5 New Design Ideas for Your Living Space

Hi there! I’m Kate Wilson from This Wild Lifestyle and this month I’m here to share 5 New Design Ideas for Your Living Space. Re-designing doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming. Check out these simple tips to get some design inspiration for your own space!

Photo credits: See below.

Time for a redesign? It’s fun to redecorate and even more exciting when you see old furniture as a blank canvas. If you’ve decided to redesign your living or family room, you’ve come to the right place. You have a lot of design options, but first it’s time to inventory your current living space to prep for your next big change.

Prep Work

Before you get started, it’s important to take a quick inventory of the space you’d like to redesign. Make a list of pieces that you’d like to use and pieces that you’ll be happy to see the last of – but don’t take your old stuff to Goodwill just yet. That old junk might help you stretch your budget even further than you’d hoped.

Once you’ve determined which items you’d like to keep, decide if there’s any sort of link there. Are the colors all cool or warm shades? Is there a common theme of bamboo?

The pitch pile isn’t unimportant but, as a crafter, you probably already know that. Just because something’s worn out doesn’t mean that it can’t be upcycled, right? As you review the following design styles, keep your existing pieces in mind. You might have something in your living room right now that just needs a quick coat of paint.

Shabby Chic

Photo credit: “Beach House Living,” copyright (c) 2009 PoshSurfside.com on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license

As crafty as you certainly are, developing a shabby chic style should be easy. After all, the key element with this style is painted, worn and distressed furniture. See? I told you to hold onto that beat-up coffee table. If you’re not up to going the DIY route, you can always purchase accents or furniture that has already been distressed.

When it comes to furniture, think wicker and wood. Essentially, anything that can be painted probably should be. The great thing about shabby chic is – even though there’s quite a bit of light colors – the distressed look helps to hide dirt. With little hands in the house, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help.

Pull out your sewing machine and choose a French linen or cotton fabric and make a slip-cover for the sofa. Beautiful, simple and washable. Mix in some rose-trimmed throw pillows and you’re all set.

Asian

Photo credit: “Samurai Suite, Hilo Honu Inn,” copyright 2008 brewbooks on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license

Inspired by nature, an Asian theme is created using natural colors, but that doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with neutral hues. Purples, reds and cherry-blossom pinks are also common colors infused throughout this fashion.

Since textures are an important part of Asian decor, you have several fun options. Sure, you could buy plants, tatami mats and artwork; or you could put your kids to work making sculptures or artwork. Tatami mats make an interesting canvas. Have the kids use their fingerprints to make some abstract cherry blossoms on tatami with kid-friendly paints and adult supervision.

Just remember as you decorate that minimalism – or at least a hint of feng shui – is a big part of Asian decor, so finding a balance between the furnishings and decor is essential.

Mediterranean

Photo credit: “Living Room II,” copyright 2012 Till Westermayer on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license

If you love bright colors, a Mediterranean style might be perfect for you. Technically, this style also mimics nature, but it focuses on the bright colors of the sea and the sky. Think rich yellow, sea green and turquoise.

Mosaic tiles are often incorporated with this style, especially with kitchens. In a family room, though, you have a good opportunity for a handmade coffee table by repurposing your old one. This project will end up a centerpiece of the room and gives you a chance to show your – or your children’s – artistry.

Furniture is often made of linen and is white or neutral, which helps to accent bright colors in the room.

Eclectic

Photo credit: “White, Green and Red Living Room,” copyright 2013 Emily May on Flickr and made available under an Attribution 2.0 license

For the family that can’t agree on a style or if you just have too much stuff you can’t bear to give away, an eclectic design style is for you. The important part of developing an eclectic room is to make it feel intentional. It’s easy to throw a bunch of random furniture into a room and call it eclectic, but that doesn’t make it comfortable.

So, how do you avoid a chaotic mess?

Pick a common texture, color, shape or finish to tie the room together using multiple styles. Try using neutral colors as a base. This helps to make the overall design cohesive and makes centerpieces really pop.

As always, balance is critical. Attempt to group like styles together, and use accent pieces to help flow from one style to the next. If the room still feels unbalanced, try removing a few things or adding more neutral-toned items.

Transitional

Photo credit: “2003 Christmas House Living Room,” copyright 2002 Gatsby on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 license

A combination of contemporary and traditional furniture, transitional design style combines elements to create a classic, but comfortable feel to a room. This isn’t for you if want lots of bright colors.

A transitional design palette features taupe, gray, vanilla and khaki. Sometimes there’s a bit of rich brown mixed throughout, but rarely is there ever use of other colors. If you can’t stand the lack of color, be sure to carefully choose just a few accent pieces. Patterns are another transitional no-no, but textures are a good way to liven things up.

As far as furniture, pieces should be simple with a combination of straight and curved lines. You want to encourage your guests to be comfortable, so a deep sofa is fine, but don’t go overboard.

Your living space should be comfortable for you and your family, and show your style. Have fun, and don’t forget to let your family add their own subtle touches.

Photo credits for main graphic:  The graphic, “New Design Ideas for Your Living Space,” includes the following photos from left to right:
1.  The photo of a yellow room with white accents was modified from a photo entitled “Living Room II,” copyright 2012 Till Westermayer on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.
2.  The photo with patterned pillows on a couch was modified from a photo entitled “White, Green and Red Living Room,” copyright 2013 Emily May on Flickr and made available under an Attribution 2.0 license.
3.  The photo featuring a couch and dining room table was modified from a photo entitled “Beach House Living,” copyright (c) 2009 PoshSurfside.com on Flickr and made available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license

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Kate Wilson spends as much time as possible soaking in the great outdoors. When she’s not perched in a tree or running a local trail, she writes about hiking, gardening, and all things green on her blogs, This Wild Lifestyle and Jetfeeds.com. You can also follow Kate on Google+ and Twitter.

Filed Under: Home Decor Ideas Tagged With: Guest Post, Home Decor, Living Room