Color scheme???

[Jamila]

Hi everyone.. I just moved to this new apartment and I have a beige/ivory/ice sofa , love seat and a recliner.. all of the same color.. any suggestions to lighten up the room as walls are white and will remain white. I have a few maroon decorating pieces.

[rdy2rac with]

I've found that greenery (plants) help to give my rooms depth. Something as simple as getting some fake ivy & winding it around the curtain rod. I do this at work to help make my office less stark.

[Neneuu]

Get you some sheer white curtains or cream/ivory colored. Also, adding some greenery really perks any room up be it fake or real... Also maybe some nice bright colored side lamps?

[Jamila]

thanks rdy2rac and Neneuu.. I will defiately get some greenery.. For curtains.. should i match with the sofas or go contrast with a dark color?

[Tearianna]

That sounds like a great room to work with. I'd get white curtains for the windows .... so you have an almost all white canvas to decorate! Then you can add colorful pillows, rugs and throw blankets, and table runners to add spark. You can change the color scheme easily to match the seasons, even.

I agree with plants ... especially the real ones ... add some life to the room. And baskets. I LOVE baskets. Get a big one (cheap at Marshalls, Ross, TJMaxx or even Walmart) and use that to toss in mail and magizines and stuff. I put a giant, colorful bowl on the coffee table to hold the remotes. And I put candles all over. Candlelight adds warmth and good smells to the room!

[veda]

There are some great fabrics out... have you checked any outlets for drapes/sheers yet? You could have a few different sets for a mood change. printed, solid color, white, etc. & then match pillows, etc with them...

good luck! ;)

[Jamila]

Thanks veda and Tearianna.. that give me a mood-lift and I feel that having white walls and almost white furniture is not that bad at all..
I guess I will get around with a few dark curtains and match toss pillows with it.. the thing is .. in our living area.. there is one door to the patio, 1 regular sized window by the entarance door and another slim and tall window just next to the patio door.. Now do I put curtains on all three of them or just the two windows or what...

[Neneuu]

Thats a good idea... don't be afraid of color. My couch/loveseat/chair are a darkish tan. So I got some bright wine colored throw pillows, curtains, lamps, and a multicolored rug to go with it... it looks pretty good.

Here's a shot of my family room that I was trying to describe above...

[Neneuu]

Here's a slightly more clearer shot...

[rdy2rac with]

If you use sheers I say go ahead & put them on all 3 spots. You can even accent the sheers with some fun drapes pretty cheap. My big front window has blinds but it also has blue & white checked drapes that hang on the side.

[veda]

I think hanging them over all three is a good idea too. I've always thought the ceiling to floor sheers are really elegant & still casual at the same time if that makes sense. Even if the windows themselves are a few feet from the floor, ceiling to floor sheers can add depth & height.

Neneuu, your living room is great! Love the cathedral ceiling & fireplace, really pretty.

[Neneuu]

Originally posted by veda

Neneuu, your living room is great! Love the cathedral ceiling & fireplace, really pretty.

Thanks veda!!! :)

Oh and I agree... I think you should drape all windows in the room. Our breakfast area is right next to the family room and the window in there is on the same wall as the family room windows (make sense?) anyway, we put a striped pattern on the breakfast area window with the wine color on the family room drapes. BTW, I got the drapes from Pier 1... I love that place! ;) My point is that you can use the same colors with different patterns to really show a change in areas... like your entry way from your living room.

[Jamila]

Neneuu, your living room looks beautiful.. and thanks guys for all those valuable suggestions... I'll just go ahead and put drapes/sheers on both the windows and the patio door.. and get the ceiling to the floor style ... I'll send u pictures really soon...I am soo excited.. thanks everyone!!

[veda]

Yes - post the "after" pics :D