Living Room Decor that is Simply Elegant

Sometimes the best approach is the simplest one, and when decorating a living room, a simple design often results in an elegant look. A simple approach can be used whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary look; even if you like eclectic design, simplicity often results in the most attractive result. A few professional design tricks make it easy to create an elegant and beautiful room that your family can enjoy every day of the week.

An Elegant Traditional Design

A focus on comfort featuring beautiful gleaming woods and colorful floral patterned fabrics make a traditional living room inviting and elegant. Another pattern, such as a stripe or large check, adds nice visual contrast; keep the color palette the same, however, to mix patterns with panache. An area rug can anchor the seating area and also offer warmth and comfort while accenting the beauty of hardwood floors. Add a full height bookcase, or a bookcase on each side of the fireplace or media unit, for storing favorite books and displaying collectibles and photos; stylish matching baskets or bins are perfect for tucking away remote controls, craft supplies and other miscellaneous items that contribute to clutter. Add plenty of table and floor lamps for inviting ambiance and to make reading and relaxing comfortable. Ceiling-to-floor draperies in a sumptuous fabric, wrought iron door toppers, beautiful framed home wall art, and fresh flowers on a table or fireplace mantle are perfect finishing accents.

Sleek and Contemporary Living Room Decor

For a contemporary styled living room, start with streamlined modern furniture with clean lines and right angles. A color palette of black and white against dove gray or a cool shade like turquoise, keeps the decor crisp and uncluttered. Choose a bold hue, like apple green or mimosa yellow, for a vibrant accent color. Metal finishes add definition and glint of shimmer to a contemporary room, and metal can be used in lamp bases, accessories and picture frames, metal wall clocks or contemporary metal wall decor. Glass is another material that is perfectly suited to modern decor, whether used in table tops or see-through lamp bases.

Casually Eclectic and Fun

Eclectic design is fun and creative because it mixes a little bit of this with a little bit of that. However, to maintain a more elegant feel for a living room, echo some of the finishes and patterns in the room. For example, while all the wood furniture in the room does not need to match, echoing the same wood finish in a few places throughout the room will give the room a more unified look. For instance, you might mix a Spanish style table painted in red with rustic pine coffee table, artwork frame, and bookcase rather than three different wood finishes in addition to painted pieces. Fabric colors could reappear in a southwestern metal art decor and a pattern might reoccur in throw pillows and wall decor. These subtle similarities will create a more elegant ambiance with the eclectic attitude that you love.