I need ideas on bringing some color into my living room without spending too much money. Any suggestions?
Answers:
I'm going on the assumption that your room is basic white or the off white that for some reason has become the fave color for rental units. These colors do allow for a wider color palette tho which is good. So, let's see...I don't know your favorite colors, nor your style so again, assumptions...grab anything you might find interesting, toss the rest :)
1. Seeing fall is coming...bring some of those colors inside...coppers, golds, deep reds, browns, rusts etc. These can be in simple things like nice cloth or silk/nylon place mats in one or more of these colors...placed on your end/coffee table. A nice effect (for any colors) is to buy 3-4 square cloth placemats in one of the above colors or a color of your choice...place them so that the squares actually form a diamond when placed on the table (to pointed ends of the square are pointed to the opposite edges of the table and two points face each end of the table...then add a very nice greenery center piece...a nice pot or dish holding a few or a lot of greenery (ivy, pheledendrons etc. added to something with a little height for interest such as a lipstick plant, jade plant etc as the centre of the piece)...favorite small pieces such as nice candles/holders, on either end of the coffee table that attracts attention to each of the placemats...but nothing huge or gaudy.
Same pattern on the end table but with only one placemat...these should be thin ones not the thick ones out there today...
2. Use a table runner to run along your coffee table...in a favorite color/style...add punch with a Royal blue, Deep red or Gold/yellow whatever you decide...then place some favorite photos in unique frames that add a classy yet comfortable look. Choose photos that show your personality..not just a bunch of grandkid/children photos :) or photos that people have seen for ages. Take some new ones if you wish...get photos of nature, candid shots of family members, places of interest to you and your family...framed these photos can begin conversations...simply by someone asking if you took the picture.
You can never go wrong with candles so add some colored bamboo candle stick holders (black or deep burgundy/green...great). again plants...try to avoid large pointed leaf plants...these are intrusive and don't allow people to feel comfortable within the room...rounded leaves, varying the heights all in one pot if you like or scattered throughout the room.
3. Peaches n cream...this is a refreshing grouping...especially nice in spring of the year...Peach colored runner or accent placemats or "doilies" in a square, oval or unique shaped style. Add as an accent on top of these some lime green/dark green and dark peach items in a bowl such as these colors in a dried or silk flower arrangment...low to the table tho, nothing that hides peoples faces when you are sitting down. Crystal bowls with peach and clear stones with water added and lime and dark green floating candles...max 3 per bowl. Especially gorgeous at night while entertaining.
4. Dramatic...Deep burgundies, royal blues or navy, golds and greys...again add these colors in any form ...eg royal blue runner with burgundy and gold accents either in frames, candles, bowls or crystal vases with varied shaped balls of the various colors involved, etc.
Sometimes it's best to look at a number of ideas in order to get your own ideas either on a mix and match basis or in a theme. Try some of these sites for more inspiration:
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