“Creativity is straddling the tension, leaning into the discomfort, and finding your way through the dark.” – Brene Brown
When the world outside is getting you down, home is often the one place you can be yourself. That’s the wonderful thing about having a place to call ‘home’. Whether you own or rent, you have the freedom to create a world you love to live in.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or transform your living area into a citrus sensation!
Here, we offer some living room ideas that will help you find your way out of the dark; help you get out of that funk.
Be eclectic: Mix and match like your life depends on it
If you want to get out of a funk, perhaps it’s time to step outside your comfort zone. Being eclectic doesn’t mean buying absolutely everything from the local op shop or carting out everything from storage. It’s about choosing and buying a few select pieces that you’d like to display and letting them tell the story.
1. Explore dot paintings
ECLECTIC: Combine a dot painting like ‘Intersection’ with classic interior styling
2. Create some eye candy
WOW: Organised clutter is not clutter at all, with a careful selection of choice cushions, artworks and floral arrangements.
Shout it out: Embrace bold colours
While the psychology of colour is a fascinating subject, the trick is simply choosing daring colours that still make you happy and running with those. But run with it big time. Think bold. Think bright. Paint your mood a different colour from what it’s used to. To shift your state of mind, shock it a bit.
3. Be bold, fearless and modern
BE BOLD: Don’t be afraid to go crazy with colour with this ‘Mask Of Emotions’ print, a bright wall and a mad chair.
4. Spread flower power
By DecorDots.
YES: Accept positively into your life with flower upon flower of colourful stylings.
Awaken your soul with some citrus zing
Give yourself a reason to wake up in the morning. If the outdoor world is getting you down, bring some greenery inside. Make it fresh! Citrus is soul food.
5. Splice up your life
ZING: Nothing looks better with the oranges, lemons and limes in this ‘Citrus Slices’ print than natural browns and tan tones.
6. Get into the lime light
By Jonny Valiant.
IRRESISTIBLE: Lime and white (or apple and eggshell) give this living space a fresh, modern feel.
Be a cool cat: Go monochrome all the way
Already a bit hyper? Need to calm down a bit? Monochrome interior decoration and artwork will calm your senses without dulling them.
7. Calm your spirit
FIND BALANCE: Go large and monochrome with a ‘Snowstorm in Central Park, New York City’ print within a minimalist interior.
8. Appropriate different shades of grey
By DecorDots.
UNITY: Greys, whites, blacks and tans cleverly meld to make a small living space appear larger than life.
Get your vintage on: Take inspiration from yesteryear
If you’re not coping with your city’s noisy, busy concrete jungle, shun the modern world and invite a piece of yesteryear into your living space. Think vintage, romance, femininity, French chic…
9. Enjoy a French twist
FRENCH TWIST: All it takes is a chic sofa and this ‘Vintage Blue Butterflies’ wall art print.
10. Try shabby chic
By Lulu Tapp.
REVIVE YOUR LIFE: A few white throws and rustic timber add ons will give your living space a fashionable ‘shabby chic’ look.
Yeah baby: Jump on the retro trend
Lost the fun? Bring it back with the love and spunk of the 60s and 70s. Inspire love of self, Austin Powers style, and you will find good times again.
11. Oh, be-have.
YEAH BABY: Combine a retro Austin Powers decor with this cheeky pop art ‘I’m just not sure’ print to attract some sexy times.
12. Put the ‘grrrr’ in swinger baby yeah!
GROOVY: Nothing screams ‘love shack’ better than a shag carpet, a nature mural and psychedelic art.
Spark romance: Ignite a little fire
Sick of being single? Or your relationship has lost its spark? Don’t shrug off the importance art plays in inspiring passion.
13. Get the heat on
STEAMY: This ‘Embrace’ print will heat things up in the living area. But what will you hang in the bedroom?
14. Bring back old romantic
By Shabby Fufu.
WHIMSICAL: You don’t have to be in a relationship to create a place of love and romance.
Create a sanctuary to inspire well-being
Be your own Zen master at home by creating a living space that inspires meditation, spiritual reflection and quiet times without it being a boring chore.
15. Find the calm
TRANQUIL: Create calm with neutral tones and this stunning print from Wall Arts Prints’ Zen Collection.
16. Get a piece of peace
From Interior Designipedia.
CALM DOWN: Add earthy tones to a neutral urban decor to create a living space that’s rich with peace.
Scratch those itchy feet: Celebrate multiculturalism
Love to travel? Love mixing with people from all walks of life? Lift your spirits by creating a home environment that celebrates love, acceptance, people and places.
17. Discover the best of Islam
LIVE AND LEARN: This stunning ‘Turquoise Tiles’ Islamic art print melds beautifully with modern furnishings, giving a room a rich, almost art deco feel.
18. Mix in Morocco
By Justina Blakeney.
ETHNIC HUES: Bring a melting pot of cultures to your home, with textiles and textures from Morocco and Turkey.
Get funky with the ultimate contemporary space
Say goodbye to funk and hello to funky. Declutter your mind by decluttering your space. Got a bit of spare cash? Do something daring with it – buy a new piece of art, a gas fire, an indoor slide. The options are endless.
19. Deliver dynamism
IMAGINE: Bring a contemporary living room to life with this ‘Dynamic Dreaming’ print.
20. Make friends with metal
MAGIC: Turn a modernist space into a land of make believe with an internal slide.
Be brave: Let your personality shine
It’s OK to be different. Own it. Lean into the discomfort and give your conservative friends something to really talk about. Here are a few ideas that will get your creative juices flowing.
21. Party on
CELEBRATE: Transform an otherwise conservative decor into a party palace with this ‘Ready To Party’ watercolour.
22. Don’t look back
ALL THE FUN: Who needs to even leave the house when you’ve got a skate park in your living room?
Ready for a change? Start your creative journey now with a new piece of art.
