1. Mirrors give the illusion of space

Place mirrors on closet doors to refresh the interior and visually expand a small room.

2. A small mirror can become a cute decoration

You can turn an ordinary plastic-framed mirror into a beautiful interior decoration using rope and glue.

3. Put a beautiful and practical jar organizer on the wall

A jar organizer will save space in your bathroom and become a nice interior decoration.

4. Make a lampshade a piece of art

Replace your old lampshade with a new and stylish one. Here are instructions for making origami.

5. A colorful print on curtains can refresh any room

Bring a colorful print to your plain curtains to renew the interior.

6. Hang curtains closer to the ceiling to create the illusion of large windows

Hang curtains as close to the ceiling as possible to make windows look bigger.

7. A long shower curtain makes the bathroom look more spacious

Use the same idea to get the illusion of a high ceiling in the bathroom; just hang a long shower curtain close to the ceiling.

8. Create an unusual rod for curtains

An unusual rod for curtains will emphasize the style of the interior and show off your great taste.

9. Creative ties will make curtains look attractive

Lovely and unusual ties like these will be the highlight of the interior.

10. New handles will refresh your cupboards

No need to buy new furniture to refresh the interior. Sometimes, new small details are all you need to drastically change the room.

11. Create a colorful frame for the TV

Use a colorful frame to highlight a TV in the room.

12. Try to hide annoying wires

Use a shower rod to hide wires.

13. Make cables part of the decoration

Besides hiding wires and cables, you can also situate the cables in different ways to make them look more attractive.

14. Create a stylish headboard

15. Easily build a bed canopy using curtain rods

Use curtain rods to build a bed canopy and let your childhood dream come true!

16. Use drawers to increase storage space

Drawers under the bed will help you increase space for storing things and keep your home organized.

17. Paint linoleum to upgrade the floor

You can refresh old linoleum by painting wide contrasting stripes on it.

18. Dark colors make a ceiling look higher

Dark ceilings and light walls will add depth and finesse to the interior.

19. A framed mirror looks more luxurious

A beautiful framed mirror will give the bathroom a finished appearance.

20. Cover outlets and switches with colorful cases

You can perfectly fit electrical outlets and switches into the interior design by decorating them with scrapbook paper, mosaic tiles, or other small items.

However, with all the benefits of hardwood floors, one must also pay attention to matching the wall color to the flooring color. When you’re trying to find the best hardwood floor and wall color combinations, you need to take into account the overall effect it brings to your room. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best hardwood flooring and wall color combinations to give you a better idea:

Wall Colors that Work with Light Hardwood Floor

Light hardwood floors are typically a good match with pale wall colors. For example, if you have white maple, light brown oak, or ash brown flooring, you can pair it with cool wall shades like pale blue or grey, while walnut or beech hardwood floors are best combined with warm wall colors such as pale yellow or beige. For a perfect combination of wall colors with light hardwood flooring, use the following ideas:

White

White walls look clean and orderly when paired with light hardwood flooring or any other floor type. Since white can look a little too stark, you can tone it down by adding colorful decor to your bare wall. All in all, there is no denying the popularity of white walls as a modern backdrop to light hardwood flooring.

Gray

If white is too bright for your taste, opt for grey as a toned-down alternative. You may go with either dark or light grey to pair with your light brown hardwood floors. There are some greys with blue or green undertones, which will create a calming vibe in living rooms and bedrooms.

Greys with warm beige undertones can also work with light hardwood floors to create an inviting space as shown in this example of a modern grey living room with light grey hardwood floors.

Dark Brown

A deep shade of brown used with light hardwood floors will work especially well in bedrooms. To keep your interior visually interesting, create an accent wall in dark brown so it stands out next to your light hardwood floors. Add other light and dark brown tones to the bedroom furniture to keep the design cohesive with your wall and floor.

Beige

Light beige can emit a comforting and warm feel in a room with light wooden flooring. And since beige is a neutral shade, it can be combined with any furniture or textile color to go with your white or light brown hardwood flooring.

Warm Shades

Aside from beige paint color for walls, other warm shades that work with light hardwood floors include orange, red or yellow. The latter is most often used in living rooms or dining rooms with beech or light oak wooden flooring. A sunny shade of yellow with light brown or grey wooden flooring is the perfect combination thanks to their pronounced warm tones.

Wall Colors that Work with Cherry Hardwood Floor

Cherry hardwood flooring is gaining popularity for kitchens and living rooms. This type of hardwood floor is an intermediate between light and dark wooden floors, but with an intensely reddish shade and even pattern. So as a mid-toned hardwood flooring, we thought it’s a good idea to include in our list of wall and floor color combo. The following wall colors work best with the cherry floor:

White

Pure white walls can look a little boring if they’re not blended with a dramatic color. Consider pairing them with cherry hardwood floors to add interest to your interior.

In fact, any shade of white like ivory or cream will go well with cherry flooring. Just like you can see in this stunning kitchen, the warmth of the golden cherry floors stands out against the pure white background. The designer has matched the flooring to the cabinets for a monochromatic design, which works very well to make a dramatic effect.

Green

As a contrasting color to cherry red floors, green is a natural choice for the walls. The rich tone of the cherry hardwood flooring goes very well with a soft shade of green like sage or olive. If you want to make your cherry hardwood flooring the focal point of the room, pale green paint color for the walls is a natural choice that makes the floor shine. Be careful when it comes to picking the right shade of green as a darker tone will steal the vibrance of the hardwood flooring.

In this modern kitchen, the cherry floor makes the most impact, with the soft green walls as the traditional, natural backdrop to the wooden cabinets and flooring.

Cool Blue

For a nautical-themed kitchen or bedroom, a beautiful wall color to pair with cherry hardwood floor is blue. Light blue complements cherry hardwood as the two create an inviting and peaceful space. Since light colors contrast cherry, you can make a statement by combining them in your kitchen, bedroom, or even dining room.

Red

You can make an even bigger statement by painting your walls red! Red walls with cherry wood flooring work nicely as a monochromatic design. A deep shade of red like burgundy or terra cotta isn’t too intense next to light cherry wood flooring. When used as an accent color, the red walls will contrast the light cherry hardwood floor. This color combo is ideal in formal living rooms or playrooms as shown in this example.

Wall Colors that Work with Dark Hardwood Floor

Dark hardwood floor colors include wenge, dark oak, hickory, and rosewood. These are beautiful shades of wood that look attractive in any room. But care must be taken when picking the right wall color in order to avoid making the room look too dark or gloomy. Here are the best wall paint colors that work with dark hardwood floors:

Off-White

Off-white is a muted version of white that works well with dark brown hardwood flooring. You can go as light as you like with your neutral wall, even a light cream will look sophisticated in a bedroom or living room. In general, white or off-white walls are classy next to dark floors, plus they brighten up the room.

You may paint the crown molding or ceiling trim bright white for a crisp finish.

Grey

Now if you want to introduce a different undertone to your living room or bedroom, then consider dark grey. Although this may not be the first neutral shade that comes to mind, it can look beautiful with dark hardwood floors as part of a formal interior design.

You may select a grey paint color with a blue or green undertone. Alternatively, you can paint the entire walls in a true grey color to make a dramatic statement as seen in this example. While the room may appear darker than some people like, the color combination should still be considered in a room with ample natural lighting.

Greige

Greige is a blend of grey and beige, which works nicely alongside dark hardwood floors. Greige walls can be used in any room, including the kitchen. This color is the perfect backdrop to a dark-toned hardwood floor such as oak. In fact, greige is the best neutral color that ties everything together in any room.

We love the color combinations in this kitchen. It features soft beige cabinets with stainless steel appliances, greige walls, and dark brown hardwood floors.

Blue

If you recall, we mentioned how beautiful light blue walls can look with cherry hardwood floors. But with dark hardwood floors, you may opt for a darker shade of blue as a nice contrast. A bold, crisp blue shade will pop next to brown hardwood flooring as both design elements provide a contrast in formal living rooms or modern bedrooms.

See how calming and soothing this room’s dark blue wall with dark brown hardwood floor feels. It is an ideal wall and floor color combination that emits an air of luxury.

Subtle Green

Dark hardwood floors can look gorgeous with soft green walls. This combination creates an ideal balance between the warm dark color of the flooring and the soft light color of the wall. Whether you prefer green walls for your living room, kitchen or bedroom, your dark hardwood floors can stand out with this soothing paint color.

We discovered that it is entirely achievable. Here are 20 low-cost ideas for updating the interior design that you should consider.

Tassel bed skirt

Want to change something in your bedroom? Here is an idea: you can decorate the bed skirt with bright yarn tassels.

Giving new life to old furniture

There are plenty of ways to repurpose your old furniture. An old table or unused chairs can be turned into something new and useful.

Colorful rugs

This is another way to decorate your house with yarn. You can make cute soft rugs of this material, and knitting skills are not required! You can even use your old clothes.

Renewed tiles

How to renew old tiles in the kitchen or bathroom without a big expense? Turns out, you can paint them.

Mosaic flowerpots

Your favorite cup is broken? Don’t be sad! You can use the broken pieces to decorate some flowerpots. Here is an instruction on how to do it. By the way, you don’t need to break dishes because you can use river rocks as well.

Transformation of an old door

It’s not only old furniture and clothes that are good for creating new pieces of interior decoration, as doors are quite useful in this case too.

Comfy office chairs

If you spend a lot of time sitting in such a chair, you probably want to make it more comfortable.

Cool mirror frame

Such a beautiful frame will turn any mirror into a masterpiece. You don’t need to be an artist to create this piece of decor, it’s all quite simple and inexpensive. Your guests will never guess what the frame on the right is made of.

Faux fireplace

Despite the fact that fake fireplaces don’t heat the room, they’ll make your house very cozy anyway. You can put some candles in it or use the fireplace as a shelf.

Elegant curtain tiebacks

An easy way to create a nice tieback is to use fabric tape or beads. But if you have spare time, you can try to sew a tieback yourself.

Pattern on the walls

Walls that have Moroccan-style patterns on them will make any room look very chic. You don’t have to look for a suitable wallpaper with patterns as you can create it all using a stencil. If you don’t like the idea of using paint, you can also decorate plain walls using a special tape.

Creative chandeliers

As with the mirror frames, it’s hard to guess what material these chandeliers are made of. We promise you, they are made of the easiest material.

Cute cushions

You can’t get rid of old clothes? Well, then don’t. It’ll be much better if you turn them into new cushions.

Unusual shelves

You can make cool shelves using old picture frames.

Wall panel decor

You think this wall panel is too expensive? Actually, it’s no more expensive than a high-quality shower curtain.

Stylish lamps

Such beautiful lamps can be made of regular vases or glasses and your favorite pictures.

Roman shades

A great way to renew the interior is to replace regular curtains with roman shades. And you can make them yourself by the way.

Chic bed headboard

It’s not necessary to buy a new bed, because you can transfigure your old one.

Nursery decorations

This decoration will be safe if you use LED lights that don’t get hot.

Handy board for notes

It’s also a hanger as well as storage for different bits and pieces.

Fortunately, there are certain designer-approved decorating tips you can use to avoid these typical blunders, such as the four-to-six-inch curtain rule and the rug size guidance. These easy methods of trade might assist you in creating a genuinely elevated and unforgettable space.

But first, a disclaimer: as with anything, rules are meant to be broken – particularly when it comes to creating a space that’s personal and unique. As you read on for the common decorating mistakes designers always notice, and what to do instead, treat it as friendly advice versus concrete dogma. And ultimately, design the home that you love (we’re pretty into that idea).

Over-Decorating

There’s an understandable temptation, especially in small spaces, to keep all the furniture and decor you’ve ever owned. This can result in an over-decorated space that feels too cramped and cluttered. Instead, it’s best to edit and pare back — saying goodbye to some pieces will ultimately result in a space that feels calmer, cozier, and more inviting.

Lining the Walls with Furniture

A common design mistake we see often is placing all of the furniture along the walls, leaving the center of the room bare and empty. While it might seem counterintuitive, floating some of the furniture off the walls (particularly pieces like sofas and accent chairs) will actually give the illusion of a larger, more layered, space.

Going All-In on One Design Style

Contrast is critical when trying to create a well appointed, visually arresting space. When a space feels like too much of any one thing — whether it’s all farmhouse, all classic, or all mid-century modern — it can feel boring. Contrast doesn’t just refer to mixing styles, but juxtaposing different colors, shapes, sizes, textures, patterns, finishes, eras, and more. For example, pairing a vintage-inspired round table with a luxe hide rug and a modern, geometric chandelier — the thoughtful mixing and matching makes it sing.

Catalog Cookie-Cutter

If everything in your home came from the same brand and feels lifted straight out of a catalog, that’s a designer no-no. The most interesting spaces include a curation of different elements —purchased, inherited, discovered, and thrifted. Weave in pieces from different brands, artifacts found locally and while traveling, and special elements that are personal to you, like an heirloom ginger jar from your grandmother or vintage sketches you found on a favorite trip. (Shameless plug: if you need help sourcing from different places and blending in your history, we know some Havenly designers who can help!)

Overhead Lighting Only

Relying only on overhead lighting can create a harsh and sterile atmosphere. A designer rule of thumb is layering in at least two to four additional lighting sources in every space, especially in living rooms, where you’ll be both lounging and hosting. Mix table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces to create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Hanging Artwork Too High (or Too Low)

We often find that artwork is hung too high (or sometimes too low), especially when positioned over a piece of furniture, like a sofa or sideboard. The common tendency is to leave a large amount of space between the artwork and the furniture, which makes the piece look like it’s floating, rather than a part of a cohesive vignette. Fortunately, there’s an easy rule of thumb for this: art should typically hang at eye level (of course, there are exceptions to every rule). When in doubt, mind the gap.

Buying a Rug That’s Too Small

We get it — it’s so tempting to save money and opt for a smaller rug, but in our opinion, this is not the area to skimp. When rugs are too small for a space, the room automatically feels unfinished and bare. It’s better to shop at a more wallet-friendly brand and purchase a rug that’s the appropriate size for your room and your layout, rather than investing in a smaller (but high-end) piece. The go-to designer rule is to make sure at least the front legs of all your furniture sit easily on the rug.

Buying Matchy-Matchy Furniture

To avoid that furniture superstore vibe, steer clear of matching coffee and accent table sets, or a matching bed-dresser-nightstand combo. Rather, create contrast (remember that tip?) with your furniture by mixing textures, tones, and silhouettes.

Skipping (or Cropping) Curtains

One of the most common small space design mistakes we see involves curtains, or lack thereof. We get it — if you’re tight on space, the last thing you want to do is block out natural light or city views. But curtains are like mascara for a designer — they make a space feel put together and complete. At Havenly, our rule of thumb is to always hang them wide and high: hang the curtain rod four to six inches above the window frame, and extend it outwards so that the curtains are just dusting the sides of the frame. That way, you’re not blocking any precious light. Second, curtains should touch the floor — no ankle crops here. Floor length curtains help create more visual height (particularly in a small space), and draw the eye upward.

Cliche Art

In general, we recommend avoiding generic printed quotes, particularly on wood blocks, that read “Live, Laugh, Love” or “Keep Calm…” You get it. Instead, fill your home with art that holds some meaning to you — whether purchased while traveling, discovered at a local flea market, passed down from a loved one, or simply a scene that makes you feel something. Of course, if the aforementioned word art does that for you, then by all means, go for it! (And we mean that.)

All Neutrals & No Warmth

Yes, there’s something serene and sophisticated about a neutral space, but an all-white palette can easily feel flat and unimaginative. If you like the timeless tranquility of neutrals, make sure to add much-needed warmth through contrasting shades of sand, beige, camel, and the like.

Decorating with Faux Flowers

You know the ones we’re talking about — the very stiff and artificial plastic florals commonly found at Hobby Lobby. While there are a lot of elegant and realistic options on the market these days, as designers, we are typically inclined to pass. Bringing in fresh flowers has always been a surefire way to connect a space to the natural world, so consider sticking to the real deal. That said, if longevity is your goal, then consider dried stems for a Modern Cottage-inspired aesthetic. Afloral has so many delicate and intriguing options!

Only Adding One Accent Color

Avoid leaning into one dominant color pop when decorating your space, like buying teal pillows, curtains, and artwork. When designers consider palettes, they artfully weave together a variety of hues. Mixing warm and cool tones, or even multiple shades of a single color, creates a more balanced and intriguing space.

Holding Onto Dated Furniture

Don’t get us wrong — college-era furniture definitely comes in handy once you graduate and start decorating your first space. We all need to start somewhere, both financially and design-wise. But it’s more about knowing when to retire pieces like futons, bean bag chairs, movie posters, and the like. Once you’re financially able, consider upgrading the futon to a more sophisticated daybed, swapping out the posters for artwork that inspires you, and investing in a proper dresser. It’s amazing how switching out a few old pieces can immediately breath new life into a space.

Playing it Safe

At the end of the day, well-designed spaces — the ones that make you think, Wow, now that’s a home — often involve a little bit of risk-taking. Whether it’s the addition of bold colors or patterns, a statement piece of furniture (we’re into curves these days), or tackling a new paint trend, our best advice is to never take design too seriously. Have fun, play around, try something new. The risk is often worth the reward.

The below creative holiday decorating ideas for every design style, from mid-century modern to coastal cool. Melissa Wagner, the lead designer, goes down each style, offering Christmas decorating tips and tricks along the way.

Holiday Decorating Ideas: Modern Farmhouse

When glamming up your farmhouse-style home for the holidays, Wagner recommends keeping things light, simple, and natural. Think: oranges, cloves, cranberries, and endless evergreen for decor, wooden candle sticks, and vintage jingle bells on a ribbon. “This aesthetic is all about the classic and traditional — embrace red and green plaid and all things rustic (like wooden serving bowls, ideally passed down through generations),” adds Wagner. “And don’t forget to bring the cozy — stock the living room with baskets of throw pillows and blankets, and stack wood in the fireplace for warmth all season long!”

Holiday Decorating Ideas: Mid-Century Modern

In Wagner’s opinion, a mid-century modern home doesn’t need a full-on makeover for the holidays. “There’s no need to swap out all of your artwork and decor — just add some seasonal greenery, mood lighting, and textiles like faux fur, shearling, subtle modern plaid, and velvet,” she explains. She especially loves brass or iron candle holders for this look, as well as classic evergreen wreaths and garland. No muss, no fuss, but still brings the holiday feels.

Holiday Decorating Ideas: Coastal Cool

As to be expected, coastal cool holiday style should feel as light, breezy, and laid-back as the off-season look. “Embrace your existing neutral color palette, and add in natural holiday items like a linen tree skirt and woven stockings,” she suggests. “Keep the evergreen light and minimal, and don’t be afraid to bring in some non-traditional coastal blooms, like hellebore, heather, or winter camellia.”

Holiday Decorating Ideas: Modern Luxe

First and foremost, a modern-luxe holiday home should stay true to its monochrome color palette of high-contrast blacks, whites, and light wood. When shopping for seasonal decor, embrace luxe materials and finishes like marble, brass, and glass or crystal (think: CB2’s line of onyx Christmas trees and decorative travertine sleds). “Bring in festive color with classic evergreen or red holly and poinsettias, but keep things clean and minimal,” adds Wagner.

Holiday Decorating Ideas: Classic Cozy

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a traditional home dressed up in its holiday finest. Take inspiration from the Home Alone house and go all out with jingle bells, mistletoe, reflective ornaments, ribbons, oversized evergreen trees, and a classic palette of red, green, silver, and gold. “Take your cozy factor and dial it up a notch — we’re talking dim lights, a roaring fire, mugs full of spiked cider and hot cocoa, and candles lit 24/7,” adds Wagner. “Maximalist? Minimalist? It doesn’t matter — it’s all about festive nostalgia with this look.”

The staircase connects the upstairs and downstairs, so it’s an excellent opportunity to show visitors what kind of decor they can expect in the upper areas of your home while also serving as a transition space. Here we look at staircase wall color combination ideas for a stylish stairway.

Monochrome

Black and White

For a classic yet striking look on a staircase, use simply black and white for a strong monochromatic theme. To ensure an elegant feel, opt for white walls and white marble stairs, and contrast this with black trim and some black and white vintage prints hanging on the walls in minimalist black frames.

Gray and Ivory

Gray and ivory make for a more neutral take on monochrome if you think of ivory as a variation of white and gray as a variation of black.

Choose a dark gray such as charcoal to create the most impact or a medium shade of gray for a more subtle contrast. Gray stair carpets and gray stair banisters set against white walls will look timeless and sophisticated.

Silver and Black

Black and silver offer a more glamorous alternative to the typical monochrome look. For the most stylish results with this color combination on a staircase, choose a black surface for the stairs themselves, such as wood that has been stained black or a black tile staircase, and use a black wallpaper with a textured pattern.

An example of this could be a black matte wallpaper with a black flocked pattern on it or a black matte wallpaper with a black glossy pattern printed on it. This will add texture and depth to the staircase without adding additional colors.

You can then add silver highlights such as silver picture frames on the walls and silver light fittings. Alternatively, choose a black wallpaper with a metallic silver pattern printed on it.

Classic Neutrals

Beige and Brown

Beige and brown are both warm tones that are easy to live with and create a wholesome, welcoming atmosphere in a home. These are also both natural tones that have links to the outdoor world, which again add to their ability to make us feel safe and soothed.

Use these colors on a staircase to create a tonal effect by choosing colors in the same tone but with varying shades. For example, you could opt for a pale tan color for your staircase carpet and a dark tan color for the wall paint. Alternatively, create a contrast by choosing more severe shades, such as cream and chocolate brown.

White and Gold

White and gold is a simple color combination that can be really effective on a staircase area because these are generally small spaces. Choose a warm color of hardwood for your staircases, such as oak or chestnut, and paint the staircase banisters and the walls in pure white.

Add gold accents such as gold picture frames on the walls and gold light fittings. You could also choose a white stair carpet runner and fix this in place with gold carpet runner rods to continue the gold and white theme.

Tan and Cream

Tan and cream make for a luxurious neutral color scheme. Choose deep pile cream carpets for your staircase and paint the walls tan, then add cream accents such as wall planters or a cream enamel chandelier.

This will also work in reverse with tan-colored flooring and cream walls, though this will read as more breezy and airy compared with comforting and cozy.

Black and Tan

Black and tan are both neutral colors, but when used together on a staircase, they will make for a more moody and dramatic look, as opposed to the soft and pale look you might associate with neutrals.

Choose a tan-colored floor surface for the stairs themselves, such as an oak stain on hardwood flooring, and continue this on any wooden stair banisters, then paint the walls in black. Ensure continuity by fixing wooden decorations to the stairway wall in a tan color, such as a hanging rattan heart wreath or wooden decorative signs.

Alternatively, select a black floor surface for your stairs, such as black carpet, or paint wooden stairs in a hard-wearing black paint, and then paint the walls in a rich tan shade. Complete the look with an arrangement of black frames in various sizes showcasing family photographs going all the way from the bottom of the staircase wall to the top.

Modern Neutrals

Dark Gray and Olive Green

Dark gray and olive green are both modern neutrals because they are colors heavily associated with nature, such as gray rocky mountains, gray clouds, and gray pebble beaches, as well as olive green foliage and mossy hills.

When used in an interior room, these two colors really compliment each other to create a contemporary natural look. On a staircase, stain wooden stairs in a gray tint, or opt for gray carpets. Paint trim in dark gray, and walls in olive green. Fix white wall planters to the staircase wall, with hanging houseplants draping down against the olive green backdrop.

Burnt Orange and Pale Gray

Burnt orange is a dark shade of orange that verges on brown. It is a color that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but it takes on a completely different style when paired with pale gray, which makes it feel much more modern.

Consider hardwood floors in brown tones with pale gray walls, and add burnt orange accessories. If you have space at the bottom of your staircase, you could use burnt orange-glazed plant pots to bring in splashes of this color or a burnt orange accent chair. Use a cool-toned pale gray, which will be balanced out by the rich warmth of burnt orange.

Forest Green and Soft Gray

Forest green looks dark and moody when used as a wall color, and this will be further intensified if your staircase lacks natural light. Choose a soft gray carpet to add a little light to the space, and continue with the theme of modern neutrals.

Contrasting Colors

Emerald Green and Blush Pink

Red is the contrasting color of green, but this color pairing can be too intense, so pink as a close relative of red makes for a nice alternative. Emerald green and blush pink create a luxurious and sultry look that can be a nice way to style a staircase as a way to introduce people to the more romantic rooms upstairs.

For a more lowkey look, use blush pink as a wall coloring with a neutral floor such as cream carpets or gray marble tiles, and add touches of emerald green with hanging houseplants on the walls and art prints with green motifs.

For a moodier look, choose emerald green wall paint and contrast this with blush pink painted stair railings and rose gold framed mirrors hanging on the walls.

Navy Blue and Terracotta

Navy blue is a popular color in interior design, and it can be a great choice for a staircase wall to make a bold statement. Add terracotta accents in the form of terracotta planters at the edge of the lower stairs. Terracotta works as a great contrast with navy because it is a shade of orange, which is the contrasting color for blue.

Turquoise Blue and Hot Pink

Turquoise and hot pink make for a really vibrant and playful contrast, so step outside of the box with these colors and have some fun with them. Paint the staircase wall in turquoise, and choose a shade of white or off-white for the stairs themselves.

Then contrast the turquoise by painting the stair railings in hot pink. Continue with flashes of pink by adding a painted pink wooden chair at the bottom of the staircase, or hang a pink sign on the turquoise wall. A bold printed wallpaper can also work really well on a staircase wall because it operates much like a feature wall.

Choose a turquoise and hot pink wallpaper, and paint the rest of the walls in white to allow it to really stand out.

Lilac and Lemon Yellow

Purple and yellow are opposite each other on the color wheel and are, therefore, contrasting colors. Lilac and lemon yellow are both softer shades of purple and yellow, so they make for a more subtle contrast. For a modern take on a country classic, choose golden beige carpets on your stairs with a lilac and lemon yellow printed wallpaper on the staircase wall.

A dainty floral print will enhance the country cottage vibe, or use a plaid print in the same colors for a pretty traditional look.

These sofas have been popular for a long time and show no signs of going out of style anytime soon. They’re a terrific investment for this reason since they’re so adaptable in terms of how they can be decorated to fit any area.

If you have a Chesterfield sofa, you might be thinking about what other furniture or accessories you should use to complement it. This will mostly be determined by the aesthetic you want to achieve, and there are plenty of alternatives for producing stylish decor with this type of sofa.

Here we look at the Chesterfield sofa in-depth and recommend what pieces to use with it.

Here are the straightforward answers if you need one.

What is a Chesterfield Sofa?

A Chesterfield Sofa is a style of sofa that can be easily identified by its low seat and deep-cushioned upholstery with buttons. These sofas are a symbol of elegance and luxury and are most commonly thought of as being leather sofas, though they can be found in just about any fabric you like.

This is a classic sofa that has a long history going back several centuries, and yet it is still the epitome of style today, proving that some pieces really never do go out of fashion.

The History of the Chesterfield Sofa

The Chesterfield Sofa has English origins, where it actually started out as a chair. In the early 1700s, a wealthy writer and politician named Lord Philip Stanhope, the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, commissioned a chair by a local craftsman.

He stipulated that the chair must be suitable for a gentleman to sit upon it without his suit suffering from creases.

It is believed that he was so fond of his chair that, upon his deathbed, he ordered that the chair be inherited by his Godson, Solomon Dayrolles. After the death of Stanhope, the chair was displayed in Dayrolles home, where it received much attention from visitors and guests.

Dayrolles was also a respected member of society, being a popular diplomat, and people began to make requests to other craftsmen that reproductions of the chair be made. At this point in history, the reach of the British Empire was quite impressive, and the fashions of the British were emulated all over the globe.

The arrival of the Victorian era heralded the movement of combining style with comfort. It was during this period that the Chesterfield chair was given an overhaul and transformed into a more comfortable sofa.

The Chesterfield as redesigned by the Victorians is very similar to the Chesterfields we see today, so very little has changed in terms of the style of Chesterfield sofas over the last century, though with the advent of new technology and materials, they are now considered to be much better suited to modern-day relaxing and lounging.

What to Pair with a Chesterfield Sofa

A Chesterfield sofa has a very specific look, and most often, it will be the centerpiece of a space. This means that we need to find ways to style it that will complement the look of the Chesterfield without detracting from it.

The type of interior style you want to achieve is going to affect what type of accessories and other furniture items you pair with your Chesterfield. Here we will look at some simple recommendations to follow that will work in a variety of interior design styles.

Use a Large Coffee Table

When choosing a coffee table to pair with your Chesterfield sofa, size really does matter. As Chesterfields are quite bulky, dominant pieces of furniture, you will need to balance this out with an oversized coffee table.

Keep the height of the coffee table low so that it does not detract from the Chesterfield or start to look like a dining table. A large coffee table will level out the room and ensure that a Chesterfield sofa doesn’t stick out as the chunkiest piece of furniture in the space.

Use Contrasting Cushions

A Chesterfield sofa typically has a very classic look, and this will especially be the case if your Chesterfield is upholstered in leather or in a neutral-colored fabric. To bring the Chesterfield to life and ensure it doesn’t look dated, choose a range of contrasting cushions to display along the seats of the sofa.

Prints will work really well to bring some personality to the room, such as animal prints or geometric patterns.

If your Chesterfield is a warm color such as brown, balance this out with vibrant cool cushion covers such as emerald green velvet or navy blue and white zig-zag patterned material.

Tie in a Matching Rug

If you have inherited a much-loved family heirloom Chesterfield, which you want to keep, but you also don’t want to base your entire interior decor style and color scheme around it, you will need to find a way to make it feel like it fits in the space.

This is also a common problem for people who have paid a lot of money for a Chesterfield sofa and don’t want to replace it; however, they want to update their color scheme, and the sofa doesn’t seem to match.

An easy way to solve this problem is with a simple rug. Choose a rug in the same color as your Chesterfield sofa. For example, if you have a tan leather sofa, you could pick a tan-colored jute rug, or for a blue velvet Chesterfield, choose a blue deep pile rug.

Position the rug on the floor close to the sofa, but not directly underneath it or next to it. It should be at least three feet away from any edge of the sofa. This will help ground the sofa to the room and help it feel like it belongs in the room.

The rest of the colors in your room will not need to match the sofa or the rug, though they should be complimentary. By using this trick, you can incorporate your Chesterfield into any type of interior decor style or colored room.

Should Your Chair Match Your Chesterfield Sofa?

The quick answer to this is that it can match your sofa, but it doesn’t have to. An accent chair can be exactly that; an accent to the rest of the room, including the sofa.

If you want to achieve a traditional look in your living room, then absolutely buy a matching Chesterfield chair to pair with your Chesterfield sofa.

However, if you want to create a more modern look in your home, then you should choose a chair to go with your Chesterfield sofa that doesn’t match. While Chesterfield sofas have a very classic look, they can work really well in contemporary, rustic, or even industrial-style spaces.

If you have a leather Chesterfield sofa in a neutral color, such as tan, contrast this with a velvet accent chair in a bold pop of color such as teal. While the chair doesn’t need to match your Chesterfield sofa, it should complement it.

While we’re all for giving your entire house the North Pole treatment (see out these Christmas-worthy living rooms), there are so many tiny ways to make a big difference, such as adding a few handcrafted ornaments to your tree or decorating your staircase in red and green.

Put Cards on Display

Tie a trio of fresh greens to a wooden hanger and hang it somewhere within reach, so you can clip on Christmas cards as soon as they arrive.

Round-Up Vintage Bulbs

Head to your local flea market (or grandma’s attic!) to find a bunch of festive-colored bulbs. Then glue them around a wreath form, dusting a few bulbs with glitter as you go along.

Cast a Warm Glow

Fill glass lanterns with LED twinkle lights and put them by your front door, inside your fireplace or along your stairs to light the way.

Personalize Your Place Settings

Once you have your guest list squared away, make a monogram napkin ring to place at every seat. Simply, twist and form a pipe cleaner to look like the letter of their first name, then secure it to a napkin ring in the same color.

Combine Greens and Glitter

Mix in metallic garland and glittery pillar candles with fresh greens to add a touch of glam to your space.

Trade Stockings for Mugs

Perhaps, it’s time to start a new tradition: This year, keep your stockings packed away and round up a matching Christmas mug, one for each family member. Fill them with sweet treats, tiny trinkets or whatever else Santa normally leaves behind.

Opt for Red Accents

Red is a sign of the season, so go all-out with festive pillows, berry wreaths and plaid throws in the cheery hue.

DIY a Christmas Card Tree

You probably receive a countless number of Christmas cards (which isn’t a bad thing), so pick the very best to display on your wall. Arrange them in a Christmas tree shape for a festive look.

Give Santa a Warm Welcome

There’s no doubt that Santa and Rudolf will appreciate a handwritten chalkboard greeting when they swing by for milk and cookies.

Decorate a Tree With Citrus

Who said fruits have no place in your Christmas decor setup? For a fun twist, consider making your very own garland out of dried citrus. Simply use twine, nylon thread, or wire to assemble it.

Craft a Paper Leaf Garland

Put your creativity on full display by dressing your Christmas dinner table with a DIY leaf garland. All you need are green craft paper and fun red jingle bells to complete the look.

Incorporate Pops of Plaid

Boost your living room’s cozy factor with an assortment of stockings in a festive plaid pattern.

Arrange Felt Tree Hurricanes

Go for a playful, crafty look by sprucing up your table with glass hurricanes decked out in felt Christmas trees. Play up the green theme with complementary dishware, cloth napkins, and spruce branches.

DIY an Advent Calendar

If you’re not feeling traditional chocolate or toy advent calendars, make your own with paper tags and on-theme trinkets. That way, the whole family can join in on the fun.

Wrap Garland Around Bedposts

Your kids won’t have to worry about any rogue pine needles with this felt holly leaf garland. Just weave it between the bedposts and bed frame to ensure that it stays in place all night long.

Build a Makeshift Fireplace

No fireplace? No problem! Attach this cloth wall hanging, hang stockings with care, and easily remove it once the festivities are over.

Go for the Candy Effect

Skip the traditional red and green, and opt for candy-colored ornaments instead. Add some candy canes and peppermint garland for good measure.

Deck the Walls

When you have too many gifts underneath the tree, it’s time to get creative. Enter this gift-covered bookshelf, complete with matching wrapping paper and black, white, and silver touches.

Lean on Evergreens

Bring in different textures and colors by adding greens, plaid, and knits all in one Christmas-ready space. And if you use real evergreen, it’ll smell equal to festive.

Decorating the door

Why don’t you start decorating your house with the entrance door?  You can also decorate the walls of your rooms, the fridge, or the cabinet doors.

Wall-mounted Christmas tree

If you have a small apartment, you can save the room with a wall-mounted Christmas tree. All you need is imagination and decorations.

Stairway banister decoration

If you have banisters, don’t ignore decorating them. You can use toys, lights, and branches. Or make a slide for toy penguins. 

Ice lanterns

If you live in a house or are planning to celebrate Christmas out of town, you should consider the idea of street lanterns made of ice. 

Ornament topiary

An ornament topiary is another simple decoration idea that can allow you to experiment. You can use old toys, make a small topiary for the house, or a big one for the street.

Vases with lights and toys

Vases can be used not only for flowers but also for toy decorations that you couldn’t put on your Christmas tree. Wrap them with lights inside of a vase and your place will become way cozier.

Setting the table

The art of setting the table doesn’t have to be really difficult. For example, this is how you can turn regular plates into snowmen.

Lights inside bottles

Christmas lights and glass bottles are all you need to make these beautiful decorations. 

Lanterns made of jars

You can use glass jars and salt to make these “snowy” lanterns

Decorating with presents

You can not only hide the presents under the Christmas tree but also use them for unique decor. The only danger is that your family will want to know what’s inside before it’s time to open them.

Basket with logs and spruce branches

This is a very simple decoration for people who don’t have a lot of time. Just take a basket, put Christmas lights, and spruce branches or logs inside. 

DIY Abstract Art

Large-scale abstract art pieces typically have equally large price tags. But with a few swirls of watercolor paint on a blank canvas, you can create your own free-form masterpiece for a fraction of the cost. The best part: You don’t have to be an artist or a professional painter to create a gorgeous work of art.

Minimalist Masterpiece

After you’ve replaced closet panels or interior doors, what should you do with the old ones? Turn them into art, of course! This DIY project uses unconventional materials (including doors as oversized canvas panels and a mop as a paintbrush) to create modern, monochromatic artwork that’s sure to spark conversation.

Sculptural Statement Piece

Hit the hardware store for inexpensive galvanized sheet metal to create this three-dimensional wall art. After creating diamond shapes, string them together using before hanging the arrangement from a curtain rod. A coat of metallic gold spray paint makes this sculptural beauty shine.

Plywood Painting

This DIY modern art makes an eye-catching statement piece for your mantel or gallery wall. Using budget-friendly materials like plywood and spray paint, you can easily create an oversize abstract art piece with bold color and personality.

Splash of Neon

Dry-erase boards act as the canvas for this easy DIY wall art. To achieve the splashy look, you’ll need a spray bottle of water and a few cans of brightly colored spray paint. Simply alternate spraying the boards with water and paint, blotting excess water with paper towels as you work. The process might be simple, but the results are incredible.

Simple Lace Art

Using lace and embroidery hoops, you can create a charming display of DIY wall art. You’ll simply layer lace pieces on top of floral fabrics and mount the fabric inside the wooden hoops. Select a variety of lace designs and add multiple layers to create unique textures. Once you’re happy with the look, trim any excess fabric and glue the edges to the backs of the hoops.

Pixelized Accent Wall

Create large, custom pixel-inspired artwork on the cheap using simple plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panel and crafts paint. Sand and clean the wood panel, then use a pencil to mark off a grid of same-size squares. Arrange crafts paint in the same color palette from light to dark. Assign a color to each square, keeping lighter colors at the bottom and darker colors at the top. Tape off and paint the squares, letting each dry before starting the next. To make some squares more transparent, add water to the paint for a watercolor effect.

Jewelry Ar

Display pretty baubles as framed art with this simple technique. This DIY wall art project uses inexpensive flea market frames to showcase vintage jewelry or cherished family treasures. Simply outfit the frames with fabric or paper, ribbon, and glass knobs to create an artful arrangement that doubles as jewelry storage.

Dipped Tassel Hanging

Whip up a creative and unique wall hanging in an afternoon! This tassel wall art features just a few materials and basic tools. Dip-dye the cording for added color and an on-trend ombre effect.

Thrift Store Reinvention

Update a thrifted piece of wall art for your home with geometric stitching. Simply remove the frame from the art and use embroidery floss to sew your desired pattern onto the image. Paint the frame, let dry, and reassemble. Hang your new piece of art on the wall, or simply set it atop a dresser or a mantelpiece to display.

Botanical Book Art

Let your walls bloom with beautiful homemade artwork. Find free botanical images online and print them on old book pages. To create a textural mat, cut linen a little larger than the page and machine stitch 1/4 inch from all edges. Fray the edges by pulling out threads down to the stitched line. Machine-stitch the page to the linen mat then hangs using bulldog clips.

Clothesline Frame

Show off your photos with this easy DIY framed collage. Create your own frame using canvas stretchers, then paint or stain it to your desired color. Add a fabric backdrop and string twine or picture-hanging wire across the frame opening. Clip-on photos or small mementos to create a personalized display of favorite memories.