I need ideas on bringing some color into my living room without spending too much money. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

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:

http://interiordec.about.com/od/color/tp/LivingRoomColor.htm About.com one of the oldest help sites out there...good advise usually with links and more;

2nd article down on this page : http://designtalk.homevisions.com/category/living-room/

l Science of colors on this site...to help with the color choices in your life: http://homedecor.iloveindia.com/color-basics/index.html

http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/QuickWaystoAddColor_02062002.xml&catref=cat4100020 Quick ways to add color

Good luck with your project, be sure to check out places that will hold all kinds of treasures for your new look...2nd hand stores, thrift stores, consignment , dollar store etc...these can save you incredible amounts and some of them have incredible and terrific looking items...I bet it will look fabulous!

Answer 2

Paint
Fake or real plants as long as they are bright and cheery
Pillows
Art Work - you can create your own. Find any picture you like that goes in your room, and frame and matte it. Any frame from Wal-Mart will do cause you can paint it the color that goes best with your room and as long as you make sure the picture fits in the frame you can get matting at a Wal-Mart too for very cheap.
Brighter curtains on the windows.
Floor lamps. A well placed lamp will bring light and dimension to a room.
Any one or combo of these will work.
Good luck

Answer 3

I am in the same position. My walls are even the same color. All i did was buy bright paintings. I added a cool and bright comforter. I also bought colorful accessory's for the room like pillows, and new shades for the lamps. Oh yeah and curtains some times make a big difference. You can also try and buy a rug or two.

Answer 4

pillows - either bought or made from fabric remnants (easy project to sew)
paintings or photos
an afghan thrown over a chair or the back of the sofa
flowers - silk or fresh
a 'mood' light shining from behind the sofa or from a corner or from behind some plants - hidden from view but dramatically splashing color outward or upward
accessories that are boldly vibrant in color
a wild throw rug in the center of the room

try garage or estate sales or a thrift store - you would be surprised at what you might find!

Answer 5

Buy some big candles of the color you like for just decoration. They are somewhat cheap. Maybe change your drapery to a different color or buy an area rug with a nice color.

Answer 6

Paint!
Window: lighten the treatment
Deco: Mirrors (they can reflect any colors and enhance space in a room.) Throws, Pillows, Vases etc.

Lights lights lights!
Get cool light fixtures and use them as a focus!

Ikea panel curtains... add colors to walls without having to paint them... they are cool and can act as a room divider as well!

Answer 7

paint is always the easy and cheap solution to this.

But also is a big colorful rug, or a big, bold and bright contemporary painting as a focal point.

Bright or bold colored pillows and throws and drapes that all match somehow (not any busy patterns, just straight, bold colors).

Whatever you decide to do, don't be afraid to get a bit "out there" and also do BIG. Bigger is always better:)

Good luck!

Answer 8

i liked all the ideas.... the candles, the pillows, and I would say go to thrift stores and yard sales for the truly unique... I crochet, so I always have patterns for " home decor" I can make. Find someone that can do that if u are into that kinda stuff. otherwise, I'd say , go for the thrift store/ yard/ garage sale things.

Answer 9

Re arrange your furnitures . Curtains and drapings add color to a particular place. Its your choice of color and add decorative plants the suit your imagination

Answer 10

Colorful throws, toss pillows, silk flowers, pictures on the wall... These can all be purchased in discount stores inexpensively.