What a great room - the potential here is endless! The curtains definitely need to come down first, they completely overwhelm those stunning windows. I'd go for super soft white, sheer, floor length curtains, and the walls would look beautiful in a beige color with white ceiling and trims. Can you afford to replace the blue lino? Even if it's just a different colour lino in a neutral shade like cream or beige it would make a big difference. The tablecloth could be replaced with nice placemats (white or natural fibres) or if you really love tablecloths go for one that is a bit more neutral like white or beige and have a nice centerpiece ie a small plant, vase, candles or similar. Also add a few decorative items to the sideboard on the right - a lamp (with a WARM white bulb of course) is a good start plus provides lovely mood lighting to dine by. Good luck with your makeover and happy decorating!

Thanks, My friends all say oh that's soo u! I'm only 19 btw. and I'm still stuck at home. cant wait till I can have a house of my own! Only problem is $$! I already had the birdcages there so I had to use them since my dad had gone to so much trouble putting them up! Most of the items like the bike, lamp and quilt cover and cushions were all gifts from my family so I really wanted to keep them. The bike still gets ridden! I really love doing everything myself. I'm a bit of a DIY queen. I think that I appreciate it better if I know the work that's gone into it! and whats better than something different to everyone else? :)

I have one of those Monika and I would venture to say that you wouldn't be able to cut it flat because with everything around everywhere having the waved top it would look really odd I think, and I doubt whether you would be able to paint it at least until the development is well over or you could find the developers all over you, along with residents who like yourselves have signed to agree to the covenants. A lot of people enter into these developments because there is a better chance of people looking after their properties however I will say that I am the only owner occupied in my part of the street, and I am forever weeding everyone else's garden, picking up the rubbish blown from the sea breeze on new builders not looking after their rubbish and the renters chucking empty beer bottles where they have sat on the steps drinking and throw the bottles into the garden and I actually water the rental alongside me as our gardens join, as yours probably does, and they refuse to water it. I want my place to look nice and if left to these renters it would look like homeless shelters. I think the tall pots and something like the black bamboo could look really good :)

Hi Jenny, I'd suggest popping into your local nursery (not big box store). Often they will offer a consultation service where they can come out and help suggest plants that suit your aspect, climate and situation. The other option is to have a consultation with a local landscape designer or horticulturalist who specialises in planting. Check your local landscape association or AILDM for listings in your area. An outlay now could save you $$$'s in the longer term, as well as making sure that what you do spend your money on is going to give you the most bang for your buck. They'll also have local knowledge as to what can potentially become weeds. Just remember you can't plant anything against the fence that can be considered climbable - this can include hedges. Have a look at the link I included above as to what the definition of climbable is. Look for lush and green to link in with the background. Some pops of colour; maybe foliage (eg alternanthera) or flower (bougainvillea or mandevilla) will also help to lift it and make the green more green. Small growing varieties of lomandra may be better than the large one you have there - this could easily be moved, divided and used elsewhere.