Five Ways to Keep a Living Room Classic

One of the top requests I always had when working with design clients was to try and keep the rooms timeless. Most people want chic, updated spaces but they want them to sustain them for at least five years. Interiors are an investment and there are certain ways to dress a room so that the trendy doesn’t take over. And classic does not mean boring. You can infuse a ton of personality into a space with textiles and accessories. Classic just means you won’t be spending more money than you need to once a trend is long gone. I have rounded up five ways that really keep a room looking timeless. Let’s take a look via This room reminds me so much of one of my favorite designers, Lauren Liess. The room is completely neutral with the white walls, pale drapes and neural furniture. The rustic table and chandelier give the room great texture and dimension. The quiet palette mixed with fresh greenery creates a space that will never go out of style. It’s like the outdoors were brought in and it always works. Can you change up your paint color? Your drapes? Is there something simple you could do to create a neutral palette? I am actually sampling white paints for my house. We shall see if I can talk myself into it. via My heart has always been with a traditional rug. They always stand the test of time and pair well with more current geometric prints. You can find them anywhere now and at any price point. I love when they are mixed with rich velvets and mixed metals. It’s a really pretty, timeless way to decorate a room. The trick is just pulling your colors from the rug. Stick with the same colors you see under your feet and you’ll be set. via | via Stripes are near and dear to my heart. They just always seem to work. I love how classic and clean they are. I also really appreciate how they infuse a great energy into a space. I like both of these examples because they show how you can go rather neutral or bold, but still design a classic look. Notice that there is a little pop of green in each room as well. I adore how Studio McGee infused a bright, fun purple on the sofa. via There are many varying opinions on leather. I for one adore a gorgeous, aged leather. I would have one in my home if my living room were a bit larger. I LOVE the space above. Notice the room is kept light and airy which contrasts nicely with the pretty brown leather and table. A leather sofa like this instantly adds a charm and elegance to a space. Timeless. It will never go out of style. Carmel from Our Fifth House comes to mind, too, as she has a gorgeous leather sofa. via Even if you go the trendy route with your space, keeping your accessories symmetrical like in the room above will create a traditional look. Notice the sconces and boxwood wreaths on either side of the mantel. The coffee table also boasts two cloches. The chairs on the right also echo the symmetrical lines of the room. I think this is a good tip, too, for those who struggle with accessorizing mantels. You can read about five ways to style mantels here. So where do you fall on this? Do you like to keep things traditional or do you prefer to throw classic out the window? I like a good mix of classic and current trends. I have found that marrying the two keep me pretty happy. And I am far less inclined to switch things up. That makes for a happy husband, too! Our living room is a good example. While it has tons of color and pattern, the major pieces are all very classic in nature. I could switch out all of the pillows and create a brand new space if I so desired. More from my Five Ways series can be found below. Have a great day.