Decorating dilemma

[TheBeachHouse]

We have a two room suite that just is not pretty. All our other rooms make you relax when you enter. This one is just not working.
Two small rooms connected by a Jack and Jill bath. One room, queen bed, the other a pull out sofa.
At this point, I don't have time to paint or money for furniture, but I can buy curtains. What will help?
Walls, sky blue.
Brass bed with bedspread, white with multi colored ruffles in brights. (the spread in the picture is the old one.) Mostly reds and yellows with greens and blues.

Sofa bed - cream or off white. Contemporary.

Rug - multi warm colors. (not the one in the picture.) (Floor is painted blue.)
SO - for curtains - to fix the room, warm or cool? Floral or stripe? Or coral or shells?

 

[Generic]

Do you have blackout drapes or something else for the room other than those at the side?
Two different colour choices:

1. Dark navy blue with beige accents. Replace the pillows on the couch with dark navy blue. Change the lamp for something simplier but again navy blue or beige. Toss the quilt unless you really want old people.
2. Silver and white (complete neutral). Replace the pillows on the couch with dark silver. Change the lamp for something either clear or stainless. Toss the quilt (see above).

Does anyone use that fake fireplace?
When you have the time to paint, you can either paint a pale grey or you can leave the walls and paint just one wall as a focal wall.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Thanks. The quilt is long gone. I am using this bedspread.

The windows have shades. Navy is a great idea.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Yes. People love the electric fireplace. It also serves as a space heater in a big old house.

 

[gillumhouse]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

love these but a bit pricey for 4 windows.
http://uneekee.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?p=2&q=sailboat

 

[TheBeachHouse]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods..

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

I can't be offended on this room. I know it looks blah which is why I need better curtains. This room is the least cozy in the house. I don't like it at all.
We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.

 

[Arks]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods..

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

I can't be offended on this room. I know it looks blah which is why I need better curtains. This room is the least cozy in the house. I don't like it at all.
We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.
.

We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.

 

[gillumhouse]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods..

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

I can't be offended on this room. I know it looks blah which is why I need better curtains. This room is the least cozy in the house. I don't like it at all.
We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.
.

How about a different painting over the sofa? Something brighter. It is the neutral neutral neutral with soft everything that equals blah. Something needs to stand out.

 

[Highlands John]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods..

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

I can't be offended on this room. I know it looks blah which is why I need better curtains. This room is the least cozy in the house. I don't like it at all.
We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.
.

My thoughts were the same as gillum, a splash of bright colour would cheer it up no end. Since there's blue in the room how about teal curtains, matching cusions and lamp shade.
Terry's

 

[Highlands John]

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods..

No offence meant, but to me it looks blah. I would brighten it with some bold color that matches something already in the room - if the carpet has multi-colors, pick one from there. Bold but not flashy - you do not want it to be hyper. Cushions and drapes and bed spreads make a huge difference. I also have sheers on my windows (I use the cheap double cafe curtain rods and tie backs for the drapes so there are no cords to break or jam a la drapery rods.

I can't be offended on this room. I know it looks blah which is why I need better curtains. This room is the least cozy in the house. I don't like it at all.
We are just now to the point where we can forget the emergency fixes and start having fun decorating.
.

How about a different painting over the sofa? Something brighter. It is the neutral neutral neutral with soft everything that equals blah. Something needs to stand out.
.

A good tip if you want a picture with a colour palette to match a room is take a photo (a flower or whatever) and have it printed on canvas. That way no not only get the colour but the exact size/shape you want.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories..

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories.

the hook rug is long gone. trashed. we had to have it there at first because with the PO painted the place to sell, he painted the floor around the bed that was in the room, so the floor was two different colors. LOL That was the only rug we had and that room needed it!
Funny you all dislike the painting. It's a watercolor done by a local artist of the fish shack that is the logo of the town. So it is really a town picture. I can find another place for it.
Ok, quilt stand gone. My girlfriend also hates the pillows. I will find something. I was trying to find curtains with a coral color and motif. Still looking.
You all are a great help. I love decorating but this house has overwhelmed me.

 

[gillumhouse]

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories..

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories.

the hook rug is long gone. trashed. we had to have it there at first because with the PO painted the place to sell, he painted the floor around the bed that was in the room, so the floor was two different colors. LOL That was the only rug we had and that room needed it!
Funny you all dislike the painting. It's a watercolor done by a local artist of the fish shack that is the logo of the town. So it is really a town picture. I can find another place for it.
Ok, quilt stand gone. My girlfriend also hates the pillows. I will find something. I was trying to find curtains with a coral color and motif. Still looking.
You all are a great help. I love decorating but this house has overwhelmed me.
.

I do not dislike the painting - cannot really see it. It is just that it blended in with the wall, did not stand out. Perhaps painting just that wall a couple shades darker to make the painting stand out (and will brighten the room - give it oomph) would help. Coral would be bright. Gold accents. If you go with the dark blue, silver accents.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories..

Yup, this room definitely needs help. It looks like a boarding house room. There is no 'life' in that room. Do you have a Tuesday Morning store anywhere near you? You can pick up accessories pretty cheap. Pick up something like you see in the new picture of the bedspread, the vase with decorative sticks. Get rid of the picture above the sofa. You can go to the dollar store and pic up a bunch of picture frames. Fill the frames with great pictures of your area and cluster them together. Those pillows have to go. Get rid of the quilt, stand & hook rug. Those styles are country, which you're not. If you need a rug, make it a small area rug matching your new color scheme. The stand is cluttering up the window area. Buy a throw blanket that will match your new pillows and drape the blanket over the arm-back of the sofa. Make that sofa look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
I think that once you give some life to the room, the wall color will be fine. You'll be amazed what you can do with just a couple hundred bucks of accessories.

the hook rug is long gone. trashed. we had to have it there at first because with the PO painted the place to sell, he painted the floor around the bed that was in the room, so the floor was two different colors. LOL That was the only rug we had and that room needed it!
Funny you all dislike the painting. It's a watercolor done by a local artist of the fish shack that is the logo of the town. So it is really a town picture. I can find another place for it.
Ok, quilt stand gone. My girlfriend also hates the pillows. I will find something. I was trying to find curtains with a coral color and motif. Still looking.
You all are a great help. I love decorating but this house has overwhelmed me.
.

I do not dislike the painting - cannot really see it. It is just that it blended in with the wall, did not stand out. Perhaps painting just that wall a couple shades darker to make the painting stand out (and will brighten the room - give it oomph) would help. Coral would be bright. Gold accents. If you go with the dark blue, silver accents.
.

I do not dislike the painting - cannot really see it. It is just that it blended in with the wall, did not stand out. Perhaps painting just that wall a couple shades darker to make the painting stand out (and will brighten the room - give it oomph) would help. Coral would be bright. Gold accents. If you go with the dark blue, silver accents.

gotcha. I like the coral because the room feels cold. I will have fun shopping.

 

[Flower]

I think your wall color is fine but you need some grounding perhaps a dark rug. As it looks like your room is floating.Darker colour floor will help . I like your bed spread pull out one of the colours from there for accents. Maybe if picture had a different matt would help it also. Change pillow covers to one of the accent colours you pull from bed spread. You may want to paint the dresser more shabby chic. Also your lamps.bases. or perhaps the shades Change their colour.Spray paint does wonders.

 

[happykeeper]

With all these excellent innkeeper comments, I am not sure there is much I can add.
Two things
One thing is I didn't see any sign of height in your decor. If you are out buying add-ins, think about an inexpensive floor to ceiling (like you see at pier one) pot and dried floral.
FRESH something fresh and organic (absolutely not fake flowers- although we are bit spoiled that way and have no excuse, like winter, to not have fresh flowers.)

 

[Arks]

I don't have decorating input, but will enjoy seeing the "after" photos!

 

[Copperhead]

Thanks. The quilt is long gone. I am using this bedspread.

The windows have shades. Navy is a great idea..

Thanks. The quilt is long gone. I am using this bedspread.

The windows have shades. Navy is a great idea.

Personally I think you have enough blue in the room. You need to have a bold color like the rich red/rust/? color in this spread. Bring that color over to the other room.

As someone suggested maybe a change in the matte or frame of the picture would be what is needed to make it pop. Use the same color pillows and curtains if you want curtains. Personally I love the openness without heavy curtains. (and less to clean)

 

[April]

Yes. People love the electric fireplace. It also serves as a space heater in a big old house..

Did you ever consider to build a larger mantle for it?