If my couch is tan and my end tables are oak what can I do to spice up my living room?

Question

I don't want it to look so boring! I would like ideas on accesories, colors, anything I can use!!

Answer 1

I would paint it a light bright color, like "citrine" by Sherwin Williams.
http://sherlink.sherwin.com/swapp/color_visualizer/index.jsp

An area rug is also a must. It's one of the best ways to add color & texture into a room:
http://www.homedecorators.com/Rugs/color/174/

Artwork is another source for color:
http://homedecorators30.artselect.com/search2/collectionID~3D11074~26openct11074~3D1~26t~3Db/Infuse_Your_Walls_with_Color.html

Answer 2

What you want to do is bring "life" into your room. Most any color looks nice with oak, but some are livelier than others with "tan" sofa fabric.

I do not recommend you paing a wall red. ANY color with a red base in it...is there forever. Kilz will not even cover reds/pinks/purples.

First off, waht colors do YOU like? And...what colors can you live with? Why not get some small fabric samples in the colors you would most likely not grow weary of in a short time.

Tan is neutral so you can go very clean and modern and add stark white or you can stay traditional and add medium to dark greens including greens like avacodo/celery/asparahgas (sp)......all nice colors with tan. Red would also be nice and liven the sofa up, but remember it is not a calming color and can actually make blood pressure go up.

Blues with tans look nice for sport outfits, but generally blah in the living room. Yellows tend to look sallow.

Orange is nice healthy color, but you REALLY have to like it to look at it everyday.

I had a similar situation. I used varying shades of greens on the studio bed which had a tan background. I used 5 different shades/patterns of green fabric for the pillows and I ended up with olive/army green and tan curtains....but still needed a "shocker". I threw in amongst the 5 throw pillows a bright red pilow and added another small red "envelope" pillow on a little bench that sat against the desk. A sprig of red flowers in the collage on the wall. Just enough to breathe life into the overall effect.

I really think if you play with a few fabic samples and paint chips, you will save a lot of money and aggravation by getting a feel for color, patterns and accessories. Go to Wal Mart of Joanns and buy 7 or 8 quarter yard pieces of fabric. Let the sit drapped on the sofa for a few days to a week. Same thing with paint samples....pick up several and tack them on the wall. Monitor your colors in ALL light.....morning, afternoon and evening. Colors do change with natural light effects. Anyway, this is as cheap a way to plan your decor without spending a fortune on something you may not like.

Good luck with your project....:)

Answer 3

You have a great base to start with. The colors of your sofa and tables are neutrals so whatever color you choose will coordinate nicely. Ralph Lauren is famous for his combination of red, blue and khaki tan. Here is a handful of combos...see what you like the best. Tan, aqua and icy blue. Tan, chocolate brown and baby blue. Tan, chocolate brown, white and a dark red. Tan goes with anything....even gray. I don't know the layout of the room and I am assuming that you have a window or two where your sofa is. Easy formula for putting color throughout the room...Tan sofa with soft aqua colored throw pillows. Icy blue drapes with a 5 inch border of the soft aqua color at the bottom of each panel. Artwork of ocean views or bodies of water that have the beautiful blues in it. Or do black and white art prints and paint the frames various blue colors. Good Luck

Answer 4

Deep red and gold make great accent colors that really make the wood look rich and golden (oak is so pretty). I got some great pillows at JC Penney- deep red with gold embroidery- an abstract design, and I got a brass bankers lamp for 15.00 at Office Max and a few brass picture frames at Target, and they made for a classic touch. My furniture is beige and pretty dull so the darker colors looked nice.

Answer 5

Add color,some throw pillows, an area rug, candles will add a lot of color and warmth. You can also paint your end tables.
Black looks nice with tan.

Answer 6

I would throw some bright accent colors in there. Maybe find a painting you like with a bright color, some red throw pillows or something. But i'm no interior decorator, so you might not want to trust my opinion...

Answer 7

You have an open pallet with the the items you have(Your so lucky) have you thought of a red...you can find accent pillows which are red with tan highlights in them...You didnt mention what color your flooring is....if its also a neutral color then for sure i would add red...pillows ,swags on the windows...lamp shades...

Answer 8

an area rug would be ideal, that has greens or maybe even a nice orange even a nice picture/painting that has a color that pops like red or orange will help. plus little stuff like colorfull bowls with potpori or some sorta do-dad in it.... best bet is bed bath and beyond it has the best stuff!!!! go check it out! i could spend forever in that store!

Answer 9

I would go with a shade of red that you like or a print for the pillows that contains red and maybe a bit of navy. With the white walls, you may be able to use white and navy stripe or large print for the pillows.

Answer 10

paint one of the walls red, or add a red or purple throw and some colorful couch cushions...bright, bold artwork would b cool too...even unusual lampshades...or all of the above! play with it.