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.
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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.