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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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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Living Room Remodeling for Less

For most houses, the living room is the first place in the house that is seen upon entering the main door. For many, this is also a place to relax and unwind, so it should always appear fresh and comfortable to relieve you of stress as well as be inviting to guests.

Consider remodeling the room for a fresher, new look. You might think that it may be too expensive since you have to change many things, but actually, it is not!

Remodeling can be accomplished by just rearranging your things and changing only a few things. If your furniture is still in good condition, you should consider keeping rather than buying new. The same applies to other fixtures and appliances that may be in the living room.

You can start remodeling by changing the carpet or rug to a brighter, more colorful and lively alternative. You can possibly find one at a garage sale or take advantage of closeout sales occurring in your area.

The curtains and drapes may also need to be changed. If you are capable, you can sew new ones yourself. You can purchase the materials from discount stores where they are less costly. Sewing them yourself will provide a more personal touch and you have the freedom to do whatever you want. Choose a material that is light in color for a brighter effect in your living room.

If you are thinking of having a new living room color, perhaps a lighter one, you can repaint the walls yourself. Consider faux finishes that will have an appearance similar to wall paper but not be as costly. Paint is also less costly and more practical in the long run as it is not paper-based and will not peel off or tear. Faux finish will give your living room an artistic look. Try use a finish with soft colors for a more relaxing effect.

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