Few more photos of space (yes realise it’s messy!!)

I quite like the space, it only needs a few things done differently but overall it’s quite lovely. You’ve done well accommodating the need for a desk in a stylish option. The antique filing cabinet needs to be moved. The walls need to be a fresh neutral white. The bird pictures are great but they don’t work with the current wall colour and are hung too far apart. The tapestry maybe too big above the fireplace but I’d hang it so it’s centred between the mantle and the cornice and see how that works. The smaller items on the mantle need to go. The black table under the bird is not right, it looks cheap. If you don’t need it for functionality take it away. I generally love a sofa table but in this case I’d consider ditching it. We need to see the TV space head on but I like your idea of a built-in option. You will probably need to add a lamp, probably free-standing in your space. Your cushions may also need freshening up but do that last. Not sold on the coffee table but again leave that to last.

PS you can spray paint your heating duct/vents white and they’ll look like new.

I’ll add that to the list - thanks!

Scrolled up, great advice. Was toying with the idea of color on the walls but will paint white and can always repaint.

You have such a wonderful, interesting room. What does the white bench behind the lounge on the wall get used for? Looks like it is taking up lots of room for no useful reason. I would remove it. All white paint would look good. You have enough colour already with the fantastic artwork. Replace or refill the cushions. There seems to be so many, but they are all flat 😂. Really like the room.

Refilling the cushions is a great idea. If you have access to an ikea they have the best value inners but Spotlight also has good ones.

I love the features in the lounge , especially the ceiling !

The walls look to be in at least 3 shades of off-white -- i assume some panels have been repainted at some stage . The problem I foresee with going crisp white is the fact that the 2 bird pictures in particular , and the beautifully coloured tapestry to a lesser degree , is thyey have white frames and the bird pics have a lot of white . They will get 'lost' on an allwhite wall . I actually wonder if doing the bottom 2/3rds in a Japanese Black ( a bluey black ) would be too dark -- I think the contrast with a bright white above the divide , and a lot of the tables being white , would work well .

The 3 pictures would really stand out too , and on that tone , I think I would try and have the 2 bird pictures 'flat' , with a 30mm packer behind each picture to bring the bases out . And the tapestry I would lift so there is around 100mm of the Japanese Black wall showing above the mantlepiece , otherwise it looks too 'temporary' IMO , like its just leaning there until its hung properly .

The cabinet with the seagrass baskets , that the TV is sitting on , do the baskets get used ? Heres my thoughts -- the TV looks older and smaller . Even if it is all you need , how about buying a slimmer larger TV , even say a secondhand 50 inch or so , and mount it on that wall a bit higher . That unit below it does take up a reasonable amount of space , so if its not used heaps , having a clearish wall and a bigger TV would all be bonuses .

And yes , I did read about the PS4 -- is there space elsewhere in the house ( even in his bedroom ) to put the existing TV and Playstation ? He'll probably thank you , it frees up space , win , win .

And the cushions -- pleasant enough , very flat . As the others have said , plump them out OR maybe its a sign you should buy new cushions , as an excuse to change or add to the colour choices .

Loving all the suggestions. Yes the cushions are terrible and need to be replaced, same with the rug. Was thinking of turning wall where birds are hanging into a library TV unit wall then removing one of the three seaters and bringing in a single lounge chair (if designed well could hide pS4). i Cat knocked down box framed tapestry so it’s got to be reframed and hung. Had been thinking of a green or blue on the walls but love the idea of black.

Any thoughts on windows, should I add curtains?

I think you’re going to need to have furniture in front of the window whichever way you go so it’s a no to curtains. You like the morning light so I wouldn’t use shutters which reduce light. That leaves blinds. A Roman blind would be my choice.

I love the bravery of black. I have a similar age house (moving soon) and I know your walls won’t be perfect in finish or alignment. Black and any dark colour will show up any imperfections that exist on the wall.

With that style of wall , doing the bottom in a deeper green would be my preference , but then the pictures , couches , and half the rest wouldn't really work , hence why I suggested a bluey black .

A burgundy might work , with white above it , but the couches would get lost , although the white furniture and the pictures would all look good . A standard blue would be too much , yellow or orange or gold don't really suit that style , brown would look like an attempt at a gentlemans club that has failed , and the pastels could look like a 60's beach cottage IMO , and those 3 or 4 beiges aren't great , so either a boring white or interesting black haha .

Oh , and imperfections are called character @bigreader .

I like the bird pictures but personally I think they are too big for the space. The pictures should fit under the picture rail, not straddle it. Also agree about getting rid of the sofa table behind the couch. Your sofas are dark, I wouldn't put black on the walls.

Thanks Kath, yes love the birds but have thought they might need a new home somewhere else in the house.

I love your room, that ceiling is beautiful, some great suggestions from everyone, I think removing the filing cabinet , the table behind sofa and the narrow black table and relocate them to another room, I love white walls as it allows light and just looks beautiful, but that’s me, everyone is different in choosing colours, the tapestry is great , very striking and lovely, the birds are fabulous, I would hang them so the top of the frame sits on the railing, this could bring them to eye level and move them closer together, a new rug , gorgeous cushions, and a new chair for the fab desk.. could look stunning.

The birds and the tapestry are the best things about the room. Often people go too small in their art pieces. Don’t remove either. The birds can be hung side by side behind the sofa, partially above/below the picture rail is perfectly acceptable.

I think the tapestry is too big for above fireplace. I would move it to perhaps beside the fireplace where the filing cabinet is or elsewhere it can be admired. Is the right hand Bird in a centred location looks like it might be straddling too rooms. I’d centre it in the first room if it is not. Curtains for window would also help.

Yes absolutely agree bigreader, they are stunning pieces, too beautiful to hide from that room, just need to be hung closer together and at a more eye pleasing level.

The best thing a about your stunning room is the ceiling and original pendant light, The room needs decluttering, you have two wonderful leather lounges to work with plus hubbies desk and sons TV station, coffee table and metal hall console are all good. Also love the old filing cabinet but needs to moved elsewhere so it can be accessed. I find that all white walls and ceilings make architectural features stand out and would look wonderful with the tan lounges. Mind you saying that I also love black but not in this case. The birds are lovely and need to be hung side by side centered within the panels. I think the tapestry is too large and would look to find an wider something that fits below the picture rail. Perhaps try it on the wall where the old cabinet was. The higher the hanging wire is positioned on the back of the frame the flatter the art will be on the wall. It looks like you already have a simple white blind on the window which is fine. love your room

Just for comparison, both look beautiful but the large artwork has the most impact , it’s just a matter of taste.

I agree, as the room is I feel that the paintings take over but if the lounge is moved back under the birds that will expand /widen the room and look much better

Which way should the birds face ie: towards or away from each other?

They are fabulous, they compliment that fabulous tapestry beautifully, did you do the tapestry yourself.

No it’s from India. Bought one for each of my kids when they were born.

That is so lovely they will definitely be treasured forever by the kids , absolutely gorgeous ❤️

Can you swap the desk and filing cabinet spots or put the desk where that white shelf is, near the door. Also it isn’t advisable to have ones back to the door which would be the case if desk was facing the wall (feng shui). Painting above fireplace great but maybe hang it higher up and centred in the space.

Paint colour on the walls, perhaps a light green or green-blue. A tone that picks up something in the tapestry and birds. That’ll make everything pop and look really nice and warm.

Thanks Dawn, great ideas and advice on feng shui.

That’s great feng shui advice from Dawn about the desk placement, I just checked that to counteract the back to the door position, you can have a mirror on or above the desk that you can view the door at all times, it doesn’t matter the size as long as you can see the door, love to learn something new each day ..

Something else to think about for screen use at a desk is that the light source from the window (assuming it's used during the day) should be at right angles, not behind or in front of you.

Thanks Kath.

dd

Ignore the mess and need to touch up paint. This space still a work in progress. In third photo you can see doors which is the style used through the house. Thinking of painting them black - any thoughts? Also should I take the blue up to the ceiling?

Your front door looks link varnished timber. What colour is the door opposite? I would not take blue to ceiling but a colour softer than the white might be good. Prob worth getting in a colour consultant.

And love the change in the corner to left of fireplace. Really lightened the room, and works well. with the glass coffee table.

I would leave the doors the timber colour that they currently are. Really like the blue, and leave it at that height. The ceiling looks extra tall with the white paint starting from picture rail. A good improvement to the cluttered room it was before.

I do notice you still have that white cabinet behind the lounge on the right. Is there a reason why it has to stay?

Wow! This hat looks great, I love the blue to that level, thinking that gorgeous chest in the hallway could look great on glass table near window, also that wonderful tapestry that you had above the fireplace would look amazing above that little blue built in cupboard, I think a mirror above your desk would give great feng shui as your back is to entrance, doesn’t need to be huge, just enough to see who enters the room, if you decide to keep table behind couch, adding soft lighting would look great, choose lamps appropriate to the size, add precious items, add some gorgeous cushions , just lovely.

Oops, auto correct works so well on my phone 😢 should be that looks great.

@dreamer not married to white bench but it’s hiding a whole lot of storage tubs for my husbands work. Will definitely get rid of it as soon as I can as it’s a bit of an eyesore.

@Julie Herbert, great tips as I’m missing the tapestry. Was going to put a mirror above the fireplace. Will that still provide improved feng shui?

A mirror will look great above the fireplace and it will add that extra dimension and reflect light around the room, they say if your back faces the door when seated at your desk, just add a small mirror that allows you to see behind you, it’s to add positive feng shui when your desk faces a wall. An arched or round mirror would look great, Kmart has both. I have purchased the large round one and it is excellent, love the arched one also.

Kmart looks like a great option