Category: Home & Decor

The kitchen is the main gathering place and the central hub of any home. Cooking and eating is merely a limited perspective on the workings and functionality of a kitchen area. It is often used as a gathering area for friends and family and is the most used room in the household. Choosing the right style to fit in with the rest of the house and also maximise its potential can be daunting. In this article, I will go through different factors that you should consider when choosing your kitchen style.
Architecture
The architecture of your home can play an important factor on the right kitchen style for you. If the kitchen theme you desire conflicts the overall build of the home, incorporating elements of both modern and traditional kitchens is the best solution for you. These two combined will create a transitional effect that complement each other and bring the two themes seamlessly together.
If your home displays elements of the Victorian Era, then a contemporary kitchen with contrasting colours and a somewhat minimal design would look out of place. On the contrary, a traditional kitchen would also look out of place in a new build home. Once you have the history of your home, the rest will easily fall into place.
Kitchen Functionality
Bypassing all of the home styles that are currently determining the style of your kitchen, take a step back and think about how you will use your kitchen. If you are an individual that likes to entertain in the kitchen and have guests round to gather in that area then having a special design is essential.
If you live in a busy family home then the best tip I can give you would be to stay away from high gloss and stainless steel. If you have little ones running around then you will find your children’s fingerprints get everywhere!
If you’re a chef in the making and absolutely love cooking then ensuring you have a large amount of counter space is an intelligent choice. Also consider integrating your appliances into your kitchen in a place that suits you. You might even want to get an AGA or a range cooker!
Other Rooms in the Home
This tip is more common sense than anything…take a look at the other rooms inside your home. Do they follow a similar pattern? If you take a look inside the other rooms and find that they follow a similar style and colour scheme, you should format your kitchen around these. This will ensure that the kitchen fits in and does not appear to be a detached room that doesn’t belong.
Take notes of the colour choices and the furniture that you have in other rooms. If your home mainly consists of neutral colours and patterned furniture then a traditional kitchen would fit in with the cosier nature that your home portrays. On the other hand, modern kitchens seem to be the more appropriate option in a brighter, more airy home.
Home Layout
The layout of your home does play a significant part in the overall style of kitchen that you choose. If you find your home is open plan then a modern and contemporary styled kitchen with a large island would be a perfect match.
A Personal Touch
Don’t just let the factors inside your home determine the overall style of your kitchen. Your personality, likes and dislikes can also play a huge role in choosing your style. If you like bright colours then a contemporary style kitchen would suit you better. On the other hand, if you’re a person that appreciates wood grain and natural colours then a traditional style would probably suit you better.

Art is the beautiful icing on the cake in any home. It’s a perfect way to add extra personality and really make the space feel true to yo. So it makes sense to spend some time considering which pieces you want to display. There’s no single list of rules set in stone for how to choose art for a living room, so you have plenty of options at your fingertips. Looking for some inspiration?
Choose Your Own Adventure
What’s the overall effect you’re going for in you living room? How do you want it to feel? Would you like to see neat rows of similar works, or do you want to arrange eclectic gallery walls that showcase a variety of works? Either approach can work with any style of art and decor – you can create a breathtaking gallery wall with antique paintings or choose a refined collection of modern art prints to display in a clean grid.
Find Your Starting Point
Do you have a painting, print or photograph that you absolutely love? If you have some treasured pieces in hand, you’re already off to a great start. If not, find something that speaks to you, something that encapsulates how you want the rest of the room to feel, or even something that brings a smile to your face. Whatever you choose, this piece can be the anchor point that you can use as the foundation for your new collection. You can coordinate any new art and decor you pick out with your existing artwork. Whether you want to make an eclectic or a cohesive display, an anchor piece ensures a cohesive end result that speaks to your unique personal style.
If you need a little guidance to create a cohesive group of works, just pick an element from your anchor piece and look for artwork that carry that through. Another great way to tie your pieces together is to frame them in the same materials. A cluster of geometric lithographs feels more united when framed in uniform stainless steel frames, for example.
Go Solo
You can also make a big impact in your living room by choosing one large statement piece to display in a prominent area. From the space above your sofa to the wall immediately facing the entrance to the room, there are lots of great places to put a single, large work of art. Whether it’s a photograph, painting or wall sculpture, the large piece you choose can also be one that reflects your design priorities in terms of color, presentation and style. Consider leaving the other walls bare and bring in plenty of textured decorative objects to display on shelves and tables to maximize your statement piece’s impact.
Practical and Perfect
Sometimes, the best living room art ideas balance form and function to create stylish, comfortable spaces that make the most of each room. For example, if your living room is a little bit dark because it doesn’t get as much natural light, you can use mirrors and sculptural lamps to add both decor and brightness to the room. If your living room is on the smaller side, you might focus on picking out small, impactful pieces that add a lot of decoration and still look great scaled into the space. No matter what you’re working with, staying practical can make the finished artwork layout fit seamlessly.
Follow Your Heart
Ultimately, it’s your happiness that matters most. However you choose to go about selecting wall art for your living room, focus on the decorative objects and artwork that bring you joy. If you love the look of a simple black and white photograph, use that as a jumping-off point to find a collection of gorgeous pictures for your walls. If you want to create a fun, vibrant feel in a living room that you intend to use for parties and cozy gatherings of friends, you might want to pick out some colorful prints with a sense of humor. It’s all about what you want – feel free to follow your heart!