The Carpeteria Blog

Furnishings with stylish sleek lines and a minimalist look are the hallmark of modern living rooms. With such a canvas to work with, warmth and visual interest can be created by using these decorating ideas:

• Color—All white or black and white are very popular colors for modern living rooms. However, a pop or splash of a favorite hue can add life to a modern space. A single iconic Egg Chair in yummy mint green, orange or chocolate can be the perfect focal point.
• Texture—Shaggy rugs, velvet upholstery or riotous display of decorative pillows in contrasting textures (and colors) are great additions to a modern décor.
• Pattern—Iconic modern geometric patterns in fabrics, rugs and lighting bring warmth to modern living rooms.
• Emphasis—Multiple objects of interest or a single focal point draws the eye around a modern space and presents a visual resting place. A fireplace, a massive mirror, an impressive work of art—any of these can become that important piece that brings a room together.
• Rhythm—The repetition of color, texture or pattern throughout modern rooms creates appealing rhythm and movement.
• Form—Nothing says modern like the appealing and instantly recognizable forms of Mid-Century chairs. As seen in black in this room, the Egg chair is perhaps the most iconic of all, whether it’s vintage or one of the new ones still being manufactured today. If you’re smitten by the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, that’s another perfect choice for your modern living room. No matter which design you choose, one of these chairs can take a living room from pretty to thoroughly modern.

When you look at this room, its basement origins are hidden behind the daring and sophistication of its design.

Let’s start with the most powerful element in the room – the staircase. The homeowners made the wise choice to allocate the bulk of their redecorating budget to open up the basement stairwell and replace it with this almost sculpted staircase. The dark metal structure and brown wood stairs work together, making the space feel like a destination rather than a basement afterthought.

Notice the power of the floor in this room. This second design decision also defines the space as out of the ordinary. By choosing a surface with an almost commercial feel but adding the rich glossy finish, the floor echoes the staircase in its depths and provides an intriguing contrast to the matte finish of the sofa and loveseat. This flooring is not as expensive as other choices, but works so perfectly that it doesn’t feel like a budget-based decision.

The furniture and art also maintain the sophisticated modern look so effectively presented in this room. The sleek lines of the sofa and loveseat coordinate well with the daring zebra print on the area rug and the simple black and white vases on the coffee table.

The art wall creates the mood of a gallery, but the cost was minimized with the use of simple contemporary prints matted with off-the-shelf matching frames. It’s the number and the layout that creates an upscale image.

These homeowners wanted to turn their basement into a destination for family and visitors alike, and their smart design decisions helped them succeed.

This one room holds a kitchen with island bar, dinette, living area and dining room, yet it feels spacious rather than crowded. What choices create this combination of space and function?

The smartest decision is the flooring. By choosing one versatile porcelain tile in a light tone and setting it on the diagonal, the eye naturally follows the tile lines, making the room appear much larger than it actually is. Picture a flooring transition between the kitchen and living areas or a straight horizontal tile layout and you can see what the flooring choice does for this room.

The second smart choice is furniture selection. By limiting the number of pieces, choosing smaller options such as a loveseat rather than full-size sofa, and selecting a circular dining table, the furniture doesn’t get in the way of the room’s traffic pattern. Rooms feel crowded if you have to constantly avoid hitting furniture as you walk through them. Traffic in this room is smooth and easy. Sticking to one style and wood tone also emphasizes the connections throughout the room, creating a design consistency that makes the space work.

The final positive factor is light. With the light flooring and walls combined with a vaulted ceiling and large windows, the edges of this room seem to disappear. Instead of focusing on its size, visitors will notice the activity areas instead. Altogether this is a very smart way to take full advantage of a space.

Do you desire a girly bedroom, office or den? A place where you can feel beautiful and surrounded by beauty? Are you afraid you may go overboard with pink and floral; resulting in a room that looks like your grandmother’s living room? Below are guidelines to follow to create your perfect feminine retreat.

Start by selecting your wall color. A fresh pink rose, or lilac purple are beautiful feminine colors. The wall color will set the tone for your room. Not sure what color you want? Look through magazines and really observe the pictures of rooms that attract you. Remember what you like about the room on the pages. Take a closer look at the wall colors in the pictures. Choosing a color can be overwhelming for most, especially if you are going out on a limb. An empty freshly painted space can create anxiousness for most people. Keep in mind that once the furnishings and accessories are added, the end result will most likely be a pleasing one. Also remember paint color is the easiest thing to change. If you want to play it safe, choose a softer/lighter shade of a flirty color.

Select furniture with simplistic lines and sexy curves. A tailored look will achieve turning your feminine room into reality. Stay away from anything highly ornamental. Elaborate decoration will become overwhelming and busy. Make your furnishing selections based on your mood towards the item. This is your special room. You should love everything about it, right down to the hardware on your desk.

Fabrics within the space should be simplistically beautiful. Keep drapery straightforward; this is where you really want tailored style to come into play. For upholstery choose fabrics that feel comfortable and supple. Add a fun girly print fabric to a desk or occasional chair. Mostly select neutral fabrics that feel supple and have interesting textures. Pillows require the least amount of fabric. If you are going to splurge, do so by selecting luxurious accent pillows. A round bolster pillow looks great and can also be used as an armrest or lumbar pillow.

When selecting accessories think quality, not quantity. Add a couple of glitzy pieces, such as an acrylic lamp or a crystal vase. Throw down a neutral cozy rug, higher the pile the better (referring to the fiber/yarn height). Fresh flowers should always accompany a feminine room. Orchids are great because of the availability in color. They are also easy to keep alive. Keep all of your senses cheerful. Add a candle in your favorite scent. The soft glow of candlelight will provide a soothing, restful glow.

Designing the perfect feminine sanctuary doesn’t have to be hard. Actually it can be quite effortless as long as you listen to your instincts and choose items with love!