Redoing the lounge - where would you start?

We gutted both our large lounge and sitting room in the last couple of years. New fireplace was the main focus in the lounge. I wanted less clutter and more comfort as we spend most of our time at home too. Plain walls in lounge, main wall a pinky plum and other walls a light neutral grey, grey patterned curtains from John Lewis. A three seater sofa, a two seater and an armchair for DH, plain neutral nutmeg carpet which matches sofas and blends in with colours on walls. I'm not a fan of patterned wallpaper as I get tired of it. Different coloured and textured cushions on the sofas matching the pinky plum and the carpet colour, not on armchair, DH hates them.
In the sitting room we put in a small log burner which has transformed the room. A soothing green colour on fireplace wall, and rest is neutral grey again, neutral carpet and sofas. Coloured cushions again, which can be easily replaced/added to.
We looked at the google images, found them useful for colours, fireplaces etc though I prefer going to the actual stores etc. The sitting room was a lounge diner. In the dining room part we got rid of Nathan wall units and a dining table, to be replaced by a small bookcase and a long sideboard in a light oak. Far less cluttered look and far less to dust.
Overall I enjoyed doing it all.

Very apposite thread for me!

I started a redecoration project two years ago but move exceeding slowly as I take forever to choose anything.

I know the usual rule is to decide on carpets, walls, furniture, curtains, in that order (except that some of you disagree!) but... it took years before I found a wallpaper that I actually liked. This is now up but I am stuck because:

A I have been looking for new sofas but without exception they all have 'fibre filled' back cushions. This means they need daily 'plumping'. Will I be able to do this as/if I become frail?

B. Many great looking contemporary sofas are low and difficult to rise from, although we don't need 'riser' chairs yet, just something not near the ground. I have looked in every furniture shop around, both physically and on line. I am stuck on colour here. Do I go for a toning brown or a smarter navy blue? Also fabric: I fancy leather (more durable for the elderly?) .... or not? Velvet sofas are very fashionable now. Would it be mad to consider these! I would have then 'treated' but even so...

C. The wallpaper is abstract with a fairly neutral white background with tiny splashes of gold (which catche the light as the sun moves) brown and beige. It almost disappears unless one actually peers at the pattern. I wanted a beige-toned carpet, possibly polypropylene as I understand that these are v robust (again, I have an eye to any future dribbles/leakages/spillages etc! However, I keep reading how awful beige is to keep up. Are there any positive beige people out there?

D. I have not even thought of curtains except plain, pale something or other.

If anyone has ideas re. colours for sofas (and retailers with decent back cushions), experience of durable carpets in beige - which would also be in the hall...... ) or leather v fabric sofas, I would be very grateful.

Many thanks

Well, we went looking for a sofa and came back having bought a drinks cabinet - oops!

I would start with any structural alterations. Currently awaiting builder to instal a fire to make it flush with the wall. Lighting is fine. Next ceiling, then paint all woodwork - always white gloss - before having local lad in to paper all walls. Colours always pastelly, not dramatic, to instil peace. Anything bold can be introduced later in fabric form. Once I have a feel for the room, I will pursue carpets by looking around. The right design will become apparent in due course. After that, simply seating and casual table. The curtains will almost certainly be the last purchase and will be decided upon by the feel of what the room needs/lacks colour wise. I've done my whole house room by room over the last two years with only one room to go and only one minor regret of a purchase. All in all, decidedly satisfying but I'm so glad I decided to take my time and not rush.

I hate leather sofas. Throws slide off them and look messy. Pillows dont stay put. It caused me problems with my hips, I do suffer anyway, but having to brace to not slide on them increased my stiffness.

You have to get a leather sofa with a perfect cushion angle (like you get on leather chairs which I do like)

I am desperate for my bedroom to be redone, but cant bear the thought of moving the furniture and the bed to left the old carpet!!!!!! Where do other people put the furniture so that a carpet can be lifted and a new one laid. I have two wardrobes and two chests of drawers, bedside cabinets plus the double bed. Carpet fitters now adays wont move furniture round a room they want it empty, help!!!!

There are some carpet fitters who will move furniture. Usually the larger companies and of course it costs extra

I always buy a huge piece of cardboard and do a mood board. Get large piece of white cardboard. Then use paint samples and paint large blocks of colour that you think you like. Then get pieces of possible flooring, and fabrics for curtains and sofas.
Also look through magazines, and photos of rooms that you’ve seen in independent hotels, etc.
Lastly, and most importantly, place it in the room that’s going to be revamped. Look at it in different lights, especially daylight and night time. Some colours look absolutely gross in the evening or on a wet, cold, grey day. If buying a very expensive sofa, then I’d chose one that would go with various colours, so every couple of years you could have a simple revamp and change the curtains possibly.
Enjoy!

When I did a complete re=decoration\re-furnishing, etc of the through lounge in my old house, I actually started with what I wanted on the floor. The rear had patio doors to the garden, big bay window in front. At the time I had several very young g.children and the rear was the dining part -could not eat in the galley kitchen.
Must say, I spent almost two years agonising as to what sort of floor I could have that looked nice, yet was suitable for both the sitting room end and the dining end and children coming in from the garden.
Did not fancy carpet, stripped floor would be too austere and would emphasise the long narrow through lounge. Then one day I discovered Amtico flooring and the modern version of parquet floor - light oak with patterned border.
Having got over the shock of the cost of that, everything else just fell into place. Needed a new fireplace there as the one in situ was a lot wider than the chimney breast it straddled.
Ceiling and walls painted white - light oak fireplace installed - colour matched to modula units I managed to find. (gas fire), wonderful Amtico tiles put down. Everything else was quite easy.
Those units have come with me to my flat - and fit in here so well, that they could have been purchased for this room. At some time in the not too distant future I will have to decide on what to do about the floor covering here. The existing carpet is okay, but nor really my style. So, will I replace it with carpet or will I go back to something like Amtico.
Having only just unpacked I cannot even start to think of re-packing again, so this decision will not be made for a considerable time.

I think it is Dulux that have a little gadget on their website where you can upload a picture of your room and change the paint colour. Great for seeing what it might look like.