I love to decorate and I will admit I am a terrible decorator! Color combinations and accessories and what goes with what - I just don't get it. I know there's help on line, but you ladies know so much about what goes good with what that I thought I'd ask for help from you. For instance, my living room is a hodge podge of burgundy, forest green and brown with off white walls. These colors are just not good for spring. I have neutral furniture but would like to pop up the spring drama with some color in accessories. What do you recommend? 
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Page Turner1329949191.427832 PostsRegistered 5/21/2007"More hay, Trigger?" "No thanks, Roy, I'm stuffed!" Believe it or not, a whole bunch of spring purple flowers will go great with those colors. Think of nature! Nature provides us with deep forest greens and burgundy in the winter woods, along with the brown bark of the trees. And in the spring, what pops out but bright beautiful purple flowers, marking spring with a spash of wonderful color. gardensla1329949548.8114827 PostsRegistered 9/7/2006Los Angeles, CA I would add some light blue to the mix (think sky to contrast with all those earth tones) and then add plenty of pure white accent to brighten the off-white walls. "Luck favors the brave." Keerose1329949633.72411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 Hi Page. Purple flowers are so pretty. I'm kind of looking to replace the darker colors with more lighter colors. So maybe purple as an accent color but what others colors? Keerose1329949697.57411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 On 2/22/2012 gardensla said: I would add some light blue to the mix (think sky to contrast with all those earth tones) and then add plenty of pure white accent to brighten the off-white walls. Where would I use white? I like that idea. Pillows maybe? iamMrsG1329949795.0431265 PostsRegistered 8/19/2008 Page Turner is right. Turn to nature for your inspiration. When the song says, "Spring is poppin' out all over!" it brings green and flowers to mind. Think about bulb plants, e.g., tulips, hyacinths, etc. Keerose1329950198.983411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 I'm looking for that soothing feeling when I walk in my living room. Like a calm feeling. Anyone familiar with the principles of feng shui? LoopyLoo1329950849.681504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 Keerose--How about some soft pinks? Would be pretty against each of those colors. I'm somewhat familiar with feng shui--not enough to make an informed suggestion, but I can see this as a calming palette. gardensla1329950937.22314827 PostsRegistered 9/7/2006Los Angeles, CA On 2/22/2012 Keerose said: On 2/22/2012 gardensla said: I would add some light blue to the mix (think sky to contrast with all those earth tones) and then add plenty of pure white accent to brighten the off-white walls. Where would I use white? I like that idea. Pillows maybe? Pillows for sure but also lamps and throws. I think beachy accents like white and blue would be super fresh! "Luck favors the brave." Keerose1329951388.16411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 I like these suggestions! What about curtains? I have a good sized picture window and another smaller window that I need curtains for. A print? stripes? LoopyLoo1329952114.261504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 It depends on what's on your furniture. Rug or bare floor? Color? A little more info about the layout and color placement already, would be helpful! gardensla1329952344.95314827 PostsRegistered 9/7/2006Los Angeles, CA On 2/22/2012 Keerose said: I like these suggestions! What about curtains? I have a good sized picture window and another smaller window that I need curtains for. A print? stripes? I like bamboo blinds and simple curtain panels as this combo draws the eye to the beauty outside rather than the curtains themselves! "Luck favors the brave." Keerose1329952582.687411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 On 2/22/2012 LoopyLoo said: It depends on what's on your furniture. Rug or bare floor? Color? A little more info about the layout and color placement already, would be helpful! Oh i can do that! I have beautiful oak hardwood floors. Off white walls. White painted trim around the windows. My couch is a soft beige tweed and my recliner is burgundy leather. I have a fireplace made from brick in a softer red and brown color. One of the walls is real pine done in a natural stain (original to house). So I'd be looking for curtains, rug, pillows, accent pieces, throws, lamps and flowers to create the look I'm looking for. It's a small room and need brightening up for sure. twopeas1329953647.111923 PostsRegistered 6/5/2011PNW When I think of Spring my first thought is of forsythia. Perhaps it is because, along with primroses, they are the first to bloom. That beautiful sunshine yellow makes me smile. Keerose1329954958.08411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 On 2/22/2012 twopeas said: When I think of Spring my first thought is of forsythia. Perhaps it is because, along with primroses, they are the first to bloom. That beautiful sunshine yellow makes me smile. And doesn't blue and yellow go well together? Hooty1329955157.98316239 PostsRegistered 9/4/2006~Sweet Home Alabama~ deleted Last edited on 2/22/2012 No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level, just know you are better and walk away! twopeas1329955587.5671923 PostsRegistered 6/5/2011PNW Keerose: Blue and yellow together? Absolutely !! Sky and sun.......... Keerose1329957010.04411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 On 2/22/2012 twopeas said: Keerose: Blue and yellow together? Absolutely !! Sky and sun.......... So I like the idea of pale blue and yellow as accent colors. I love gardensla's idea about bamboo blinds and simple window treatments. I have always had this vision of airy white curtains blowing in the ocean breezes! Are flower patterns a good idea? Or stripes. I'm torn. Like references to nature! I enjoy inspiration from HGTV. There are many decor style options from the programming and their web site. Elle decor has a newsletter I subscribe to also. I've done extensive decorating (trained as such), but my favorite is my bathroom that I used a Moroccan (my favorite destination) theme for, using photos I took there, matted & framed, as well as accessories, including a miniture hookah I ordered from ebay, and roses (so abundant in Marrakesh), with colors of emerald green, sienna and rose pink on natural stone flooring...natural sponges & Moroccan books - all reminding me of the Moroccan hammans (spas). My bedroom's in fuschia and burgundy w/dark green area carpet in paisley - using the Liz Claiburne berry paisley comforter/shams as focal point, with a Turkish rug pillows, monogrammed pillows, faux fur ones and Isaac Mazrahi's animal prints and Dennis Basso's leopard throw, white jewelry storage by Lori Greiner, and off white furnishing, highlights all spray painted burgundy, including the writing desk & mirror brought from Spain, also with various other accessories to enhance the boudoir effect - for me and my cat! LOL The accent accessories are shoe prints...my Archilles heel (pun intended)! Obviously, not for everyone, but the thought here is very personal imagination and !whimsy! Enjoy and have a decorating fling! Keerose1329957367.847411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 Oh Clickedy Clack that sounds pretty! I like your ideas about whimsy and personal creativity. I guess there are no real rules. Do what makes you happy and be happy for it! LoopyLoo1329957566.741504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 Hi Keerose--OK--back from dinner! Thanx for the additional info! Now I'm thinking various shades of aqua blues could work very nicely with your scheme, and contrast the wood on the floor and walls, as well as the sofa. Pillows could have a bit of burgundy in them as well, on the sofa and recliner. Is the feeling more contemporary? Den like? If so, I can see the bamboo blinds gardensla recommended, or perhaps even a wood blind--if it's not on the pine wall--(that could be tricky.) If more traditional, a drapery may be a better bet. Where does the forest green come in? LoopyLoo1329957695.2431504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 Hi Keerose--OK--back from dinner! Thanx for the additional info! Now I'm thinking various shades of aqua blues could work very nicely with your scheme, and contrast the wood on the floor and walls, as well as the sofa. Pillows could have a bit of burgundy in them as well, on the sofa and recliner. Is the feeling more contemporary? Den like? If so, I can see the bamboo blinds gardensla recommended, or perhaps even a wood blind--if it's not on the pine wall--(that could be tricky.) If more traditional, a drapery may be a better bet. Where does the forest green come in? Keerose1329957831.15411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 On 2/22/2012 LoopyLoo said: Hi Keerose--OK--back from dinner! Thanx for the additional info! Now I'm thinking various shades of aqua blues could work very nicely with your scheme, and contrast the wood on the floor and walls, as well as the sofa. Pillows could have a bit of burgundy in them as well, on the sofa and recliner. Is the feeling more contemporary? Den like? If so, I can see the bamboo blinds gardensla recommended, or perhaps even a wood blind--if it's not on the pine wall--(that could be tricky.) If more traditional, a drapery may be a better bet. Where does the forest green come in? Oh yes you might be right about the blinds contrasting with the pine wall. I forgot about that. And I think you're thinking that the touch of burgundy in the pillows would tie in the chair? The forest green is in the pillows, throws and curtains I have now and it just seems too dark to me. Being that it's such a small room. Contemporary? No I don't think so. This house is about 60 years old and is cottage style. Hey maybe I should play that up? LoopyLoo1329962341.1871504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 Oh--cottage is my spec-iality!! Ixnay on the blinds! If you've always dreamed of white curtains, fluttering in the breeze, go for it!! How about a tone-on-tone pattern in white? I'm thinking of--not necessarily dotted Swiss, but white woven into white--plaid, dots, florals--all white on white. You'll have the texture and pattern, but it'll all be white! I once had a wonderful painter (this guy could create 185 varieties of marble--with a paintbrush!) tell me that his favorite European look was to paint the window trim white and use white curtains, no matter what color the rest of the woodwork was painted. You already have that! Fresh white accessories lke gardensla recommended--perfect! I'm thinking of pillows in different shades of aqua with a touch of burgundy in them--in crewelwork, a pattern in cotton or chintz, some that are solid, but textured. These could be used on the sofa as well as the burgundy chair. What do you think? ETA-(I was reminded that the number I'd written was way too low-not that it matters to anyone else, but in his memory I felt compelled to correct it!) Last edited on 2/23/2012 Keerose1329963392.84411 PostsRegistered 2/2/2012 Love love love! You paint a beautiful picture! I don't have much room for a rug but a small one might be nice. what would you recommend? LoopyLoo1329966126.051504 PostsRegistered 7/30/2011 I would get everything in, and then see if you want or need a rug. I say this because we have a very old, wee little Victorian house with little rooms (of course!) We have beautiful oak floors stained reddish-brown (like the color of rosewood) throughout the house. When all was said and done, we decided not to cover the beautiful floor and break up the spaces even more. Let the dust settle, so to speak, then we'll "discuss"! Keep me posted! Last edited on 2/22/2012
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