Stand in the doorway to your room and decide how you want your room to present. What do you want to notice first about the room? How are you going to use the room? How many people would you like to accommodate in the room? Where do you want your TV or where is there provision for it? Will it be easily visible from all seating? Will the positioning of your seating look inviting? When it comes to colour, do you want a room that looks fresh and cool or one that is warm and cosy? This will dictate your colour scheme as well as the natural lighting in the room. The room shown appears to take inspiration from the painting which is a very good way to start a colour scheme, but you can always work in reverse and find artwork that compliments and enhances the room. Once your have some direction, go shopping with your camera phone and take photos of anything that interests you. Collect sample colours where possible and gradually build your room. Don't buy anything until you have the major items decided - we can be very restricted in choices, and an impulse buy can end a disaster. It will all come together, it just takes time and patience.

Hi Sandra, what a beautiful room you can make, I would love your fire place, my thoughts would be to go the lighter colours including painting you panelling, as a few others above have suggested keep the trim and wall colour similar, big floor rug as suggested also. Our sitting room is 4x4 metres, when we first moved in, I painted it quite a dark pink shade and had way too much dark furniture from our downsize that I thought I could not live without. After two years of trying to make myself like it, I finally heavily culled furniture and changed paint colour to a very light grey tone. It probably isn't my perfect colour choice but heaps better, I also purchased some lighter profile furniture, I sit in this room so often now, I just love it, it has gone from a room I tried not to look at, to a room I really like being in. I will put a couple of before and after in for looking at darker colours to lighter colours from very similar angles

Though I don't know for certain, I think the cotton/linen shades are removable. I wasn't able to determine this by my searches. This could easily be confirmed by making an enquiry to supplier before purchase. Alternatively, a handmade one could be made removable by making shade slightly larger than frame and making ties.

Hi I have been looking for a rug for my living room and thought I'd found one I could love, but I am not familiar with Chenille in carpets. I have seen it in dressing gowns and bedspreads, but most carpets I've used were Polyester, Polypropelene, Wool or Wool blend. Never come across Chenille before. It is a low traffic area but it faces north and is quite sunny in winter. I am putting blinds behind the drapes so can shade it well in summer but in winter I want to invite the sunshine in! Would be very grateful for advice from anyone who has experience with a rug of this type or has knowledge of rugmaking. Thanks