Living Room Decorating Ideas - 3 Tips To Creating Your Own Personalized Room

Are you confused as to how to decorate your living room? Are you looking for ways to personalize your space and give it some flair? If so, here are a few living room decorating ideas to get you started.

Start With Magazines

The first place I always start when decorating is to look through current issues of home decor magazines. This will give you an idea of the different styles and colors you like best. When you come across a picture of a room you really like, tear out the picture and keep it in a folder so you can go back to it later. After leafing through a few magazines, you should have a better understanding of how you would like to see your new living room decorated. Keep in mind that you are looking something in the pictures you like, whether it may be the drapes, paint color, or the accessories. You don't have to like the whole room, just keep the picture if there is at least something in particular you like.

Mix It Up

Many people feel that everything must match perfectly when decorating a room. This is a dated and boring way to put together a room. Try mixing and matching colors and prints. If you have a hard time with colors, ask someone you know who has an eye for color and get her opinion on your selections. My advice would be to pick them out yourself first, then get a second opinion. After all, this is your living space we are talking about. Don't choose something just because someone else likes it.

Be Eclectic

Some of the most beautiful living rooms I have seen tend to incorporate different looks or styles. For instance, a modern looking room might have a couple of old antique accessories thrown in. A rustic looking room might have some industrial or modern pieces incorporated into the room. Use your imagination and have fun with it.

Decorating Ideas For a Living Room - Discover a Technique That Can Save You a Ton of Money

For many people the living room is the heart and focal point of the home. The living room has to cope with celebrations, parties, visitors, family occasions, romantic times or just quite relaxing reading or watching TV.

So you want to redecorate your living room to give it a change of mood or just a refresh.

Your problem is that your sofas existing colour limits your rooms potential choice of colour. In order to bring your full creative ability to play you need to get full colour control.
Your choices seem expensive i.e.:

1. Buy a new sofa that matches your colour scheme.
2. Get a new set of covers made for your sofa in your new colour.

Choices 1 and 2 are not only quite expensive but your colour choice may still be limited. There is a third and not commonly know option and that is to have your sofa covers dyed. It may be possible to strip the original dye out for a complete colour change. Unsightly faded areas may be covered and if required a stain resist finish may be added.

Advantages of having your sofa covers dyed are:

a. You may be able to have any colour you choose and specify.
b. It's obviously environmentally friendly to recycle your old sofa covers.
c. Last but not least it can work out significantly more cost effective than purchasing a new sofa or covers, saving you a ton of money and giving you full control over the colour and mood of your room.

So now you have complete colour control. Lets look at the psychology of colour and how it can help to give your room a particular feel. You don't want to get this wrong and have a room that has an aggravating effect on you or your guests mood. Pale colours will help a room look larger, while dark colours and busy wall coverings will make the room look smaller. Neutral coloured flooring will blend with any colour scheme, adding rugs can add colour and texture.

Basic moods for colours:

Yellows - cheerful, sunny, spacious (could be aggravating if too citrus and deep).
Pale yellows - neutral and cool.
Orange - intense and agitating.
Reds - masculine, arousing, stimulating, warms, passionate and aggressive.
Pinks - soft and feminine, arguments are unlikely in a room of this colour.
Pale blues - associated with space and calming.
Greens - associated with nature, ease on the eyes and calming.
Brown and earth tones - a sense of family, reliability and intimacy from brown and tan shades.
Purples - fertility and magic, could be seen as overpowering.
Black - Drama, making a statement.

If you want to experiment try pale or neutral walls and add colour with accessories.
These are just the basics there are endless variations of colour, now you choices aren't limited you can experiment to find just the right colour fit in with you, your home and the mood you want to create.

6 Quick and Simple Decorating Ideas For Your Living Room

Do you want quick and simple decorating ideas for your living room that won't cost a fortune? Need to add some pizazz to your living room? Are your curtains screaming for an update? Use a few of these decorating ideas that won't cost you your mortgage to add a new look to a tired decor.

1. A quick update for any room is to add pillows. It is easy to make a simple pillow. Using a coordinating fabric that matches your color scheme, cut four squares of equal size. A good finished pillow size is 14 inches by 14 inches. Be sure to add about a half -inch on each side for seaming. Stitch three sides, with fabric wrong sides together. Stuff with a pillow form or craft fiberfill. Stitch fourth side, turning under the half inch to form a finished side.

2. Decorate your walls with pictures. Gather together photos from your vacation, a favorite get together or family members and create a collage of different sizes. To coordinate, use the same color frames. They don't have to be the same size, but should be the same color. Arrange in a pleasing manner on the floor before hanging. For impact, enlarge three favorite photos into 20X25 inches or larger, frame and hang together. Or use smaller photos, and frame in large frames with a large white or cream mat. Black and white photos work especially well. Use photos of your pet, child, significant other, friends, inanimate objects, landscapes or whatever tickles your fancy.

3. To add new life to your windows, create new swags or valances from inexpensive fabrics. Use old lace, wrap around a curtain rod letting it fall in graceful swags for a light airy look. Use bandannas or scarves, fold in half on the diagonal, tie the ends together and fasten to wall with self-stick Velcro or removable tape. Use napkins, drape over curtain rod on an angle, and overlap two coordinating styles for a unique look.

For quick sew curtains, use sheets, and attach tabs and buttons or ribbons to the top to attach over rod.

4. A great way to change the look of your living room is to slip cover your furniture. Use store bought ones for ease, make your own if you like to sew, or drape and tuck sheets over the seats and backs to make no-sew quick versions. These can be changed quickly and removed for cleaning easily.

5. Of course one of the least expensive ways to change the look of a room is to repaint your walls. Simply adding a fresh coat can change the look of a room. Or go for a more dramatic change with a new color. Choose a color that complements your home and taste or the style of décor of your home.

6. Creating a space that feels cozy and comfortable doesn't have to cost a lot. Use what you have in new ways. Rearrange your furniture; use pieces in places other than what it was intended. For example, place a small chest of drawers in the foyer. This is a great place to store mittens and gloves, a place to put your belongings when you come in and to add interest to an often-overlooked space.

Living Room Design Ideas - Designing a Space That Reflects You

The very name of a living room conveys the vibrancy of this space. In many homes, this room is a place where its residents can lounge, relax, interact, and generally be themselves. For this reason, it's of particular importance to make sure that the design of your living room is conducive to this sort of atmosphere. At the same time, you want to make sure that your living room reflects your personal style and is still consistent with the decor in the rest of the house. Putting together a unified design that's still inviting may seem like a daunting task, but here are some design ideas to help you.

One of the most important steps to designing your space is deciding on a color palette. Color has the power to shape your mood, so it's important that you choose a palette that's in line with the way you want people to feel when they enter the space. If you want the room to exude serenity and calm, then some cool neutrals are your best bet. If you want more energy in your living room, then you can go with some bold or bright colors. The rest of your design ideas will revolve around your color palette, so choose wisely.

The next step is deciding on a style. There are many websites that have photographs of different living room design ideas that will show you a variety of design styles. If you want to keep things simple and clean, then you're looking for a contemporary style like in many Boca Raton Woodfield Country Club homes. If you prefer the comfort of a rustic lodge, then you might prefer a Western or cottage style. If you like fancy details, then French country or romantic might be a good fit for you. You can choose furniture and accents according to the style and color palette of your choice.

Ultimately, your living room is yours to do with as you choose. If you love Asian inspired elements but also want to display a giant wall portrait of your dog, that's your choice. If you want a Mediterranean style but can't resist making an Andy Warhol print the centerpiece of the room, then you should do it. Your living room should reflect you, and if you have a few quirky interests, then it's only right that your living room should reflect those quirks as well. At the end of the day, living room design ideas are only suggestions, and your preferences should ultimately be the bottom line.

5 Secret Decorating Ideas For a Living Room Triumph

It can often be difficult deciding on how to go about decorating your living room space. Whether you've just bought a discount living room furniture package and are starting from scratch, or your living room is in desperate need of a re-vamp, we've got 5 top ideas for decorating success.

Colour and style

Firstly, you need to choose the colour palette you want to work with. Calming colours are always a good choice such as pastels and neutrals. Choosing these colours will also make it easy to match furniture and other elements together in the room. Remember, simple is always best.

The style of the room refers to the type of furnishings and style of decor you select for decorating your living room space. It is important to choose a style that you like and to also make sure that you stay with the one style throughout the living room area.

Choose a focal point

Choosing a focal point in your living room space is important as you want to accentuate the best features of the room. A window is a great feature in any living room space both for the view it may have and also the light that it lets in. If this is your focal point, arrange the furniture near by and make sure both you and your guests can enjoy the view/sunlight.

Other focal points in the room include an entertainment unit or a fireplace. These areas in the room should be accentuated as well.

Arranging your furniture

Arranging your furniture can be difficult but it doesn't have to be if you follow these simple rules: Firstly, never block a window or doorway and make sure all pathways around the room are clear. Secondly, put your side table or coffee table near the seating area. Thirdly, within a conversational area make sure that the seats are no more than three to four feet apart.

If you are working with a large space and want to create different areas, segment the room by using lounges and other large pieces of furniture as subtle divers.

Less is more

The most important rule to remember when decorating any room is don't clutter. Less really is more. Choose simple pieces and keep the extras to a minimal. What decorations you do use, don't over do it but rather select a few quality items.

Functional as well as decorative

A great idea, especially when working with a small space is to select items that make great features yet also serve a purpose. For instance, chaise lounge chairs are great not only as lounges but they also double as a place to put your feet up and provide extra seating when you are entertaining guests.

Modern Design Ideas Jazz Up Your Living Room

Is your living room a little on the dull side? If you feel that your living room lacks personality and color, it's time for a change. Neutral colors are great, but when the entire living room looks as though it is nearly all one shade it can appear extremely boring. This article offers a few ideas to help you create a room that will come to life with bold accents, color and texture. In a couple of days you can totally transform the look and feel of the room!

Start With the Basics

With modern design, you want to cover the basics first and then add color and pattern. Cream colored walls or any neutral shade such as sand is a perfect start. Not only is the look clean, it also adds to the spacious feel. You also want to consider a light colored carpet that complements the color of the walls, or even a natural wood floor. Ceramic tile is a great addition to modern decor as well. Make sure the squares are large, and that the pattern is kept simple.

Furnishings

Furnishing in modern decor should include simple lines with no fancy details. You can choose lightweight furniture that is sleek and simple or bulky furniture according to the size of the room. Micro-suede, leather or a striped pattern are perfect for this style of decor. Just remember, if you choose a solid color, thrown pillows and other accents will need to be patterned, and vice versa if you choose furniture with a stripe or other design.

Accessories Turn Up the Heat!

Here is where the fun begins - accessories! In modern style decorating, you want vases, throw pillows, accent rugs and prints for the walls that are bold and vibrant. These accents are going to add life and personality to the room, so make sure they will be noticed. If you choose solid neutrals for furniture, consider over-sized throw pillows that are boldly colored in stripes, plaids, florals or all three - as long as the colors complement one another.

A wall tapestry designed with intense color makes a perfect focal point for one wall and really jazzes things up. Vases for greenery should all be one solid color, and unusually shaped. Large vases make a bold statement and add further punch to the room. Large, vibrant prints are great for the walls as well. Remember, in modern decor you never want to be shy with the colors you use for accents. These colors make the neutral foundation come to life!

For the windows, you can use your own judgment. If you love lots of natural light flowing through the room, consider fabric shades that are easily rolled up so that you can have the entire window open. If curtains are more your style, consider a swag that drapes gracefully to the floor on each side of the window. You can make the drapes yourself out of silk or satin sheets - and they look very expensive. There are dozens of window treatments available today, so go with what you think looks best.

Recessed ceiling lights and modern floor lamps are perfect to complete the room. Additional lighting may be placed anywhere you need it, or you may want special lighting to accent a favorite wall hanging or even an area above a fireplace. In modern decorating, remember: lots of bold color against a neutral background creates sparks that will be noticed by all who enter.