The solution...
DIY décor team Germarie Bruwer & Margaux Tait of homeology.co.za reply:
By moving a few furniture pieces around, getting rid of odd bits and pieces, and adding curated artworks to the walls, you can transform your living room into a warm and inviting space with plenty of room to move. Follow these simple steps:
Declutter; this will open up the space and allow a free flow to the French doors.
A light, neutral carpet in a modern style will anchor the setting and brighten it up.
Treat each wall individually: start with the wall above the sofa, then work your way around the room so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. The secret to a beautiful collection of artworks is to create a common thread between the pieces, whether it’s a theme (all landscapes), a colour (all with a bit of blue) or simply that all the frames are in a similar style. When it comes to positioning frames on the wall, make sure each one lines up with the corner of the next one, or that the spaces around all the frames are equal. This will prevent your collection from looking as if it has simply been thrown together.
Extend the chimney stack by cladding it with inexpensive plywood and then coat it with Duram’s Heat Resistant Paint. Stain it in a dark tone that will complement the rest of the dark wood elements in the space. Mount the TV on the false wall.
Soften the lines of the French doors with curtains.
Paint the ceiling white to bounce extra natural light into the room and to create a greater sense of space.