Are you looking for a great new look in your home but don’t know what decorating style to go for? Here are five popular decorating styles and their basic looks which might help you choose a style that’s right for you.
1. Cottage Style
The cottage decorating style is great if you want a relaxed and informal feeling. Many people think that you need to be by the beach to adopt this type of style but that is simply not true, you can pull it off no matter where you live. This style is characterized by light crisp colors and informal accessories. Organic rugs, slipcovers on the furniture, and vintage items are often used to enhance the style. Of course, it also incorporates elements of the seaside in its artwork and accessories – if you love to collect shells the cottage decorating style is perfect for you since you have many places to display them.
2. Country Decorating
The country decorating style has been a classic for ages and is a great style for people who like to collect primitive antiques. The style is characterized by more earthy tones as well as more organic items. It is plain in style with furniture and window treatments that have clean straight lines. Many people love the style because of the subtle look of milk paint that is often used on furniture and accessories. Country decorating goes good with painted wood or stained wood and is great if you like to use a lot of baskets and wooden containers.
3. Rustic Decorating
The rustic look is perfect for people who love the outdoors. Here you will find outdoor items brought inside such as old skis, birds nests, plants, and even furniture and chandeliers made out of twigs, branches, and antlers. Often you will find that the style reminds you of a log cabin or large but you don’t have to have that type of a home to use it. Typical colors of the rustic decorating style are earth tones.
4. Southwestern Decorating Style
The South Western decorating style is eclectic and interesting. Often using native Southwestern rugs, you can have this style with reds and blacks or go for more pastel of Aquas and peaches. While rugs and accessories might be colorful, the wall paint should be a more neutral color, and often white looks best. Using Southwestern pottery and plenty of wrought iron accessories and wall hangings will lend authenticity to this style even if you don’t live in the Southwest.
5. Zen Style
If you want a soothing and relaxing style it doesn’t have a lot of clutter, then the Zen decorating style is what you might want to choose. Here, you’ll be using light colors for your overall decorating scheme – a very light sage green works great. Minimize the accessories, just a few things here and there. Furniture should be plain with clean straight lines – nothing too distracting. Add a couple of great bamboo plants and a waterfall and you’ve got a soothing and interesting look to any room.
Choosing from decorating styles to makeover your home can be challenging. Try looking in decorating books or magazines to find the perfect style that appeals to you and then figure out how you can incorporate that same look in your home.