| You've cleared out all the clutter! But what do you | | | | The Mediterranean look can be popular and easy |
| do with all of the open space? A living room can | | | | to create. Colors will reflect those found in nature, |
| feel bland and too open without the proper design | | | | such as sky blue and sea green. Make use of |
| ideas. You need some suggestions for giving your | | | | archways and terracotta tiles. Furniture can |
| important space a more updated look for your | | | | extend from simple and functional to bronze, |
| family and company. | | | | wrought-iron, and formal. |
| But first, when should you stay away from a | | | | Asian styles can include a variety of colors and |
| theme? A living room needs to be welcoming for | | | | textures. For Japanese, go for a calm, meditative |
| you and your guests. However, if the purpose of | | | | look. Soft blue, gray, brown, or green will |
| decorating is to resell your home, stick with | | | | complement subtly used hints of brighter colors |
| traditional colors and avoid personal accents. More | | | | and flowers were artwork. Chinese style can be |
| people will be able to visualize it as their own. | | | | achieved using bold colors such as red or gold to |
| Bright colors and artwork spaced properly can | | | | accent dark woods. |
| give your living room a trendy, metropolitan look. | | | | Whatever style you choose, pick only one, see it |
| A modern style can be more about aesthetics, | | | | through, and don't go overboard. If the room is |
| how things look, than their actual function. Choose | | | | not comfortable, it is not livable. Keep your |
| furniture that features simple, curved lines. | | | | thoughts clear for what the room will be used for. |
| Carefully select only one or two warm accent | | | | Factor in where the light and space in the room is |
| colors, so as not to overwhelm the eye. These | | | | coming from. Choose one or two choice elements |
| colors could be featured in items such as throw | | | | you love, rather than cluttering the room with |
| pillows, lamps, or an area rug. | | | | every piece you like. |
| An American country look can be achieved with | | | | If you don't want to invest in a completely new |
| exposed brick, warm woods, and pastel colors. | | | | room, you can still change things enough to create |
| Vintage furniture often features rustic, | | | | a new look. Switch out pillows and pictures every |
| hand-carved detailing. Use pastels or earth tones, | | | | three to six months to reflect the change of |
| and clean lines. Floral or domestic motifs will tie | | | | season. Change your curtains. Put new slipcovers |
| this theme together nicely. | | | | on an old sofa. Use a wallpaper border instead of |
| Contemporary styles emphasize both soft colors | | | | painting the whole thing. New lighting fixtures, or |
| and textures. Colors are warm, and in the | | | | even new bulbs, can change the tone of your |
| medium -shade range. Pale colors are known to | | | | living room. Search home-improvement sites |
| be not as fully relaxing. Textures could include | | | | online. Many of them even have videos to help |
| floor tiles and soft sofa fabrics. | | | | get you started with design ideas. |