Un-blanding the living room.

The brilliant show Gogglebox has given us a sneak peak into not only the nation's viewing habits, but also their front room decor. And to a large extent the decor matches the person. We have those with a decidedly posh air, new money middle class polish and working class aspirations all on display.

Your front room is a room that you invite guests into and as such it says something about you. Back in the day it would be a show room, sometimes filled with hire purchase furniture, as Helen Forrester describes in the brilliant novel Twopence to cross the Mersey. Even if the rest of your house is a wreck, make sure your front room puts on a good show.

My living room was decidedly inoffensive. One got the impression this was a house decorated to sell but not to spark joy.

The bland front room saying, "blah blah blah nobody cares"

But the quick fix job wallpaper couldn't disguise the lumps and bumps of the plaster underneath which was in a terrible state. The wallpaper was also ripped in the corner and there was a big smoke damage stain behind the television (I imagine a telly blew up there at some point...probably because something odious was being shown...like a Donald Trump rally). The cornices were cracked and the carpet was thin.

The back end of the front room looking yawn. 

The living room suffering with blanditis.

I wanted to create a cheerful space with a cozy feel and a hit of opulence....on a very modest budget of course.

My budget was so modest I employed my cat to do the work. 

It always gets worse before it gets better.

So we stripped the wallpaper, got the room re-plastered and fixed cracked coving. Then we chose a light blue paint which we contrasted with bright orange curtains, created by dying cream Ikea ones.
We chose a light cream carpet to create an airy feel and soft comfort under foot.

Here's the result.

I stole a rug from my dad's house... I thought it was fair game because he'd put it in my bedroom. I actually paid for a grey couch from Sofa.com.  

Rock posters on the wall are pulled from an art book. I printed the antler screen prints myself and bought the Harry Potter print at the film Studios.

I had the antique piano shipped from my childhood home in Swansea - its walnut and I adore it. The piano stool I found on eBay for about 30 pounds and it was full of piano books which was a lovely surprise. I then stuffed my cat Bailey and made him into ornament....

Ok that's a lie...Bailey is still alive.

Instead of buying a mirror for over the fireplace I saved money and painted a Madonna on a large canvas. She has a female Jesus...I'm a feminist. Chandeliers were bought with gifted Debenhams vouchers for about 30 quid. Bargain.

Of course a room is never done and later I found out the room needed more work...but that is for another blog post.