A lot of fashion related posts in the media focus on clothes, hair and makeup type topics. But fashion is so much more than just what you wear. We think a true fashionista should have a stylish home too, after all, who wants a drab, boring living room like the one below?
Well if your living space lacks a little ‘je ne sais quoi ‘ this post will change all of that for you by giving you some fun ideas for spicing things up!
Here’s an example of what we don’t want: Sure this room is tidy (and that’s important) but the sofa doesn’t exactly say ‘style conscious’ does it? It says something more like ‘would you like a biscuit’. A lack of colour and outdated design is what we want to avoid.
I love how modern sofas don’t have to just be a rectangle any more. This living room looks swish and the corner sofa looks easy to sink into – comfort is important even when talking about fashion you know!
The space is used well too, the sofa doesn’t take up too much room for the amount of seating provided and the accessories are neatly positioned to be functional without taking up unnecessary space. A wall mounted flat screen is of course ideal too!
So what can you do about your living room? Well here are some tips:
Sort out the sofa
Buying new furniture is obvious and possibly costly, but I wanted to mention this one because quite simply, your sofa dictates the look of your living room and one simple change like this can make all the difference.
If your current seating isn’t comfortable enough to sink into in an evening then it’s a very worthwhile investment. But if money is tight, consider renewing it with a throw or some new covers – if you have a knack for stitching you can make a big difference.
Have a move-about
If your living space is relatively small then rearranging your furniture and possibly getting rid of some of it can really open up the room and make it feel more spacious.
If you have a fairly large room on the other hand, you can experiment with positioning your furniture to make the room more interesting. Don’t feel like everything has to be backed against the wall or necessarily in the place that makes the best use of space. Try to minimise unnecessary furniture and create a quirky space.
Play with colours
You can make a subdued colour scheme work, but why not make it more exciting by adding some exciting colour combos? You can go over the top if you want or just keep it simple. It really depends how brave you are!
Cool ways to experiment with colour are:
- Using brightly colour cushions
- Use coloured lampshades to accent the room
- Add unusual splashes of colour with ornaments
Try to do things a little bit differently and don’t be afraid to try strange combos, sometimes it won’t work, but other times it totally will.
Light wood
A nice alternative to colour or a good way to accompany it is to use bare wood features. Varnished wood is out at the moment and natural wood (or wood effect) is very much in. Wooden flooring is one option but you can also accessorise with light oak tables or shelving.
You can make a room feel quite natural and earthy but at the same time keep it contemporary with clean lines and splashes of colour – done right the effect is great.
Mix & match
If you are colour averse, you can add interest to a room by mixing different materials and textures. Untreated wood against soft fabrics is a great example of this but different fabrics can work well too.
You can also mix plain with patterned (patterned cushions on a plain sofa or vice-versa) to get a similar effect.
Too much of the same thing can make a room feel one dimensional, but effectively mixing your styles like this will add depth and make a room feel cosy and unique.
Wall decorations
A little decoration makes a room feel lived in, but too much clutter can make it feel chaotic and messy. Try to avoid too many ornaments and instead go for large wall hangings, prints and photo frames.
Big canvas prints can reflect whatever mood you want them to and larger photos are much nicer to look at than tiny ones. Invest in some nice big pictures or photo frames and hang them in key positions where you will see them a lot.
About The Author
Guest post by Loren Thorburn from SofaSofa (visit them here) sellers of stylish seating and comfy chairs.
