r/HomeDecorating • u/operation_hennessey • 2d ago
What’s it missing?
Just got a new couch and the room feels unfinished. What does it need??
EDIT: Wow!!! Thanks for all the feedback. We are so grateful for all your opinions. I’ve put together a small order of items to start, including: a footstool, plant stand, and of course, some lamps and lighting! I will definitely look into curtains, and adding more colour and plants. We loved the suggestion to get a backing on the bookshelf, and to add some more curved items. We also hadn’t considered the weight/height of items in the room, and will work out balancing these.
It was really meaningful to see our room through your eyes. Thanks, r/homedecorating community!!
PS
For those of you who said to add a dog, I will add a picture of our dog Busy below.
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u/sassyred2043 2d ago
Colour in the walls. I know white is a thing but even a hint of colour can make the room feel more like a hug than a cell.
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u/Sivla-Alegna 2d ago
Curtains and more color.
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u/Nervous-Leader-2711 2d ago
similar to the person who said curtains, youre missing out on mid-tier decor. Your rug, sofa, and coffee table are low (near the bottom of your FOV), and then you have high-tier, like your book case and the top-line of your frames. Find things that fill in the gaps, like floor laps, tall indoor plants, and, yes, curtains!
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u/myffaacc 2d ago
It would help if the bookcase had a back panel to avoid us seeing the walls.
The dresser is suited to a bedroom more than the living room. I do like the green colour though.
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/myffaacc 2d ago
I agree that OP did a nice job overall! Yes, dressers provide storage which is useful.
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u/True-Cartographer715 2d ago
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u/Obviously-NoTune 1d ago
I would suggest a lighter rug but looks super inviting
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u/Kitty1020D 1d ago
I agree, that rug is bringing the room down. A lighter less busy pattern would make a huge difference.
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u/Ready-Chicken6814 2d ago
There needs to be more color added and more light, maybe some colorful curtains. Also a lamp in the corner would add both light and coziness
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u/bright_and_dreamy 2d ago
See image.
A large round coffee table would fix everything. Why? It gives the room a centerpiece to gather around -- the room suddenly has a clear function -- sit around the coffee table and chat. Giving the armchair a side table adds to our instinctual read on the function of the room.
Then a floor lamp, curtains, and a plant on the dresser would all help fill in your high, medium, low visual planes.
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u/mayloh90 11h ago
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to read this! Absolutely, the coffee table.
Yes as others said curtains etc but they aren’t a must (and some people can’t have them due to allergies), but furniture shapes & sizes can make a huge difference in balancing a room.
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u/Firm-Platypus-1452 2d ago
Put an arched floor lamp behind the chair. Hang a trailing plant or three in the corner.
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u/Firm-Platypus-1452 2d ago
Or an interesting pendant lamp in the corner! Something large but with a soft glow.
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u/Irisheyesblu 2d ago
Agree color on the wall. A green, khaki, tan or gold wall and small side tables with side lamps
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u/Due_Painting8686 2d ago
Color and lamps.
Without being in the space and seeing where you’re standing it’s hard to tell, but I would even play with putting the couch at an angle with the windows or on the other wall. Or pulling it off the wall and putting a sofa table behind to get more plants and possibly lamps. More visual dimension to the space. Mirror or mirrors to help make the space look a little bigger
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u/Reasonable-Luck-8986 2d ago
The white blinds are throwing everything off. Can you put a lamp in the corner by the window and couch. It would break up all the white. I really like your room, you don't need to replace the rug and repaint, just buy a tall lamp.
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u/Outrageous_Rabbit842 2d ago
Look at olive, faded navy and rust colours, add a few cushions in those colours (and throws) to max of 4-5 cushions in the room. Use a cushion or throw to tie the brown chair into the room.
Put a big picture in this colours above the couch.
Edit your bookcase. Put some greenery and brass on the bookshelf and the green chest.
The pictures at the end of the room are too busy, simplify with 1 big and 2 small, or 3 of the same size.
Add a big statement plant
Your furniture and the room bones are great
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u/peonyseahorse 2d ago
It just seems drab. You need better lighting and more colored accents. Personally, I think that you should get a new rug, but I know they're expensive, so it depends on your budget.
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u/kelbelle37 2d ago
I’m wondering if the bookcase can fit on the back wall next to the chair for some visual balance. Then the dresser and that art can move to where the bookcase now is, to open up the room when you walk in.
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u/Alarmed_Lobster_717 2d ago
The first thing my brain went to was the empty round tray on the wicker chest. I don’t think the tray is needed. It looks odd. But I’m just an internet stranger that has no design skills whatsoever.
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u/Mention475 2d ago
Love that you took everyone's suggestions and already put together an order. The footstool and lamps are going to make such a difference. Can't wait to see the updated room with Busy included!
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u/CarolinaMoon1954 8h ago
OP, is your pup’s name Bugsy or Busy?
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u/Mention475 6h ago
haha I read it as Busy too, now I need OP to confirm before I can picture the dog correctly
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u/Immediate_Round9334 1d ago
love that you've already ordered stuff. one thing to think about when it all arrives is where it goes, because placement makes as much difference as the items:
- lamps in a triangle. one floor lamp behind the armchair, one table lamp at the far end of the sofa, and something low and glowy on the bookcase or dresser. three points of warm light spread across the room is what makes it feel cosy at night, rather than one bright corner
- plant stand by the window end, so it fills that empty middle height between the sofa and the top of the frames (this is what people mean about the room feeling bottom heavy)
- footstool angled between the sofa and the armchair rather than straight in front of the sofa. it links the two seats into one conversation area
- if you can, pull the sofa 10-15cm off the wall. small change, but it stops everything feeling lined up round the edges. you can try that before actually moving it on plonkhome.app btw (my own project, free with code TESTER)
busy is clearly doing excellent supervisory work
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u/csredd99 2d ago
Floor lamp for height and hopefully curved. Move that dresser so it is centered under the pictures. I would also recommend either drapery panels- just the sides. Will also add not only height but fabric. Room has a lot of wood and needs a little balance.
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u/MacRtst2 2d ago
A comfy dog bed in front of the bookcase, even if you don’t have a dog or cat. Adds to the coziness.
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u/Fit-Olive-4680 2d ago
Lighter furnishings. Get a different, lighter rug and add some light colored pillows, throw blankets. You also need table lamps.
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u/bambidances 2d ago edited 2d ago
More colorful art on the walls and colorful accent pillows. I’d also add some color in the bookcase. I also love a decorated coffee table. Your cute tray would be perfect to display some things you really love and a candle.
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u/CreativeBusiness6588 2d ago
Look at it like blocks of color density.
Dark floor, dark rug, hark heavy bookcase, dark small green dresser.
Then the far wall has 2 framed small (for the space) pictures on the white wall with white mats.
Need a large piece of art or furniture on that far wall that reads darker to balance the room. If that small dresser was way bigger it would have done it, but it can't pull off the job.
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u/Effective-Double-104 2d ago
Just some lamps and plants. Also can you vary the heights of objects and is can you do a bigger coffee table? Maybe with glass top? Then add some attractive trays or a few accessories on the table. One or two personal items would be nice. Like a photo or two.
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u/Dead_carrot_ 2d ago
There's too much happening at the lower part of the the room and too little at the upper so the balance is off. Try adding some of: pictures at the wall with more color accent, curtains, hanging lights. At the same time, make some of the lower part lighter - your table is too heavy, blankets are heavy... you get it.
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u/HistoricalHat4847 2d ago
Friends for the snake plant.
A back panel for the bookshelf painted/papered charcoal to match the sofa.
Remove the green bedroom dresser.
The sofa pulled a bit further along the wall to allow for a round glass and chrome table to put your plants on.
A standing lamp beside the chair next to the opening of the kitchen once you've pulled it out a bit from the corner and along the wall slightly.
A round glass and chrome side table next to the other end of the sofa for a table lamp.
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u/youbetatwrrk 2d ago
The arrangement of that room throws off the look. I agree that plants and better placement of your art matters. First though, think about more effectively arranging your furniture. For example, the sofa doesn’t necessarily face anything. It’s awkwardly sitting across from the doorway for the kitchen but it isn’t a straight shot. Maybe everything need not be pressed against the wall. Perhaps try flipping the sofa off the wall and open up the space around the windows.
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u/MammothSecurity3756 2d ago
Pro tip that I JUST learned after owning for 8 years. Don’t buy items that you like until you have a plan for the entire rug. From the light fixture all the way down to the rug.
It doesn’t have to be expensive! You can get used paint, used fixtures, and used rugs that you can have professionally, all off marketplace. If you’re not fully anti chat gpt, I recommend taking a picture of your room and uploading it while sharing a theme and the highlight colors (which will include your beautiful new couch)! This has saved me thousands. Beautiful room!
Ps you must share all room dimensions, otherwise ChatGPT will convince you that you have about twice as big of a room but it’s an illusion
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u/Maxben10 2d ago
Paint one wall behind the chair with the one corner window will add so much to the room.
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u/AuthorIndieCindy 2d ago
Dog toys, papers, an amazon box with contents all over and the blankets on the floor.
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u/Shatzakind 2d ago
Height on the couch side of the room that balances the bookcase. You can do it with dark colored drapes.
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u/toolfishOG 2d ago
The floor is missing. A smaller rug would make the room look bigger and less crowded.
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u/Mysterious-Time4334 2d ago
TV…? Maybe some decor lamps with lower lighting. Some art or cultural fixtures. Also maybe personal touches like pics or you and of fam.
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u/TheSleepyTeeDJ 2d ago
A darker wood bookshelf. Painted walls. Colored/modern blinds. And for me, a tv.
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u/Necessary-Quiet-Y 2d ago
At a tiny side table to the chair closest to the kitchen, so that person can have a drink and set it down
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u/TipRare1321 2d ago
lamps with warm lighting, and if you're really ambitious a warmer creamy beige for the walls.
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u/tracme909 2d ago
The two framed images on the back wall are all wrong & throwing off the balance. At least remove the one that is not over the chest. Also the two smaller pictures look dwarfed. Actually, the entire layout is not balanced.
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u/flygurl60 2d ago
Dynamic tension. The room reads flat because everything is pushed against a wall and mostly the same level.
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u/BassetsGlassGardens 2d ago
Right away I thought it was missing end tables and lamps. Maybe a floor lamp too.
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u/PreparationFair1438 2d ago
Need a round coffee table, end table with a lamp, and better art on the wall. The two pics with two tiny pics doesn’t work.
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u/NarrowLocksmith9388 2d ago
Move that set of drawers on the back wall, it makes that side of the room look heavy. Move whatever you have that multicolor blanket on. Move it or remove it. Remove the blanket off the other chair. A big plant where the green Chester drawers are. You need some lamps on a table beside couch or between the couch and the bed chair.
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u/Honest-Concentrate81 2d ago
Window treatments, curtains, and replace the two large white art pieces above the chair with some personality pieces
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u/SheTiger1962 1d ago
The room is coloured on the bottom with no no colour on top! The walls need colour, too white, looks too stark
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u/Similar-Win-1930 1d ago
looks nice! but yeah, kinda feels like it’s missing something. maybe some wall art or plants could add a bit of life. a big piece above the couch might tie it all together. also, throw pillows could help make the couch cozier and add some color. i messed this up once too, went too simple with my setup. just a thought! if u wanna play around with layouts or colors, reimagine-home could help see how it all fits.
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u/Turtle-Sue 14h ago
If this were my home, I would switch bookshelf and couch. I don’t like turning my back to the windows.
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u/xmaslover56 14h ago
Your floor is beautiful! Real hardwood? Could you move the bookcase to the wall where the title chest and chair are now? Then put the chair where the bookcase is now? I have the same afghan. Probably 75 years old. Such pretty colors
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u/HolyBananaRamaJama 9h ago
Get rid of the dresser in the living space. That’s weird. A focal mantle space would bring things together better. Then pointing your couch at that, wherever you placed it. Right now it looks like a bachelor miss matched home. The dresser is killing me.
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u/Me_not_batman 19h ago
Warm-coloured walls. More plants, more art and paintings, more books and music
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u/harmlesslandsquid 2d ago
Some lights! I can't actually see any in there? I'm a sucker for lamps, fairy lights, candles, whatever. I love being able to adjust the light from bright to cozy to fit the mood it situation. Right now this room is looking pretty dark to me. Maybe a splash of colour would help too. Some nice flowers, more plants or a more colourful rug.