We moved into our house more than two years ago. As much as it feels like home now, there’s one space I’ve never been able to love: the TV room and bar area. I know desert colours are everywhere right now—earthy tones, warm neutrals, terracotta. They’re gorgeous in the right space, but they simply don’t make me happy. And when it comes to a room where we unwind, that feeling of joy is non-negotiable.

I’ve wanted to change it since day one, but, as often happens, other projects crept in and the room sat there, waiting patiently for its moment. The first step came last year when we gave our sofa a whole new look. It’s the kind of deep, comfortable sofa you want to sink into, but its charcoal coloured upholstery wasn’t ideal and looked dated (You can read all about how we tackled that here: Giving a Sofa a New Lease of Life). With the sofa refreshed and looking sharp, it’s time to address the rest of the room.

TV Room Concept: Dark, Luxurious and a Touch of Glam

The concept is straightforward: a moody, atmospheric space that feels luxurious and a little bit glam. It’s not a room we use during the day, so leaning into rich, darker tones makes perfect sense. The goal is for the space to feel inviting in the evening—a spot to pour a drink, curl up on the sofa and enjoy a movie without bright walls or harsh lighting spoiling the mood.

The Walls

The existing wall colour? Let’s just say it’s not staying. We’ve chosen wallpaper to anchor the whole design, and I couldn’t be more excited. Enter: the stunning Showgirl Wallpaper by Anna Hayman, a fabulous British designer.

This paper is everything I love—dramatic, detailed and unapologetically bold. Inspired by vintage glamour, it features art deco curves and hand-drawn details, printed in rich black with shimmering gold. I looked a hundreds of wallpapers and ordered dozens of wallpaper samples from a range of suppliers, and the moment I saw Showgirl, I knew it is the perfect choice. Dark walls can feel overwhelming in some rooms, but here, paired with soft lighting and accents of gold, they’ll transform the space into something special.

The Ceiling and Woodwork

To push the concept even further, we’ll paint the ceiling a darker shade as well. A darker ceiling may sound daring, but it does wonders for creating intimacy, especially in a room like this. The woodwork will follow suit, pulling everything together for a cohesive, dramatic look.

The current white track lights, however, are not invited to the final reveal. They feel too stark against the new scheme, so I’m on the hunt for the perfect light fittings. Something with warmth and texture—perhaps brass or smoked glass—to complement the wallpaper and metallic accents.

The Bar Nook

One of the most exciting features in this space is the built-in shelving area that’s been begging to become a bar. It’s a small nook, so we’re keeping it streamlined: no water access, no sink and no bar fridge (the depth just doesn’t allow for one without it sticking out awkwardly). Instead, we’ll tile around the shelves with small metallic mosaic tiles to add texture and shine. The tiles will reflect light beautifully—the perfect finishing touch for a glam bar setup.

I’ll style the shelves with glassware, bottles, and a few carefully chosen decorative pieces. Even though it’s compact, I know it will become one of those areas that makes the room feel complete.

This transformation has been a long time coming, but I’m so excited to see it finally take shape. The room already feels special with its newly upholstered sofa, but with wallpaper, paint and those bar tiles in the works, it’s going to reach a whole new level. I can’t wait to share the progress—and, of course, the big reveal!

If you’ve ever tackled a dark and moody room, let me know how it turned out—or if you’re still on the fence about it, I’m happy to share more about why it’s such a great choice for spaces like this.

Follow along with the room transformation journey here.

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