Decorating Question

The house we are buying has an open floor plan downstairs so you see both the living room and dining room together. We already have living room furniture that we are stuck with for now due to financial constraints. Does the dining room furniture we buy have to match the living room furniture since it is seen from the living room? I saw a dining room set I loved but it is a dark wood and the living room is a lighter wood.

Here is a pic of the living room in the house showing how the dining room comes in. It is the best pic I have to show it is open. I also have a pic of my living room furniture (don't mind my dog in the pic) and the dining room pieces we like.

Thoughts? Thanks.

Trying to get pics to post. I have such trouble with this lately.

Message edited 4/26/2006 1:12:43 PM.

Re: Decorating Question

I have an open floor plan on my first floor also. I didn't necessarily match the dining room furniture to what we have in the living room but I did make sure that it all complemented each other in some way. The dining room is a pretty dark wood. In the living room the coffee table and end tables are a very similar wood color but the big entertainment unit that we have is a few shades lighter. Let me see if I can find some old pics that I took.
ETA - I also kind of worked with similar colors in both rooms. I have red couches in the living room and the area rug in the dining room has some of the red in it.
Here are some pics that I found. Excuse the mess.

Image Attachment(s):

Message edited 4/26/2006 1:12:41 PM.

Re: Decorating Question

There's no pic included.

But I don't feel that you have to match.

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i HAVE ALL SORT OF WOOD IN MY HOUSE-LIGHT OAK WAINSCOTTING, BLOND BAMBOO FLOORING AND MAHOGANY FURNITURE(SORRY FOR CAPS) We like it I think it gives a warm feel and other people have complimented us on it so I guess it depends what your style is. Ours is eclectic with bright colors

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Diana - what color do you have on the dining room wall? I love it!

Is it the same in the LR as well?

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I have an open floor plan also, My dinning room has reddish oak colored furniture, where as my living room has a lighter oak wood furniture. It all flows very nicely together.

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My floor plan is open also. I can't see your pic though.
IMO the furniture doesn't have to match, but rather compliment eachother. That can be two different colored woods. As long as the rooms don't clash you can make it work.

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Thanks everyone.

Ok, I got the pics to post even though they are small.

The first pic is the living room (green walls) and shows the dining room coming in to the right (brown walls).

The second pic is my living room furniture (looks a little darker in the pic than in person). The couch color is really the color closet to the bottom.

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Message edited 4/26/2006 2:09:42 PM.

Re: Decorating Question

I don't think it looks bad at all. I have an open floor plan too put I like oak so I have matched that almost all over the house. I am also going to do the kitchen cabinets as a honey oak to match my dining room table.

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I don't think it has to match. Whatever your preference is .

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I thikn that would all look very nice together.

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you can mix match woods.... Im sure you will have probably the same motiff throughout.

It will look fine....

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I think it looks really nice and the colors all complement each other.

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Thanks everyone. DH and I really liked the dining room set but I wasn't sure how all the different color woods and browns would look all together. You made me feel better about it.

Re: Decorating Question