Many design-savvy homeowners prefer to keep their living room color schemes neutral, strategically avoiding cluttered appearances. However, colorless rooms can sometimes feel overly bland and cold rather than simple and clean. Luckily, homeowners and renters can use texture to add a sense of comfort to living spaces while sticking with blacks, browns, whites and beiges.
Rather than painting walls in bright hues and changing out furniture for colorful alternatives, consider these five easy options to warm up neutral spaces.
Faux Fur Throws
Source: Lonny Magazine
All-white rooms often lack the coziness that homeowners look for in their living spaces. Add more throw pillows or additional blankets to combat stark interiors. Rather than settle for plain fleece blankets, opt to go glam with some faux fur or leather textiles. Nothing says comfy like curling up in front of the fire with a fuzzy blanket on a chilly winter night.
Homeowners who are lucky enough to have hardwood floors might benefit from an animal print throw rug. Make sure to keep some hardwood showing to offset the warmth of the carpet.
Wainscoting
Source: Zillow Digs
Wainscoting brings dimension to flat walls whether it’s beadboard paneling or boiseries. It was once pricey to have wainscoting installed in homes, but now homeowners can install themselves with inexpensive faux alternatives. Purchase pre-cut panels and fasten to walls with builder-grade adhesives. Tip for homes in Florida and other warm climates: leave 1/16 inch between panels to allow for expansion due to humidity.
Tufted Furniture
Source: Details a Design Firm
Tufted leather brings visions of old libraries filled with brown hues and clouds of cigar smoke. While a bold pattern, tufting appears less aggressive when mixed with simple textiles and furnishings. Avoid adding too many multi-dimensional fabrics to living rooms, especially on large pieces of furniture. Rather, consider purchasing one or two tufted leather wingback chairs or small loveseats with pin-tuck details to add understated intricacy throughout the home.
Grasscloth
Source: American Dream Builders
Walls are typically flat, bland surfaces, unless covered in texture-rich papers that mimic organic elements. Grasscloth adds natural features to all-white rooms in desperate need of complexity. Feeling bold? Go one step further and opt for a bright orange or green print. Even though bright wallpaper typically strays from traditional schemes, it’s less intense when paired with plain pieces. Incorporate basic décor throughout the rest of the space to offset the bright, elaborate walls.
Vintage Lace
Source: Lauren Naimola
Lace window treatments, doilies and overlays are design elements characteristic of Victorian-style homes. Realistically, all spaces can incorporate lace to add vintage charm. Use delicate and detailed draperies like lace sparingly; otherwise rooms can end up looking overly-dated or ultra-feminine.
These five essentials add dimension to basic interiors, yet are mature enough to fit into common areas of the home. Consider combining multiple rich fabrics or layering various throws to create even more visual interest.
