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How can I Make a Classic Living Room?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated May 17, 2024
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A classic living room can be one of the simplest decors to make. Almost any type of furnishings, except for ultra-modern or very rustic, tend to work in the classic, or traditional, living room style. The color scheme needs to be soft and the materials should have the look of elegance as well as comfort. Quality upholstery, fine hardwoods and sophisticated metal accents can be used to bring together a classic living room style.

Unlike modern living room looks, classic spaces thrive on details such as tassels on drapery or pillows, artwork in embossed metal frames and wood furniture with carved trim. Antique furniture really tends to fit in well in a classic living room. Coffee tables may feature glass or straight lines, but to keep them from looking too modern, they should have some embellishment such as carving details or many drawers like an old-fashioned apothecary piece. Another classic type of coffee table is a carved or contrasting-trimmed storage trunk. This kind of furniture piece works especially well in small spaces with a sofa bed, as pillows and blankets may be stored inside the trunk table; ottomans, or foot stools, that open to allow storage are also ideal in a classic living space.

When you want to make a classic type of living room, you should always use soft colors. Black plus a metallic color in smaller doses can add needed drama to the classic living room look, but the main tones should be soft. Along with soft neutrals, you could add subdued yet elegant looking shades of your favorite colors. A dusty blue with a pale pink may be preferred by some, while dusky red and a green of the same intensity could be another color combination option.

An upholstered living room set with a sofa, loveseat and chair is classic seating. The shapes of this upholstered furniture should be classically rectangular, yet some detail such as back pillows is also necessary. A soft-colored area rug with small pattern detailing, as well as a classic coffee table placed on top, can be ideal for arranging the living room furniture set around. One thing to avoid when making a classic living room is to use too many pieces of furniture; the look should be detailed in trims and patterns, but not cluttered. A few larger accessories such as a vase of flowers, a china platter and a silver tray can finish a classic-styled living space.

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