We live in rental house with white walls and beige carpet. We have two cream color Leather couches. I found a really nice area rug, it’s camel, sand and black with a really cool design. I waned some camel or sand color curtains because the BF does not want brown curtains as he feels like he will be living in a dark cave.
However, he is not able to offer any suggestions as to what he would prefer instead. He just said he wanted something “colorful”
My budget could include a rug, some curtains, some throw pillows and perhaps a wall mirror or picture for the wall. We are renting and our landlords are elderly and dont come around much so I ry to keep the house up and do minor repairs, I am not prepared to tackle on any painting, recarpeting, etc. although I could probably manage an accent wall or something relatively easy,
Any ideas? Thanks in advance. I have been looking at websites and magazines for ideas but most of them seem to be way out of my price range.
Blues pop nicely against brownish neutrals without being loud. You could go for curtains from Williamsburg blue to a sky blue, even. Don’t laugh but I like IKEA for inexpensive throw cushions and such. They even sell fabric if you’re crafty.
The Williamsburg blue is a contemporary look that I think appeals to you: Decor by Denise - Contemporary - Living Room - DC Metro - by Decor by Denise | Houzz
while the sky blue makes the room feel sunny (and I realize this photo is sunnier than the other one, but I still think its true):
http://blogs.mydevstaging.com/blogs/centsational-style/files/2012/06/blue-curtains-bhg.jpg
Your boyfriend is right. A room of solid neutrals is going to look like a sandpit or a chic dentist’s office.
The good news is that any color works. Red is going to be striking and retro-modern, but might feel a little cold and over designed. Lime green or fuchia will make things funky and eclectic. Yellows and light blues are conservative and classic. If you Google image search “Neutral living room”, you’ll see a lot of examples. The only color I’d stay away from is orange and dark blue- orange is too close to the color set, and dark blue is nearly a neutral.
Two colors can work as well, although you have to be careful if you want the main impression to still be “neutral.” Deep green and antique yellow could lend a “safari” feel. Turquoise and bright pink could give an exotic “bazaar” feel. Soft pink and soft purple would feel like a fancy spa.
Texture will also be big here, and the texture of the fabrics you are using will really stand out. Silk will feel light and exotic, shag fur and shiny surfaces will feel modern, nubby materials will feel more homey.
Curtains, pillows, a good focal piece on the wall and one or two striking lamps or vases should be all that you need. The good news is that if you ever want to change your look, it wouldn’t be too difficult. I love Ikea, but if you can spare a few bucks I would look at World Market or Pier One (or whatever) for the textiles, as the texture is really, really key and Ikea doesn’t usually use richly textured fabrics.
A tip for curtains on the cheap: tablecloths are large, thick, already hemmed fabric. They are under $20 each at Homegoods. Curtain panels are much more expensive. Use a decorative rod and drapery clips to get a custom look for less. Just clip the drapery hooks evenly along the top of the short end of the tablecloth, thread the rings onto the rod and hang.
You will definitely need some color in the room. You can find big canvases at thrift stores (don’t worry about the picture) and with only a stapler, you can cover them with some great fabric. Hang for instant art. It’s easy to change whenever you feel like it too.
Hockey Monkey has a great tip. I would add “flat” sheets for design/color choices.
Don’t know how diverse your library system is but at ours you could check out framed prints of different sizes and styles, just like books. We enjoyed changing our art periodically. (…get it? lol)
For “new” throw pillows (made out of old,) thrift stores are an orgy of possibilities. A sweater can become a “nubby textured” find. Placemats can become a “statement.” No real sewing skills involved, just a baste or whipstitch. They’re also good places to look for area rugs. If you find one incorporating the color in your curtains, pillows or lamps it would tie the whole room together.
Thanks for the ideas everyone! I would never have considered light blue but I clicked on the link and it is gorgeous! I glanced at Ikea too for some night stands but didn’t think to look for pillows there, I didn’t even realize they sold things like that. I have seen those curtain clips before, that sounds like it would be pretty easy to do.
Thanks again everyone, I have a lot of research to do now.
Used curtains can be had cheap on Ebay. Ready made, often the exact size you need, sometimes they need a bit of shortening. They are often perfectly fine, put there by people who redecorate often. They are so cheap (as opposed to new curtains, which are expensive!!) that it allows you to experiment a bit. Personally, I would go for a neutral curtain, and add color with easily replaced posters from
www.allposters.com .
For less chic-dentisty decoration (but what is wrong with dentisty decoration, anyway?)… Go to Goodwill, or ask an realtive, pick up an interesting object and hang that on the wall. I’ve seen people decorating with dresses pinned to the wall, musical instruments (we have my husbands guitars hanging on the wall on these handy hooks), or interesting tools from their grandfather.
If you are looking to stay away from painting and other time-consuming decoration activities, I’d highly suggest finding some artsy wall decals. I know WallPops has decorative kits that are made specifically for living rooms, bedrooms, etc. Best of luck.