Decorating the Living Room

Here are some tips that will help you with designing any room in your home -

To change one's perception of a room's size, alter the scale of the objects within it.
One of the oldest tricks used to make a small room feel bigger, is to introduce a few overscaled objects. This tricks the eye into seeing the whole space as bigger than it really is. An example would be to add huge pots, vases or bowls, or a tall floor-to-ceiling door to a small room.

It is important to mix objects of different sizes, one large and one small, rather than sticking to medium sized d?cor items. When using objects of different sizes, there needs to be a visual link between them. This continuity is achieved using the same color and/or texture.

Oversized decor items help to make a large room feel less cavernous; they help the space to feel more intimate. If your room feels too large, buy the biggest items you can.
Small scale objects will make large rooms feel enormous, but paradoxically, these undersized d?cor items make moderate sized rooms feel smaller.

Large windows and large mirrors make rooms feel bigger. Sliding glass doors and French doors are very much like windows in this regard and can make the room feel much larger than it actually is. Just be sure that the view from these windows and glass doors is beautiful and has depth of field. If you are in a city, you can use planter boxes, window boxes, and hanging pots to create rows of plants at different heights. This helps the eye to interpret your balcony, patio, or the space between your building and the next one, as having more room to move around in than it really does. Looking through glass doors and windows at this natural beauty will give the room an open feeling, and you'll experience the room as more spacious than it is.

Do you need a place to focus on one experience at a time, to truly savor the flavor and texture and temperature of life, and help you to be fully present and in the “now”? Do you simply have great taste in decor, and hold Japanese traditional home design in high esteem ?

Harmony In Design has done it again!? They've brought us just the right furniture piece to complete our room design, and they've done it the eco friendly way. Their new Tea Table is made from the same sustainable Mango wood as the Raj meditation chair (shown in the previous post).? The petite size and shape of the traditional tea table allow it to be versatile enough for a variety of functions. When not using it for a tea ritual, it can be used as an end table, or coffee table. The traditional round Zafu cushions store neatly under the table when not in use. This is a great help in saving space and in keeping the cushions clean. The table is available in 2 non-toxic waterbase finishes (Natural and Espresso) and the cushions are available with 2 different washable covers (Cream and Mocha). For descriptions of the pillow materials, see the post below this one.

You can feel good about Mango wood products.? The mango tree stops bearing fruit after 20 years, and is then a good source of? timber. Plantation grown mango trees are a responsible alternative to damaging? rain forests. By eating the delicious and nutritious mango fruit and then building from the warm and beautiful mango wood, we do not waste any part of the tree before replanting.

The masterful craftsmanship of this elegant and understated table is truly harmonious. By choosing a round table, you also protect your shins from getting bruised and allow the room's Chi to circulate gently. You will feel well in a room with such mindfully designed furniture; they help you to reach a state of no mind.

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These vibrant colorful pieces of candy look good enough to eat!

So much so, that I would not recommend using them in a home inhabited or frequently visited by young children. Elsewhere though, these are perfect for filling up a nice glass jar or a pretty bowl with, and putting up for display. This is original handmade Murano glass, and each 2″ long piece of candy is different and unique, making it a wonderful gift set for any collector.

This lot of Murano glass candy is a great find! This lot includes 24 candies. Each candy is handmade from high quality color glass in a variety of colors and designs. This lot is an assorted lot that includes many colors and designs of these wonderful Murano glass candies. Approximate Dimensions: 2″ L x 1″ W.

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Isn't this striking? Italian leather has always had a place in the hearts of designers and furniture mavens and this is certainly no exception. This 3 Piece Ocean Avenue Modern Pillow Top in Soft Top Grade Italian Leather Chair, Love Seat, and Sofa Set is elegant yet styled with the maximum in comfort in mind. Deep and padded seats with gorgeous black leather pillows allow for a perfect combination of firmness and comfort. Hand crafted and superbly designed, it adds a bit of class to any setting.

Imagine a crowd for televised sporting events, group seating for a kaffeeklatsch, reunions with family and friends - all the wonderful social activities families and individuals share which could be further enhanced in the comfortable elegance such a setting provides. Easy to clean and maintain, these items are built on kiln-dried solid wood frame structures with no sag base allowed, providing optimum support. This ensemble is a leisure item par excellence and a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or evening, entertaining or simply relaxing.

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Few things spell out “home” as well as a rocking chair. When it comes to those, the traditional country look beats no other, and is almost expected, no matter which style the rest of the room follows. Note how in this picture, the rocker looks perfectly at home in a contemporary room design, but obviously it will be right in place in a full American country home design.

This one is a great option, with a beautiful rich colored cherry finish and detailed wood carvings, it will gladly accept your favorite cushions and throws for a personal welcoming look.

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Window treatments are the easy way for a quick makeover in a room. Don't be thinking flowers and lace necessarily. Adding fabric does not have to bring about a frilly or romantic look, as these curtains clearly demonstrate:

Formal enough with their easy-on-the-eyes dark chocolate stripes, the soothing baby blue hue is relaxing and can really open up a room. They bring in some color into the room, without being overly dominant, and can easily play into many color schemes, either in the browns, creams or blues. Their sheer size, at 42 x 84 inches, can really create a strong visual effect, enough to freshen up any room. Check out the product page here on Amazon: they have more items in this set, if you really want to coordinate the room's colors.

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Simple elegance in crystal, this wonderful Waterford vase is a fairly new addition to their collection of fine crystal items. This vase is one is a series of ballet themed objects. It is named Giselle after the famous ballet by Adolphe Adam and it's shape is as elegant and flowing as that of a prima ballerina. Note the pattern of feathers, inspired by a ballerina's tiara.

Made in Slovenia, this vase is a perfect example of contemporary classics. Just over 5 inches tall, It is a beautiful decorative item, whether filled with roses, or put on display on its own. A great gift for any crystal collectors, and a wonderful addition to any home.

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We're fortunate to be living in an age where quality prints of great art are available at such a great price. Take this Kandinsky, for example. This large print (20″x24″) can easily become a focal point and set the color theme in any living room, dining room or office room.

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A perfect gift for every man, this wonderful wood calendar set is sought after memorabilia that takes us back to a time without blackberry phones and digital spreadsheets. Amazing how practical it still is, where you can still use one of these in any office or study, or even on the mantelpiece in your living room, taking care to note the passing days by switching the date forward every morning.

Design wise, this item brings a sense of country style, very American? with its faded distressed look and Western style fonts. Wonderful gift for a friend, or for yourself, don't pass on this one.

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What a wonderful gift for any beer lover, particularly those of German descent. This original German beer stein is an exclusive item, one in a limited series of hand-painted traditional beer steins by Zoeller and Born, so definitely a collector's item.

With its fine detail in both the painting and the pewter lid, it depicts an image of a German countryside Oktoberfest, with a picturesque village shown in the background. With Zoeller & Born's decades of experience in hand-crafting these traditional steins, this decorative item is one that will last for generations and increase in value. Perfect for any beer themed collection on display in your living room, check this page for more details.

Everyone loves pillows, whether they are arranged in a row on a couch, or heaped on the floor in a pile, whether they are used one at a time, or layered and grouped, pillows are great decorations. Pillows can be stamped with fabric paint, quilted, appliqu?d, sewn with ruffles, printed with photographs, or beaded to make them really stand out.

Pillows come in all shapes and sizes. When combined, they are an art instillation in and of themselves. The benefit of this kind of art is that it is so comfortable for everyday use.? A heap of pillows is fun to jump into, sprawl out on, build forts with, offer to guests to make them more comfortable, support aching backs with, rest your head on, elevate your feet with, and of course, have a pillow fight with.

Many modern day artists work in fabric to create unique signature pillows. These don't have to be extremely expensive, as they are often designed by the artist and then mass produced to lower costs. Some artists work with a certain style or theme that runs through their cushioned creations, so you can combine pillows that have different designs while retaining the same look and feel.

Pillows can have tassels, fringes, fur, laces, or buttons. The possibilities are virtually endless. That means you can use different elements to create a unified look without giving up on variety. Try a collection of pillows that share the same shape and fabric but come in a multitude of colors; or why not a mix of different pillows in pure white, showing off different textures and trimmings?

Don't think just beds and couches either. Pillows come in all sizes. Some are large enough to be used as chairs or beds, while some are tiny and have pockets for teeth that the tooth faerie will come for. Play around and adds elements of luxury and comfort in various rooms.

The title of this high quality lithograph is Moonlight Bear by artist Jay Zinn. The Green Shaker frame is made using state of the art framing equipment. The picture includes an acid free card board backing,? hanger, and picture frame grade glass. It comes with appropriate hardware and ready to hang, right out of the box!

Note the depth of view effected by the artist's technique. This picture makes you feel like you are looking out a window, and that you have plenty of space. This is a good trick for making small rooms feel bigger.

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The grandeur of good quality crystal is undeniable. Using crystal properly in your home decor can be a challenge, and it's not something that easily fits into every style. Crystal items are great as part of a collection though, and this Adelaide crystal vase from Celebrations by Mikasa would be a wonderful addition to such a collection. If you're looking for a gift for a crystal collector, look no further!

Even on its own, it conveys a sense of elegance that goes well with majestic flowers such as tulips, perhaps special tulips in a hue that matches your room color scheme for a rich and almost extravagant effect. It would be perfect in both lavish victorian rooms as well as in sleek contemporary settings.

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Yes, it has a nice block of rustic oak, if you like, but this item isn't really in theme with typical country style, be it American country or another type. Still, it's a good solid piece of furniture, with an eye-pleasing elegant design, a solid black metal base and a simple wooden top. It is attractive in a casual, easy-going way, and will blend easily with most styles. Above all, it's functional and works real well in a small space where you may not have enough room for a proper coffee table.

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Choosing the items we use for our home decor involves quite a few considerations. Theme, style and color are often the most prominent. Showing off a unique collection of personal preference can also play a major role. This medium-size Buddha statue (six and a half inches tall) is an absolutely delightful decorative object that can fulfill any of the criteria mentioned above. In theme and style, it is distinctly Asian, but its faux-stone finish and light color mean it can easily fit in with other styles of decor.

It conveys more than just an Asian style though. Its peacefulness and serenity radiate spirituality and it is perfect for a small meditation niche, in any room of the house. Surround it with flowers and candles, for a small household shrine, as the Thai people do, and create a unique spiritual corner that is not so much religious as it is meditative.

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You just can't go wrong with a gorgeous Persian style carpet. This one has the best color combo you could ask for, in a traditional design that has a timeless beauty. It's a design element around which to base a room's decor, and looks great with both unfinished and stained wood furniture. The sage green, wine, cream and peach accents give you several tasteful options for drapes and upholstery.? Lay this Area Rug over hard wood floors, earth tone colored ceramic tile, and cream colored wall to wall carpets for elegant visual harmony.

The rug is made of polypropylene fibers, so it can withstand the wear and tear of daily foot traffic and spills. However, the Home Dynamix Royalty Traditional Area Rug is so pretty, you may want to hang it on your wall with tall twin potted plants on either side of it, or a? chaise-longue underneath it.? It makes an excellent receding horizon at the end of a hall way or at the top of a stair landing, because of its layered design depth. If your room has structural arches or arched windows, this rug is a must-have. Add a few West Asian copper accesories, like a Morrocan style round table (or this Glass-Top Console Table - Copper)

, and the Turkish Coffee Set for Two

,or a tall traditional Arab tea pot/server like the one in this poster, which would look great framed on an adjacent wall.:

Old Arabian Coffee Pot and Jars, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East Photographic Poster Print by Amanda Hall, 24×32.

For romantic lighting try the 2 Arabian Palace Amber Candle Holder lanterns

For the final touch, add an Aladin style lamp ( check out the 5″ Brass Aladdin Incense Lamp, Embossed)

Burn exotic incense to complete the ambiance, and you'll feel like you're in a West Asian palace.

It all starts with the right rug.

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