5 Popular Themes for Decorating Your Living Room

There are 5 popular themes for decorating your living room which will be discussed in this article. While some may prefer the more traditional colors and lines to accentuate their living room, others may opt for a more earthy or contemporary design. Here are a few ideas which you may wish to think about if you plan to redesign your living room.

• Black and white has always been a classic style. You can effectively combine this style with geometric shapes and designs. There are a number of living room pieces which have become quite popular today. Among them is a yin yang sofa. The sofa itself is white, with a black cushion encompassing the yin yang white circle. In addition, it comes with a white on black, and black on white side cushions which are quite attractive and useful. Considered a contemporary style, you can paint the walls of your home white, and add a touch of red to accentuate the décor.
• Another popular color being used in some living rooms today is Chinese red. While it can be used to design a living room in Eastern décor, it has become the color of choice for most modern and contemporary living rooms. Using Chinese red to paint one wall of the living room, you can certainly choose a modern theme to accentuate your room with white slip covers; or whatever you choose to enhance the overall scheme of the room.
• An eclectic style encompasses many colors, but is brought together by different fabrics, textures and patterns. Using red, gold, cream and brown, you can use a multitude of pieces from a variety of periods. While this may not be to your taste, you certainly have a myriad of shapes to work with.
• The country style is still popular today, using an array of soft blues and red plaids in combination with paisley prints to accentuate an entire room. The cozy, warm feeling is further demonstrated by an area rug complimenting the furniture’s rustic look and window treatments which accent the brown woodwork within the room.
• Perhaps you’d like to look into Shabby Chic! This is a very popular theme in which slipcovers are used throughout the living room; accompanied by painted furniture (pieces which may have come from a flea market); it is literally a mix of old and new; mixed and matched; plain and stunning; with white being the central theme. Interesting concept, don’t you think? If this appeals to you, you can check online for Shabby Chic stores and decorative ideas. It’s intriguing enough to take a look.

Whatever you choose out of the 5 popular themes for decorating your living room, there is such a variety today that you will no doubt find one which expresses your particular style.

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Zen on a String

Changing the look of your home to a “Zen” style need not be expensive; despite its recent association with austere luxury. Zen encourages functionality rather than decor. Characterized by clean lines and graceful spaces, this style is more instinctive than intellectual yet still requires some imagination.

Actually a religion: Zen is Japanese for the Mahayana school of Buddhism that began in India and then spread throughout Asia. One of its ethics is being useful, or being of service; with that in mind, you can makeover your home without burning a hole in your pocket.

First, focus on a particular room. Sort out the things that are important to you from those that are not. Further sort the unimportant items and give them away to be recycled and/or re-used, then throw away all other items.

Take the living room, for example: stacks of magazines on the coffee table can be boxed and either be moved to the garage for further sorting or taken directly to a recycling center.

Draping a solid-colored quilt over your sofa can instantly change the atmosphere of your living room and revive a worn piece of furniture. Or try replacing those numerous knick-knacks with a single centerpiece, such as a glass vase. By adding a single flower to the vase you can enhance that side table.

Even the den can be Zen. Keep loose toys in solid-colored boxes and stack them on one side of the room. Stack large books high enough that they can serve as an end table – just place a smooth sheet of glass on top to protect them. Take the batik tablecloth off of your wood table and use orange oil to restore the wood and make it shine.

Keep decorative motifs at a bare minimum. Chintz and other repetitive patterns don’t evoke Zen, and will divert your attention away from what you really want to achieve. Masses of color generally work better than smaller patches of color grouped together.

Try it yourself. With a little imagination you can change give your home a more sleek and elegant appearance. Just minimize the clutter, and dispose of those unimportant items as that is the essence of Zen.

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Shabby Chic Style Decorating for those on a Budget

Some think that it is only the older people that like to have their homes look antique; but there are also young owners that want to create this effect to make visitors feel as if it has been there for a long time.

This style is called “shabby chic” and is basically a combination of the old with some newer items. Anyone can search interior design magazines to get an idea of the items ideal for the home before going to a furniture store.

The first thing that needs to be done before moving in furniture is to give the walls the “shabby chic” appearance. Purchase and apply paint in the colors of soft white, pale pink, faded green or muted grey. These soft colors can be used in every room of the house.

If painting is not desired, perhaps buying some wallpaper with those same colors can be used. The person should have a budget in place, as this is more challenging than simply using a paintbrush.

Homeowners don’t need to buy a lot of new furniture for the house. There are second hand furniture stores, garage sales and discount stores where suitable items can be found at bargain prices. Some of the furniture such a particular chair is not meant to be used to sit on; it could be used as a shelf for flowers in a vase near a window. People who want to have a shabby chic effect can purchase some scented candles to make the home smell new but yet have an antique appearance.

The ideal shabby chic look should have certain items painted white; or in colors that complement the color of the walls. An inexpensive option to buying furniture would be reupholstering the couch or chairs to match the color of the walls.

Curtains for the windows are also important. Use fabric in checkered, striped or floral designs. making sure that the colors match one (or more) of the wall.

A shabby chic style can easily be attained for the home by looking at what is available and making good use of it. You do not have to spend a great amount of money to obtain the praise of your guests.

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How to Decorate the Home in a Rustic Style & On a Budget

There are many ways to decorate the home: it all begins by deciding on a theme and working within the budget to bring that idea into a reality.

Some homes work well using a rustic style décor. By buying a few old pieces of furniture or some handcrafted pieces from a used furniture store you can create a rustic appearance. Most of this furniture is made from wood and/or old logs.

One way to save money is purchase items from abroad. Most of these finished goods are made in different countries then imported into the United States. The cost of labor and the fee to transport these items are many times cheaper than purchasing them locally.

The rustic design can be used in almost every room in the house. A person needs to buy only 3 or 4 as too many of these pieces may make a room look cluttered.

Furniture is not the only thing needed to give a home a rustic effect. A person should try to get some old lighting fixtures or lamps. Try to get pick these up at a garage sale or from friends and/or family members who are willing to part with some of their old and out-dated pieces. By doing this can a person will be able to save money which can be used on other parts of the project.

Tables in the living room should have pictures displayed. A good way to achieve the rustic effect is to use pictures done in black and white. Though this isn’t common anymore, a sense of history is brought back using this technique.

Plants are also good to use and need not expensive. A person can purchase plants at many stores and by using these with baskets can add a personal touch either inside or outside the house.

Not everything has to be purchased to give the home a rustic effect; some items can be made. Curtains can be made and decorated with a cross stitch design. Furniture such as the tables and chairs can be refinished if a person has a talent for doing this.

There are many ways to give the home a rustic effect. A person should assess what needs to be purchased and what can be done in house. By working on the simple things, money can be saved to use for extravagant items as well as avoiding spending too much for the remodeling.

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Decorate that Country Style Room within Your Budget!

Styling is a very important element in having a decorative room. Style gives the room a welcoming atmosphere and is used as a way of expressing the personality of a person. It determines the taste and preferences of the person decorating the room.

Most Americans prefer to use specific styles as their desired themes in their rooms. A popular style chosen by many Americans is country decoration. The country style is often referred to as contemporary style: 27 % of Americans choose this style for their rooms, but it may be too expensive to use this theme in every room. Here are tips that can help you attain that country style room without too much expense:

• Paint the rooms with a white or cream colored paint. Most country style decorators prefer softer tones of paints as they provide a relaxed atmosphere and comfort.
• You may save money by simplifying the interior of the house. Wood items and furniture are most commonly used in decorating a room as they provide a fresher look to the interior and are less expensive than those made of plastic and glasses.
• The use of bold patterns should be eliminated. You may use patterns that are elegant but in soft muted colors. You may also choose traditional and conventional accessories to decorate the room.
• Shop for old furniture and other accessories at garage sales and save money rather than buying new furniture. You can cover any damaged parts of the furniture with cloth, paint, etc.
• Fresh flowers may be placed in any unused glass or vase. Hang other decorative plants inside the house to achieve a country style theme.
• Uncovered windows, without curtains can be stylish and simple. You can enjoy the view outside and it will create a refreshing and relaxing atmosphere. You may use simple treatments like plain drapery panels and valances or Roman shades.
• Minimize the use of mirrors inside the room and use scented candles to brighten the room instead of lamps. The candles should be sufficient to brighten the interior.

The use of wooden flooring is appropriate for country decorating. The floor is left uncovered to give a natural look. Use sea grass and/or natural woven cotton rugs near the bed and in the sitting area. These are some tips to use to save many dollars and at the same time achieve a country style design.

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Decorate With Oriental Touch on a Budget!

Want to make your living space look fabulous? Go ask an interior designer and have him transform your dream into a reality. The only thing that you will need is a large sum of cash.

But does this mean that fabulous homes are only for those people who have a lot of money to spare? The answer is definitely no!

The best and maybe the least expensive way to decorate with class is to go Oriental-style!

Here are some tips to transform your home into an Oriental haven.

Make use of basic furniture.
To achieve the Oriental look, home owners do not need to buy specialized or expensive furniture sets; they can actually make use of what they already have if it does not contradict Asian decor. A bare set of furniture made of wood and a black metal frame would qualify. The good thing about basic sets is that they are inexpensive.

The oriental look will be achieved by gathering Asian decorative pieces to mix and match.

Accessorize!
Many things may be considered in this step. The best part is that all of these accessories can be found at your nearest Asian market or the nearest Asian or Chinese communities.

• China wares
  These will function both as eating utensils as well as for decoration. Tea pots and plates that have Oriental touches can be used as table accents. They are less expensive than purchasing oriental vases.
• Fabrics and posters
  Instead of expensive paintings, home owners can utilize the use of Asian fabrics and Chinese posters by creating their own wall hanging. The materials needed are adhesives, bamboo sticks, red rope, posters and fabrics. Basically, bamboo sticks are attached on two opposite sides of the fabric to form a scroll. The rest is up to you and your imagination.
• Add fresh accents!
  Oriental style of decorations employs a lot of fresh items. Oriental fruits like rambutans are placed in oriental trays to function as table centerpieces. Dried bamboo shoots and hard-stemmed plants are often placed in vases in place of Western type flowers.
• Zen fountains
  Aside from the Oriental touch, it will also give a feeling of tranquility to any home. You do not need to buy a Zen fountain set - you can make it yourself. A water pump, a few rocks and Asian decorative pieces are all that is needed.

With the above tips, you can achieve the Oriental elegance without spending much!

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