How should I decorate my living room?

Sally Alter
by Sally Alter

The living room in my manufactured home is 18wx30L (inc. the dining room) At the moment I have a dark brown love seat, two cream easy chairs and one light brown rocker. The tables and glass cabinet are black in a very modern style. The dining set is pale wood. The carpet is a good color between the browns and creams. (Sorry no photo). you'll need to use your imagination.


At present, I have sage green walls and red/orange curtains, also various cushions along this theme. I really love it and everybody compliments me on how cosy it is. But I really would like a change after 8 years in this house and want to keep all the furniture, just basically make the walls lighter and probably buy new curtains to open up the room. I've considered very light grey walls and slightly darker grey curtains but am unsure that this will go with the chairs. I really hate white, and don't want to go with cream either.


Any ideas?

  3 answers
  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Aug 05, 2018

    Hello Sally,

    I see gray as the new neutral. Would you consider trying a sample jar of paint as a test —to see how it looks with your lighting?

    • See 4 previous
    • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Aug 11, 2018

      Hello Sally,


      Im not sure— if you would consider exposed wires or the use of wire mold to be able to power up sconces.


      We have the wiremold here as some walls are cedar log walls. Personally its not my favorite look, Ive disguised the molding with paint to match the wood walls. Please see photo below. In a bedroom the bedside lamp- swing arm wall mounted sconces-are not so bad with exposed wiring as a bedside table can camouflage the wires.


      Ultimately, its a personal decision.

      I appreciate your thoughtful consideration, I wish we did a better job when we did a remodel and home addition.

  • Cindy Cindy on Aug 05, 2018

    Hi Sally. I'm Cindy. Your current decor sounds lovely but I understand wanting a change after so much time. You could start by painting the walls. Since the biggest piece of furniture in your living room area is the dark brown love seat, you should consider colors that will go well with it. Perhaps light blue, coral, or light green. My personal choice would be light blue for the walls and crisp clean white for the trim. The blue will also go well with your easy chairs. Use pillows, rugs, art work, etc. to bring in patterns and prints. I think large plants would finish the whole thing off. I like to put up-lights under my large floor plants to create shadows on the ceiling. Really lovely. Best wishes to you.

    • Sally Alter Sally Alter on Aug 05, 2018

      Cindy, you have definitely fired up my imagination. I did consider peach but, when I looked on line at various curtains, it seemed hard to match that color. Light green would be a safe bet because I know that the sage green I already have goes fine, but is obviously making the room rather dark. But pale blue sounds wonderful. (Why didn't I think of that?) I should think a pale Wedgewood blue would look really smart. I don't have any white trim because I have (fake) wood beams on the ceiling.


      Your idea of lighting your plants is great, I certainly never thought of that.


      Thanks so much for your input. Now all I need is a 'man' to paint the room!!!

  • Penny Taylor Penny Taylor on Aug 05, 2018

    I agree with Cindy.