Blog posts tagged with 'living room'

Many people strive for a cohesive décor style, but they often overlook color schemes and the way they can affect a home. Making sure your furniture complements your wall color isn’t as involved of a process as you may think—in fact, you can use slipcovers to easily update your furniture color without the hassle of painting the walls or purchasing new furniture.

Room-feel

Keep in mind the psychology of color when you’re deciding what colors to paint your walls or what color slipcovers to purchase. Warm tones have an energizing effect suitable for a kitchen or living room, while cool tones incite calm feelings. A bedroom or bathroom may benefit from cool colors; neutrals are best for formal areas and hallways. Decide what you want from each room. It might be a place you want to come to relax after a long day or a place to host parties and gather with friends and loved ones. Don’t worry about keeping everything neutral if you like bold colors. It’s your home—decorate it in a way that makes you feel happy.

Home style

Consider the style of your home before deciding on your color scheme and matching complementary elements. If the interior décor of your home is modern, going bolder with your color choices can help preserve that contemporary feeling. On the other hand, if your home has a more traditional style, going too bold might feel out of place. In this case, stick to neutrals throughout your home with subtle pops of color in items such as rugs, decorations, throws, and pillows.

Color scheme

If your walls are already painted in a color you love, or if you’re set on a specific wall color, check out this guide on what furniture and décor colors to pair with your walls. A side note on monochromatic rooms: while they seem universally appealing and rather simple, they’re actually quite tricky to pull off. You may want to leave this style to a professional interior designer; consider consulting one if you’re set on a monochromatic home.

Blue walls

Keeping in mind the shade of blue and its undertones, consider furnishing your blue room with gold, white, mustard, or green furniture. Remember, you can use multiple colors in a single room—just beware of overpowering the room. Decide on a central theme: for example, if your room is painted royal blue with a mustard statement couch and white chairs, add more pops of royal blue with throw pillows and table décor.

Green walls

The shade of green will determine which complementary color you should choose for your furnishings, but even with a bold green wall, don’t be afraid to use a statement piece or brightly colored furniture. With green walls, try to accent with gray, red, brown, or pink furniture. Green and pink is a fun combination for a lively bedroom; try supplementing green walls with a patterned pink bedspread and a gray chair.

Orange walls

A bold orange wall makes any room feel exciting and bubbly. Keep that feeling going with furniture to match. White, off-white, teal, turquoise, or brown will highlight your walls and establish a complete color scheme. Be sure to arrange your furniture in a useful and aesthetically pleasing way. An easy trap to fall into is putting all the furniture up against walls. Move your furniture around to make your room feel brand-new (with a brand-new color scheme!).

Gray walls

Gray rooms have endless possibilities. You can pair almost any color furniture with gray walls, so this leaves lots of room for updates and changes. Gray living rooms are fun because you can go bold with a bright and vibrant couch. If you have a large living room with space for a sectional couch, consider brightly colored three-piece sectional couch covers that you can change out with the seasons. However, it’s crucial to address the undertones in gray shades. If your gray walls have green undertones, gray accent pieces with purple undertones will clash.

Pink walls

Pale pink is a subtle nod to a lively and fun home, while a hot pink suggests a daring and exciting room. Depending on the shade of pink, you can really get experimental with the room. Furnish your lighter pink rooms with lime green, gold, bright red, royal blue, or off-white pieces of furniture. Pale green, mustard, muted red, baby or navy blue, or white furniture may better suit a brighter, bolder pink room.

Red walls

Red walls can be intimidating or exciting, depending on the furniture choice. The color scheme can make or break a red room. Go with sage or pale pink furniture for a homey, welcoming interior. White or beige furnishings are great for a red-walled bedroom, as these complementary colors have an elegant and regal effect. You can also use brown, silver, or gold as an accent color to really keep a bold, old-style feel in your room.

Yellow walls

Yellow walls are welcoming and homey. Light, muted shades of yellow provide a hint of warmth, while a bold or mustard yellow gives upbeat vibes. Yellow pairs best with grays, blues, tans, and whites. If a bedroom has yellow walls, try a fun, patterned bedspread that’s mainly gray, and consider yellow sheets or pillow shams and a teal chair to pull everything together for a fun feel.

Neutral walls

If your walls are painted white, beige, or another neutral color, consider your home layout and style overall—and then dare to go bold. All colors look good with neutrals, so tone is the key to choosing the right one. Dark browns, reds, and hunter green will give you a woodsier and more rustic feel. For an elegant and classic look, black or muted tones can keep your rooms tone intact. As we mentioned above, if you don’t want to repaint or get new furniture, investing in slipcovers from Slipcover Shop can solve your color woes. No matter what colors you use for your walls, furniture, or décor, as long as you feel at home in your house, you’ve successfully created a cohesive and welcoming home.

Undecorated dorm rooms can feel like unwelcoming and impermanent structures. Turning your dorm room into a home, however, is easier than it may seem. With a few simple decorations and accessories, you can make it feel like home.

Make it cozy

Invest in some comfy additions to make your dorm room welcoming and homey. Most dorm rooms either have drab carpet or uninviting tile. Mask this with a fluffy rug. If possible, loft your bed and add a couch or some cozy chairs underneath for a cute reading nook-feel. Get a few cute throw pillows for your bed, a couch or futon, and a matching throw blanket for a cohesive color scheme. Bonus Tip: When choosing a color scheme for your dorm, opt for cool colors in light tones. These will make your space feel bigger and more relaxing—and come finals week, you’ll be thankful you made your room cool, calming colors.

Make it useful

College requires a lot of reading, studying, and time on your laptop. Make enough space in your room for school work. Make sure to decorate your desk—but most importantly, have pens, paper, and a laptop charger in reach. Sometimes, writing a lengthy term paper at your desk can get distracting, and a change of scenery can re-inspire your creativity. A wedge can turn any surface into a chic study spot. Push it up against the wall and utilize that fluffy rug for writing, or lay the wedge in your bed for a cozy and warm night of homework. Bonus Tip: College can get messy—make sure to invest in wedge bolster covers to protect your versatile wedge from spills, dirt, and more. These are also fun because you can switch out colors each season for a festive feel!

Make it yours

Fill your dorm room with things that make you happy. Take any décor from your bedroom that makes you feel at home. You can also head out to a thrift shop for cheap items that speak to you. No home is complete without photos, so hang pictures of your family and friends around your dorm. Bonus Tip: If you put things you like in your dorm room, it will feel like home. Fill it with things that make you feel welcome and cozy.

Trends change every year, and we all want to be a part of the next big thing. When we update our homes, we want them to be modern and to last. To help you achieve this, we’ve created a guide on how to create a modern living room, and we’ve tailored it to blend styles that have been around for years with ones that have had a recent surge in popularity. We’re sure that if you utilize this balance, you’ll have a living room that truly aligns with the times and your personality.

Use Textures

A room can often feel as though it lacks true dimension. You want to introduce a variety of textures to your room to give it substance. There are many potential textures, and you can choose the ones that best align with your tastes. Whether it be stone, fur, or knit, a bit of texture makes all the difference. You can also create texture by playing with shapes; add a bit of dimension with unique shapes such as octagons or triangles.

Play with Reflections

If your room feels a touch small for your liking, use reflections to open things up. These can be as literal as mirrors, or you can use pieces with reflective surfaces, such as a gas fireplace with clean glass doors. The less obvious solutions, such as the fireplace, give a feeling of more space without overwhelming any one area of the room. Other suggestions for reflective surfaces include coffee tables or metal lighting structures.

Add Some Matte Black…

As far as color goes, the white blank canvas look that we’ve held onto for so long is bowing out at last, and its opposite has taken center stage. While white always seemed to suggest the future, today’s designers want to focus more on the present. Matte black feels current, and it’s the current favorite of many designers to use in furniture, flooring, and wall color.

… With a Pop of Color

While we suggest bringing in everyone’s favorite muted color trend, we also recommend adding something that serves to enhance this. An all-black room can feel depressing, but not if it’s done right. Pops of color, such as an accent wall, pillows, or piece of furniture, add a bit of fun into the mix. We recommend using bold colors, such as a neon green or salmon, to create a stark contrast with matte black pieces.

Change Fabrics With Slipcovers

You may want to keep your living room current, but you can’t buy all new furniture and throw pillows every year. Switching out fabrics is a cost effective and economical way to easily change your living room’s look. You want to be sure, however, that you invest in high-quality fabric that fits your personality. Purchase custom pillow covers and custom sofa slipcovers to update your current furniture and pillows. This will allow you to repurpose the same pieces for years to come.

Create Transitions

You can certainly play with opposites, but you should still create a sense of cohesion in a room. Be thoughtful as you decorate, and be sure that everything in the room contributes to the overall picture. You also should make sure your choices allow one thing to flow into another. If you want to take things a step further, don’t create a stark contrast between your living room and the rest of your home. The transition between the living room and the room that leads into it should feel seamless.

Use Functional Pieces

If you look hundreds of years back, most people were sure that everything in their home was completely functional. There was no spending time and money on things that weren’t useful to their way of life. Everything in your room should serve a purpose—even your artwork should inspire emotion from those who view it. Decorators today get clever with the ways they create functionality, and use tricks and furniture pieces to conceal drawers and televisions when they aren’t utilized.

Sustainability

How you impact the environment should play a large role in determining your furnishing decisions. More and more homeowners want to work toward respecting the environment every day. Invest in furniture that’s meant to last as opposed to chic pieces made with cheap materials. Wood furniture is always a good addition to any home. Eco-friendly flooring has also increased in popularity, as many people choose to install long-lasting bamboo or laminate floors.

Install Wallpaper

You may remember the wallpaper in your grandparent’s house was completely outdated. Like anything else, however, wallpaper is making a comeback. People use it in creative ways, such as on accent walls or furniture. You can purchase wallpaper in many patterns, and you’ll likely find something to suit your tastes. The one thing to keep in mind is that wallpaper is incredibly difficult to remove, so you need to commit to your decision.

Create a Bar Cart

It isn’t uncommon to have a bar in your basement, but people today like to put forth minimal effort from time to time to get their drinks. A bar cart isn’t only convenient, but it’s also an aesthetically pleasing addition to any room. There are several different styles you can find bar carts in, and you could even convert a completely different piece into one.

Have Large Windows

If you can fit it into your budget, consider installing large windows. Lighting is everything, and natural light is the best option on the market. Large windows are economical in that you use less energy, and they instantly open up a room. They’re also beautiful in any room, and they bring in some much-needed sunshine.

Make it You

Ultimately, you can follow any trend you’d like, so the most important thing is that you create a room that reflects your personality. Your home is meant to reflect your tastes and who you are as a person. It’s fun to integrate trends into our home, but it should be ones that we actually like. If someone says that minimalism is in but you like displaying multiple decorations, don’t think you have to get rid of them. Decorate your space how you want, and you’ll never go wrong.

Reasons to Use a Sectional Couch Cover

Covers are casual—instead of the harsh formality of many furniture designs, using a sectional couch cover (or slipcover for other kinds of furniture) gives the room a relaxed, laid-back look. This helps visitors feel at ease in your environment. Covers are easily washable—this makes them an excellent way to combat messes made my young children and pets. Instead of ruining your upholstery, the only thing at risk is a much less-expensive slipcover. If a sectional couch cover is part of your strategy for dealing with kids and pets, you’ll want to make sure it’s made of washable fabric—and then keep two on hand, so you can use one while the other is in the wash. Covers allow you to update and customize the look and style of your furniture—without replacing the costly furniture itself. If you have custom slipcovers made, there’s even more you can do. Covers can protect antiques—if you have old and valuable furniture in your home, using slipcovers can ensure that it stays protected. In addition to this, using covers over antiques can both update their appearance, and coordinate them, so they all look like they belong in the same environment. Covers can be easily changed with the seasons—thin, white covers look beachy and summery, while thick covers in warm colors are comforting for the winter. Covers are easy on your budget—rather than buying a new sectional couch, just buy a sectional couch cover, and you’re set. Covers can be purchased for almost all of your furniture—not just the couch. Daybed covers, ottoman covers, and recliner seat covers are also available, which lets you coordinate your look between furniture.

How to Choose a Couch Slipcover

To help you choose the right cover for your couch, loveseat, or recliner, answer the following questions. 1. How often is this piece of furniture used? If it’s going to see a lot of wear—for example, if you have company over often—you’ll want to get a colorfast cover that isn’t going to wear with frequent use. If your guests occasionally spend the night your couch, you might want a cover with antimicrobial qualities. If you can find a cover that is reversible, this will help, too. 2. Do you have kids or pets? If so, you’ll definitely want slipcovers made from a fabric that is easily washable, and that won’t stain easily. A waterproof cover might even be in order. To help with stability under heavy use, a cover with a non-skid backing can keep it on the furniture for longer. 3. Are you concerned about appearances? If you want your slipcovered furniture to look as fashionable as possible, you’ll want to buy custom-made or semi-custom covers. Semi-custom covers are designed specifically for the brand and model of furniture you have. Fully custom-made covers are designed and created according to your precise specifications and measurements. Fully custom-made slipcovers might not be machine-washable, however, requiring trips to the dry cleaners instead. But if style is your main concern, they’re your best option. On the other hand, ready-made slipcovers are manufactured in standard furniture sizes. To get them to look right, you’ll usually have to tuck-and-pin the fabric in and around the furniture. 4. What’s the size of your furniture? To get accurate measurements of your sofa or loveseat, measure from one outer arm to the other to get its length, and then from the front of the couch to the back for depth. Last, measure from the floor to the tops of the seat cushions to get the height. You’ll want to avoid buying a slipcover that just barely fits over your couch. It should slip on and off easily, having just enough stretch to wrap around the furniture fully. 5. What kind of fabric is right for you? If durability is your primary concern, some highly indestructible fabrics include canvas, twill blends, denim, and cotton. (Cotton especially is lightweight, yet durable, capable of withstanding high temperatures. Best of all, it’s highly breathable.) Fabrics like velvet and chenille, while heavy-duty, won’t conform well to the shape of your furniture. Fabric with a water-resistant coating is necessary for use outdoors. Microfiber and polyester fabrics offer a more fitted appearance, but they’re also more lightweight. For a very sophisticated look, wool and silk are nice choices, but they can only be dry cleaned.

Some cheaper slipcovers have the reputation of being sloppy, ill-fitting, and outdated, but this is not the case when it comes to the slipcovers offered by SlipcoverShop.com. In fact, perfectly fitting ottoman covers are so polished, you might think its part of your ottoman's original design. The fact that slipcovers are removable gives you a perfect way to spruce up your furniture with different designs. Here are four reasons why you should try slipcovers.  

• They can cover more than sofas and chairs: Slipcovers are typically known to cover your sofas and chairs, but there are many other items you can slip a cover over to spruce up your house, lounge, or resort. For instance, you can include pillow covers for your throw pillows and bed pillows to change up your bedroom's look; you can also get different designs for your pet bed covers; you can try out different ottoman covers for a pop of color in your living room; you can even choose an outdoor twin mattress cover for that afternoon nap under the sun. But don’t leave your patio hanging! Add character and color to your patio furniture with fun cushion covers for any occasion.

• Update a tired dining set: Your dining set may be worn out, or you may be looking for a change. Try custom made pillows and slipcovers before you spring for a new set. Slipcovers are less expensive and guarantee a fresh new look for your dining room. You can have slipcovers customized, so they don’t cover the entire seat if that’s not your cup of tea. With a customized design, you will get to show off the parts you love about your dining set while covering up what’s not so great.

• Slipcovers updates and protects antiques: Do you have an antique you would like to blend with the rest of your furniture? Slipcovers can help protect the antique piece of furniture from scuffs, scrapes, and the particularly furry friend. After all, pets love to lounge on soft ottoman covers.

• They are amazingly chic: When you hear the word slipcovers, you might think of loose and floppy designs. Let’s be honest; off the shelf, covers will never fit perfectly. Today, ottoman slipcovers, chair covers, and daybed covers are smart and tailored to perfection when you want to sprinkle elegance and poise in a room. If this is the look you are after, you have to opt for custom-tailored slipcovers. Look for high-quality makers who produce slipcovers using different fabrics and have a variety of colors and prints available. Great slipcovers often use cotton because it's lightweight, a natural material, breathable, and it can withstand high temperatures. Just be sure to look for slipcover makers who offer a tailored fit.

  Furniture Today estimates that future furniture sales in the US will continue to grow, reaching an all-time high of $122 billion by 2020. The U.S. hotel industry makes over $208 billion each year and uses part of that revenue for ottoman covers. This is one industry that knows the value of slipcovers and uses their functionality and practicability to their advantage. Try some of the elegant designs offered by SlipcoverShop.com to see your home flourish.

We know how it can be: you've just dropped a significant amount of money on a brand new couch, and only realized after the fact how chaotic your household is. Whether you've got animals running rampant, a few messy children, or are firmly established in your "eating on the couch" ways, you still expect this major purchase to last a good while -- and you're not alone: 91% of sofa-buyers don't plan on needing to buy another one for at least five to nine years! Luckily, there's nothing to worry about; a sofa slipcover will keep your couch safe and secure without sacrificing its class or style. However, you now face one more decision: to buy custom or pre-made? Here are a few things that may help you narrow it down.

Shape

Both custom and ready-made slipcovers come in just about the same types of fabric (cotton, denim, suede, etc.), so rather than focusing on how you want it to look and feel, you should consider the shape of the piece you're trying to protect. Fortunately, most sofas and couches are pretty much the same size and shape, so finding a suitable sofa slipcover is pretty just left to your personal choice. However, if your sofa is the only one of its kind, a ready-made cover will probably look bulky and unnatural. Use your best judgment when browsing options.

Urgency

Although delivery times have certainly been reduced in this age of instant gratification that we live in, custom covers will always take longer because they need to be designed and crafted first, by real people! If you're throwing a party in three days, your best bet is pre-made; if you just considered that having a slipcover would be wise for no immediate reason, you can absolutely take the time necessary to have a custom cover made just for you.

Budget

Custom anything is going to be more expensive than alternatives that are produced in bulk. If you only have a limited amount of money (or simply don't want to spend above a certain number), pre-made sofa slipcovers are an easy and affordable way to protect your furniture. Otherwise, there's no harm in splurging a little. No matter what you choose, what's important is that your needs are met! Slipcovers are ideal for all types of furniture: from recliner seat covers to pillow covers -- even pet bed covers! -- slipcovers are about protecting your furniture. Ready-made doesn't necessarily mean low-quality, so focus on your own personal wants and desires.

Regardless of your budget, you can revitalize the looks of your living room. While daydreaming about making an upgrade is fun, reality sets in when you have to pay for improvements. Instead of adding new looks all at once, establish a decorating plan that you can incorporate over time. For example, if your budget is limited (around $100), declutter your living area and rearrange the furnishings. To add a bit of interest, paint an accent wall. By removing the clutter, your space will look instantly larger. Plus, modernizing in this way is absolutely free. The same is true for rearranging the furnishings. If your sofa is situated against the wall, move it toward the center of the room. Match the paint for the accent wall with the color of your couch.

Add New Artwork and Plants

If you have a bit more to spend, declutter your living space, paint the walls, and include new art and plants. Begin with smaller plants to save cash. Choose a piece of art that is either a limited-edition print or an original painting. If you cannot afford a limited edition or painting, include a collage of photos—in gallery picture frames—of nature scenes.

Add Some Pillows

Can you spend around $500? If so, declutter, paint, include plants and art, and warm up the space with textiles. For example, the addition of a throw over an armchair or an arrangement of cushiony pillows on the couch will instantly modernize your space’s appearance. If you have extra to spend, buy some new curtains, Venetian blinds, or shutters.

Install New Lighting

If you can spend around $700, get rid of the excess clutter, paint the wall, add plants, hang artwork, include textiles, hang curtains, and install new lighting. For example, you might consider adding an overhead light, or if you have a ceiling light, install a dimmer switch. Recessed lighting can also be installed to provide a soothing ambience.

Re-upholster a Tired-looking Chair

If you have a fairly large amount to spend ($1,000), do all the things previously outlined plus replace some of your furnishings. For example, maybe a chair looks tired and needs updating. If the frame is in good condition, you might consider having it reupholstered or doing the work yourself. By reupholstering the chair, you have increased choices with respect to colors and fabrics. If you find a new chair you like better, you may also consider switching out the old furnishing.

Add a New Rug

Do you have a bit more to spend? Trying adding a new rug to the living area. Make sure the accessory adequately fits the space. One of the most common decorating errors is featuring an area rug that is too small. A rug that is generously sized enlarges a room’s appearance, yet makes the space look cozier and more inviting.

Replace the Sofa

If you do not have any budget constraints, put out the money for a new sofa too. This is more of the most notable changes you can make to a living room. A better sofa will last a lot longer. Therefore, select a couch that is the highest quality for what you wish to spend. If you have pets or kids in your home, select a darker-hued, stain-resistant material. Refreshing your living room is easier than you think. Even on a small budget, making some upgrades can make a big difference in how a room looks and feels.