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Archive for the ‘Living Room’ Category

Avoid decorating mistakes in the living room with the following advice.

It is easy to make decorating mistakes, especially in one of the most used rooms in the house – the living room (or great room, family room, den, or whatever your name for it). Here are some common decorating mistakes to watch for when decorating your living room. Read the rest of this entry »

Home theater seating can vary widely and depends on the experience you want and your budget. You can make do with folding chairs or that garage sale sofa, but the better your seating is the better your home theater experience will be.

The first thing to think about is how many people your home theater will host for viewing on a regular basis. It isn’t economical to get twice as many seats as you will regularly have guests, but neither is it wise to short yourself on seating that you will have use for. Also think about the space you have in your home theater. This will effect what sort of home theater seating will be best for your space. Read the rest of this entry »

Interior Design doesn’t have to be complicated, but their are a lot of myths out there about decorating and “rules” of how to do it. The key to interior design is following your own tastes while trying to incorporate current trends. Here are 8 common myths about interior design.

Myth #1 – The Rules of Interior Design Must be Followed

It should be clear if you watch any of the home improvement or interior design shows that are HGTV and DIY Network, that there are no hard and fast rules for Interior Design. Basic rules of house decorating can either be strictly followed, or left totally open to personal taste and interpretation. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve cleared out all the clutter! But what do you do with all of the open space? A living room can feel bland and too open without the proper design ideas. You need some suggestions for giving your important space a more updated look for your family and company.

But first, when should you stay away from a theme? A living room needs to be welcoming for you and your guests. However, if the purpose of decorating is to resell your home, stick with traditional colors and avoid personal accents. More people will be able to visualize it as their own.

Bright colors and artwork spaced properly can give your living room a trendy, metropolitan look. A modern style can be more about aesthetics, how things look, than their actual function. Choose furniture that features simple, curved lines. Carefully select only one or two warm accent colors, so as not to overwhelm the eye. These colors could be featured in items such as throw pillows, lamps, or an area rug.

An American country look can be achieved with exposed brick, warm woods, and pastel colors. Vintage furniture often features rustic, hand-carved detailing. Use pastels or earth tones, and clean lines. Floral or domestic motifs will tie this theme together nicely.

Contemporary styles emphasize both soft colors and textures. Colors are warm, and in the medium -shade range. Pale colors are known to be not as fully relaxing. Textures could include floor tiles and soft sofa fabrics.

The Mediterranean look can be popular and easy to create. Colors will reflect those found in nature, such as sky blue and sea green. Make use of archways and terracotta tiles. Furniture can extend from simple and functional to bronze, wrought-iron, and formal.

Asian styles can include a variety of colors and textures. For Japanese, go for a calm, meditative look. Soft blue, gray, brown, or green will complement subtly used hints of brighter colors and flowers were artwork. Chinese style can be achieved using bold colors such as red or gold to accent dark woods.

Whatever style you choose, pick only one, see it through, and don’t go overboard. If the room is not comfortable, it is not livable. Keep your thoughts clear for what the room will be used for. Factor in where the light and space in the room is coming from. Choose one or two choice elements you love, rather than cluttering the room with every piece you like.

If you don’t want to invest in a completely new room, you can still change things enough to create a new look. Switch out pillows and pictures every three to six months to reflect the change of season. Change your curtains. Put new slipcovers on an old sofa. Use a wallpaper border instead of painting the whole thing. New lighting fixtures, or even new bulbs, can change the tone of your living room. Search home-improvement sites online. Many of them even have videos to help get you started with design ideas.