in the corner?  It's okay to overlap a bit in front of the tv console.  That would be a nice conversation area, as well as let the sofa breathe a bit.  

I also agree that the area rug might be a tad small.  It should tuck under the sofa about 6'' or so.  That just extends the sightline of the space, and ground the seating group better.

You can also do a shelf on the wall, that creates a gallery with a mix of the mirror and picture frames, and small decorative objects.  I did something similar on the wall above my tv- just to add some dimension.   

Also, consider using color to relate your furniture pieces, as well as disguise the arm chair you are not fond of.  You can add a tan throw on the chair, and introduce cream or light neutral pillows on the sofa.

Hope that helps

Samantha&Seth

I love the blue/green pillows on the sofa! I would go off that pretty color and perhaps get a different area rug that has some of the same colors to brighten up the space a little bit. You have a lot of tan/brown/beige going on that can sometimes be a downer - but the good thing is is that beige/brown is a great color to work with because it can seamlessly work with any other color. If you cant change the big things in the room (the couch and chair) work with what you can. Change that area rug out to something more colorful. Painting an apartment can seem a bit of overkill if you aren't planning on staying very long, but take down those small hangings on the left wall there and add something more decorative - tie into that blue/green and get a mirror with a blue/green trim. Or perhaps a blue/green frame for a picture? Walmart has great color based appliances too, I'm sure you can get a cute, cheap teal coffeemaker and kettle that would add pops of color and brightness into this space. Hope this helps, post an "after" pic with anything that you've done!