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The living room, as the obvious main feature of the house, is where your decor theme will really shine. Most people notice the couch or fireplace first, so base your decor around that. Pick a couch in a color you like that's not too garish, and match the remaining furniture to it. You don't have to keep furniture all of one color; you can match textures or basic styles instead. For example, my couch is a loden color with brown patterned accent pillows. The small coffee table is a brown that matches the brown of the pillows, and the end table and sideboard have glass tops, green legs, and brown wicker accents. The accompanying accent chairs are brown wicker with green legs. Near the fireplace is my Papasan chair, which is green on a brown base, and the tea table beside the Papasan chair is brown with green legs. Decorate the mantle of your fireplace with pretty decorative items. I have a clock, a marble sphere, a bird carved out of driftwood, and a couple of candlesticks. The mantle shouldn't be cluttered, but it looks blank if left bare. Also, hang a painting or other artwork in the blank space over the fireplace. Place lamps in areas the overhead light doesn't fill adequately. The lamps don't have to be all the same; indeed, you may find that different lamps create a more pleasant effect. I keep a couple of knitted afghans on the couch. Sometimes I fold them, but I usually leave one draped over one corner of the couch. It looks like it's draped thusly so as to showcase the blanket or keep it easy to pull over oneself, but it's mainly draped the way it is to hide an ugly tear in the corner of the couch thanks to the cats. It will have to suffice until we get the couch reupholstered. Remember, decor needn't be purely decorative. |