The Best Living Room Accessories For You

Even the best furniture can only go so far when it comes to designing the living room of your dreams. Accessories and decorations breathe life into your living room, giving this space warmth, personality and flair. Traditional accessories such as fluffy throw pillows and table centerpieces are only the beginning. Discover some new ways you can add just the right touches to your living room to create a space your family and friends will love.

Exploring Shades of Light

Lighting is one of the simplest tools you can use to establish a particular mood for your living room. Your lighting choices might make this space feel cheerful, romantic, cozy or sophisticated. Depending on the atmosphere you'd prefer, you may want to try:

• Freestanding floor and table lamps: Freestanding lamps are great for task lighting. You can use them to shed light on your favorite spots for reading, knitting or other hobbies. These portable lamps can also be used for accent lighting to draw attention to any feature or area of your living room you'd like to emphasize.

• Candles: Nothing says romance like soft candlelight. To create a warm, romantic mood, candles are available in shapes and colors to fit any décor.

• Ceiling lighting: With a variety of styles to choose from including domes, drums, mushrooms and pendants as well as monorail or track lighting options, you can achieve a diffused or focused lighting effect.

• Colored light bulbs: For a touch of whimsy, why not try some colored light bulbs in your living room lighting fixtures. From romantic reds to restful blues, colored bulbs are an easy, inexpensive way to enhance the feel of your living room.

• Fireplaces: The warm glow of a fireplace will make your living room feel safe, cozy and yes, romantic as well. If your budget doesn't permit adding a real fireplace, you can install an affordable electric one. Today's faux fireplaces offer the realistic look of firelight and some will even heat your room.

• Natural light: Don't forget the power of sunlight to give your living room a bright, cheery character. Stained glass panels and sun catchers enhance the effect with their splashes of color. Windows facing east bring in the light morning sun, while those facing west treat you to the warm, peaceful rays of afternoon. For the best of both worlds, a southern window will bring lasting brightness to your living room. You can also achieve a sunny feel by adding an overhead skylight.

• Wall sconces: Add sophistication to your living room with the elegant accent light of wall sconces.

Warming up Your Walls

When decorating your living room, don't forget your walls. For a minimalist look, you can leave your walls without much embellishment and paint them with strong or soft color. For a cozier impression, here are some ways to accessorize your walls:

• Artwork
• Clocks
• Mirrors
• Shelving
• Shadow boxes

Living with Natural Beauty

Green plants and flowers invite the beauty and perfection of nature into your living room. Whether you choose a large peace plant for your floor, a small African violet for your windowsill or fresh cut flowers for your coffee table or mantle, your living room will feel more alive and friendly.
If you don't have a particularly green thumb, spider plants and pothos (variegated philodendron) are very easy to keep healthy. Succulents and cactus plants require even less maintenance.
Faux plants are another option for those who don't have the time or desire to care for a plant. Forget about the tacky fake plants of the past; today's imitations are so realistic your guests may not be able to tell the difference!

Showcasing Personal Collections

The things you collect and create say a great deal about who you are. Your living room is a perfect place to share your personality and talents with friends and family. You may want to display some of these items on your mantle, shelves, or accent tables:

• Antiques
• Musical instruments you play
• Awards you or family members have won
• Family photos
• Favorite books
• Geodes and other natural crystals
• Glass, pottery and sculpture you've created or collected

You don't have to stick with traditional decorations to make a statement with your personal collection. You can display almost anything that interests you in an appealing way. Even something as unexpected as a collection of vintage toys can make your living room a place where people want to gather.

Accessorizing Your Floor

When considering living room accessories, your floor may be the last thing that comes to mind, however, you can really pull the room together by working with this area. In addition to large, welcoming potted floor plants, some ways to accessorize your floor include:

• Accent tables: Small accent tables open space to display other accessories or give guests and family a place to put down a beverage or plate.

• Area rugs: Add color, texture and warmth to your living room and take attention away from worn carpets or flooring.

• Coat, shoe or umbrella racks: If your living room is also your front entry room, keep clutter under control by providing attractive places for family and guests to put their things when they come in.

Exploring Your Possibilities

You don't have to follow any strict rules when adding accessories and decorations to your living room. The only limit is your own imagination. Your unique choices will enhance the beauty and comfort of your family gathering space. So explore the possibilities and have fun expressing yourself as you create a living room you'll truly enjoy living in!