By Lauren Flanagan
Family & Living Rooms Expert, about.com
If your attitude towards decorating involves playing it safe, it’s
time to change your mindset and try something new. Express your
personality in your home by taking a few risks. After all, your home is
the one place where you have complete control and only have yourself to
please! So give your place a little pizzazz and take one (or more) of
these decorating risks. Don’t worry – they’re really not that risky!
Paint Trim and Doors a Color Other Than White
White
has always been the default color for trim and doors, and people often
do it without question. But if you want to add an unexpected pop, try
painting them a different color. If you want it to look elegant and
sophisticated opt for a glossy black. But don’t be afraid to try a
different color if it suits you. Just make sure it works with the wall
color.
Purchase a Bright Sofa
Decorating wisdom says to
purchase a neutral sofa and dress it up with colorful pillows. And yes,
that is definitely the safer option as sofas are fairly expensive and
you want them to be as versatile as possible.
But if you want to make a statement a neutral sofa
ain’t gonna do it. Don’t be afraid to take a risk on something bright
and colorful.
Decorate a Unique Accent Wall
The days of
the feature wall painted in a single color different than the rest of
the room are pretty much over, but that doesn’t mean that accent walls
are a thing of the past. To create a focal wall that is still on trend
try creating one with a graphic pattern. This can be done with paint,
wallpaper or even washi tape. Currently horizontal stripes and chevron
patterns are popular, but don’t be afraid to try something different.
Use Mismatched Furniture
Just
say no to furniture sets! No to living room sets; no to dining room
sets; and no to bedroom sets! Matching sets might feel like a safe
option but it’s far more exciting to use mismatched furniture that is
complementary. Trust your own instincts – if you fill a room with items
you really like chances are good that they will look good together.
Include Lots of Prints
Decorating
with prints can be scary to a lot of people because when you use a lot
of them they can look very busy. But once you learn how to mix patterns like a pro
you’ll wonder why you ever shied away form them. Prints add life to a
room like nothing else so choose the ones you like and go crazy with
them. It’s definitely a decorating risk worth taking.
Decorate the Ceiling
People tend to ignore the ceiling and that can be a big mistake. There are tons of wonderful decorating opportunities including paint and stencils as well as architectural elements
such as molding, medallions and more. Just make sure that any time you
paint or decorate a ceiling you take the proper safety precautions so
that you don't get hurt.
Lay Down a Colorful Rug
Don’t
ignore what’s underfoot. A colorful rug can set the tone for the entire
room, so do away with neutrals and go for something bright and colorful.
If you go with area rugs
rather than carpet (which is usually best in any room) you have the
flexibility to move them around to different rooms if you want a change.
