Is that you lying on the rug, Vicki? Lol.

no it's not chookchook - I wish! lol

Those cushions would work with some of the rugs I posted up above.

I like the bold print cushion and i'd try and team it with a rug that was predominantly one of those colours or white/beige with a splash of one of those colours. you could add some plain cushions in the colour chosen in the rug. I really like the ideabook idea of chookchook2 also.

Houzz can be so much more than my putting off housework, lol.

thanks chookchook2. I've just started an ideasbook. It makes it so much more clearer.

Make one for the other set of cushions too.

all done. btw i love the Botany Tokyo rug. It looks gorgeous.

https://www.therugest.com/product/botany/tokyo

I think you need to consider updating the curtains and valance as well...

Yep, I like what looks like mustard in the geometric cushion and the masala. You could also look at orange or rust colours if you don't stick with those. Just an idea, what about painting the wall behind the TV as a feature wall? I'd go shopping for a rug first to find the colour scheme and take one of those cushions with you to see if you can find something that may tie in, but if you find a rug you love that doesn't go with that and then you'll have to buy some new cushions. If you stay with neutral colours like the cushions of vickimarkseanisla posted above, I say you need to add not only texture but colour somewhere as I think it just looks too clinical otherwise.

Hi finau, she is intending to change the curtains and valance.

Hi Liana, you have been getting some great ideas here and your new idea books show that you Do know colours! Getting to know what you like is going to help though I have a couple of thoughts.

The lounge is Navy and staying for now, be careful about matching it in too much as you may change it when the children are older (finished wrecking it?) Ikea & Freedom have a lot of choices that are inexpensive especially if you go to the sales.

Marketti Rug · More Info

Your curtains will be expensive to replace due to dimensions and they if are not too badly worn what about updating just the top gathered valance? A plain neutral fabric or timber pelmet could be far cheaper and freshen them up for now. The money saved could go towards something more necessary (rug?) The floral cushions you have would be nice with them.

Curtain and Pelmet set · More Info

Just another perspective perhaps but if you hate the curtains then they must go.

Half price until August 3

http://www.carpetcall.com.au/rugs-online/viper-vpr.0145.05.160

Other rugs also on sale.

I'm a sucker for a sale myself.

If you like anything, put it in the ideabook where it works. You will start to discover your style.

More food for thought, looking at the connected rug in grey above, that would tie in with your kitchen and you could do mustard (like in the rug) and grey cushions and a mustard feature wall behind the tele.

Dulux

http://www.dulux.com.au/colour/colour-trends-2015/silentshift

chookchook2, you're too good, I'll get your help if needed when I move as I've just sold and moving in 6 weeks, just don't know where yet !!!!

I hope everything goes well for you.

Thank you !

Wow chookchook2! You are all over it! Great work!

I hope you left some Masala for the rest of us =/

I went online and found out I was spelling it wrong, it has an r in it. That's the wine.

Plenty left for you all , click on it.

Cheers to that!

Right backatcha. Thatcha!

I can't wait for the 2015/16 colour of the year, my vote is sauvignon blanc!

LOL!

thank you everyone for all your thoughts and opinions. This has been a great great great help. I have now made a decision on what colour i will go with. I love the marsala red and neutral colours. chookchook2 your interior design knowledge is amazing, it's like you're doing the shopping for me :) I love the carpet call "viper" rug but do you think it will be too dark amongst the navy sofas. Or should i get a more neutral coloured rug like picture below or a neutral coloured rug with a splash of Marsala... cheers. Amongst the marsala and neutral coloured cushions can i add a navy pattern one for the splash of colour? I'm not sure if a bold navy cushion would go.

http://carpethouse.com.au/product/lapping-sands-by-shaynna-blaze/

The viper comes in a neutral as well, both are fashionable. Any chance you can get to see them?

Don't think it would be too dark.

Yes, bold navy cushion will go.

thanks chookchook2 for all your posts, they have been a blessing. Yes you can remove them all as I've saved the ones i really like into my ideas book. thank you

Ok your thread is a bit easier to follow now. What is your plan of attack?

I'm going to look for a rug tomorrow as there are a couple of places that have great sales at the moment. I will look at viper and anything else that the have in store. Hopefully i can pick something up. 1 step at a time. Rug first. Will post a pic when i find THE ONE.

Great idea! I know it's hard shopping with little kids.

A suggestion that the professionals use and makes it SO much easier choosing colours - and then the perfect shade of that colour. Get a paint swatch of the Hog's Bristle - or paint a little sample card from leftover paint. Bring home 5 or 6 samples shades of navy from the paintshop to get the the closest shade/tone of navy to your couch. Armed with those - and a sample of your bench colour - hit the shops with confidence! You will see easily which yellow, or which Marsala or which 'whatever-colour-you-choose' looks great. There are many shades that might look like they work in the store, but when you get them home will be NQR,,,,you know, not quite right....and you still may not be thrilled with your room. It's a simple and almost foolproof way of choosing colour and has worked for me throughout many renovations.Couldn't do it without those little bits of colour! Have fun...

thanks baysig. that's a great idea. I did carry my samples around with me when i was choosing floor tiles but i never considered using them for rug shopping. I will do that. chookchook2 trying to rug shop with a 2 year old is hard work. Any shopping for that matter:) Will keep you all posted. thanks

Definitely a rectangle rug like our striped one here will add a bit of dimension, as well as a pop of colour including the deep marsala you like. You can then match your cushions to one of these colours e.g. Marsala, green, yellow or neutrals. Needs to be big enough so the front legs of your couch are on it so it can unify the lounge area together and separate it from the rest of the areas. More rug ideas here: https://www.therugest.com/products Another idea is to drape a throw blanket over your couch that will add warmth and colour. A nice flower arrangement in something bright e.g. white on your dining table would look great too. Hope this helps.

Alpine Woods · More Info

Idgksa, I'm the opposite, here if you go to most paint stores now, and bigger hardware stores, you take in your inspiration item such as multicolour rug, bedspread, art, crockery or whatever, and they can match paint exactly to that item. As a result, if buying a bigger item like a rug I'd take it straight into the paint store to match.

thanks the rug establishment for your ideas. The throw rug just won't work as I have an 8, 7, 5 1/2 & 2 1/2 year old children and throw rugs will NEVER be left on the sofa. I've tried and throws just get end up on the floor. I do like the rug that you posted but i think there's too many colours. I've been out looking and haven't quite come across the ONE yet. I have a couple more places to see and hopefully there will be something there. bumbles12 i have thought about removing the drapes but as it is winter we don't want all the warmth escaping through our windows. Maybe in the spring i may put up some sheers, but that's colours for another day. enmacp thanks for your thoughts, we are going with Marsala, navy (not too much) and neutral tones. We're also not really fans of the vertical trim boards.