Staying home for prolonged periods of time can have drastically negative effects on our brains and the way we function. It can almost feel like captivity at times. People can easily slip into periods of depression and a cluttered, disorganized world around them can only add to the woes. Your home needs to be a place to rest, rejuvenate and relax. It needs to be a stress-free environment where you really ‘feel at home’. An interior that feels like constant work can be both mentally and physically taxing. And for those working from home, it can be an incredibly unproductive space where getting anything done is twice as much more difficult.

Eames lounger adds style and timelessness to the smart modern living space in white and wood with ample natural light [From: Anna West Interiors]

Considering how work, play and rest have all be combined into one small space in recent times, it is imperative to keep the living room as stress-free and peaceful as possible. A calming living area is an absolute blessing – one that also welcomes guests gleefully. Whether you wish to follow modern decorating rules or want to borrow from the age old wisdom of Feng Shui, the basics of it remain the same. This is a look at some of the most basic and easiest rules you can turn to for a tranquil living room –

Neutrals Shaping the Backdrop

This is one of the most basic aspects of the most relaxing living spaces that we have seen in the last two decades. Despite a spurt in styles like eclectic, rustic, industrial and farmhouse, the modern living space clad in white, beige or gray is still the most popular choice among homeowners. Neutral inherently shape a more peaceful living area, give it a spacious visual appeal and reduce fragmentation of the limited area. Using hues like gray and brown help in creating more elegant and trendy living rooms without depending heavily on brighter colors for the backdrop.

Exclusive contemporary decor brings minimal magic to this exquisite living space [From: Imani James Interiors]

Gorgeous modern living room that is clad entirely in neutrals [From: Studio Corbeau]

De-Clutter and Create Space

How do you find more space in your home? The answer is pretty simple and it all starts with an effort to cut back on what is not ‘absolutely needed’. De-cluttering can be hard and sometimes you feel like you are throwing away pieces that might come in handy down the line. Do not become a ‘hoarder’ and impulsive shopping is just not an option. With discipline and décor that multi-tasks, one can easily shape that exquisite, stress-free living space.

Exposed brick wall section becomes the focal point in this living room [From: By Binetti]

Small eclectic living room with a textured wall in the backdrop and a small couch in gray [From: Homecoming di Sara Pantoni]

Lighting the Living Room

Lighting can make or break the look of a room and if you want a more calming, peaceful living space, then you just cannot have one that is dark and dingy. A tranquil living room should also be one that is cheerful and puts a smile back on your face. Combine natural lighting with artificial lights in an intelligent and seamless manner for the best look. In a world of open plan living areas that are connected with the outdoors using sliding glass doors, it is much easier to achieve this breezy, modern look.

Fabulous leather couch adds color and contrast to this large living space in white [From: Faryearny Building Services]

Greenery outside brings serenity to this white living area with an open ambiance [From: Windsor Windows & Doors]

Tiny living room with small sofa and TV in the corner [From: Domoï Estate]

Plants and Books in the Backdrop

There are a few elements in the living space that bring serenity and style to the backdrop without creating a visual clutter. Plans and books top this list and while the former brings color, calmness and freshness to the living room, the latter is all about shaping a more refined backdrop. They are the absolute favorite among modern homeowners and with a simple shelf in the backdrop and a few plants in the corner, you can easily alter the ambiance of a small living space.

Texture-filled living room with a brick wall in the backdrop can still look stylish and modern [From: Brick Tiles]

Elegant white living room with smart bookshelves, colorful decor additions and ample natural light [From: LDa Architecture & Interiors]

Allow for Movement and Guests

Whenever you are planning a living room, make sure you take future spatial requirements into consideration. The needs of a growing family, the ability to accommodate friends and guests and the knack of adapting to changing needs; there are plenty of things to consider before purchasing the furniture for the living room. Do not pack the room with furniture in a way that makes movement of people inconvenient and arduous.

Delineate the living area from other areas using rugs and carpets [From: Impact Remodeling and Construction]

Even eclectic living spaces with smart modern design can feel peaceful when done right [From: S. Mazzi Interiors]

Move or Hide the Television

Multi-tasking furniture offers a great way to maximize space in the living room and removing clutter. A couch that can open into daybed when needed, a small coffee table on wheels, a console table and bench that hides stuff easily – smart ideas make a difference in here. We are not big fans of adding a television to the living room. It feels distracting and inevitably, almost everyone is occupied with something on air. Move the television away from the living room. If you cannot do that, then at least find ways to hide it when not in use.

Find the right decor for the tranquil contemporary living space with glass walls [From: HUDSON DESIGN Architecture & Construction]

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Home renovations and extension are all about finding out what works best in individual scenario and ensuring that the plan is executed perfectly. The Stoke Newington renovation and extension is no different with a smart rear extension breathing life into an aging British home. The new kitchen and dining area sit at the rear of the house and extend into the garden. A seamless interface between the old and the new connects the two sections as one finds balance in the other. A Bradley Van der Straeten design, the smart, novel kitchen with dining space has a glazed roof and is connected with the outdoors using bi-fold glass doors that have a wooden frame.

Rear extension of home in Stoke with a steel frame along with glass and wood bi-folding doors

Brick walls on one side of the rood add textural brilliance to the kitchen with dark blue kitchen shelves on the other. Marble countertops coupled with brass fittings bring even more uniqueness to this space even as Edison bulbs above the kitchen island usher in a sense of timeless charm. Bringing light and freshness into even the older part of the house, the addition serves as a way to revitalize existing home without turning to a more major renovation.

Edison bulb lights bring style and elegance to the dining area with skylight next to it

Glazed ceiling of the extension brings the sky indoors

Kitchen of the home with marble countertops and classic blue cabinets

Beautifully illuminated staircase inside the Stoke Newington renovation

Brass fitting, skylight and custom vanity for the new bathroom inside the London home

Bathrooms inside the house also adopt this black and white color scheme with wood vanities and countertops while skylights bring natural light indoors. Smart, space-savvy and sensible, this beautiful project is anchored by the steel frame of the extension.

Clawfoot bathtub inside the renovated modern bathroom in white and black

Closer look at the steel frame of the rear extension along with bi-folding doors

The rear elevation shows off its steelwork, contrasted by warm oak bi-folds within the steel frame. The new kitchen is naturally lit with the huge ‘up and over’ glazed ceiling that extends down the side of the exposed brick party wall.

Combining the old with the new at the stylish Stoke Newington home

Stoke Newington renovation under construction

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Brown is a neutral and natural color that, when used in the right environment, can create a warm, stable feeling in any room. An excess of brown or wooden furniture can create a dark, heavy feel in your space. That’s why it’s important to integrate shades of brown into a color palette with colors and shades that complement it. When looking for a neutral shade to paint your home with brown is often passed over for whites or grays, but you shouldn’t rule it out! It’s all about what you choose to pair your browns with.

What to Consider When Decorating with Brown

When choosing the right brown, you want to think about what you’re trying to convey. Brown is a diverse color with many shades ranging from deep chocolate hues to red browns such as Sienna to pale browns such as camel. If you’re looking for a neutral base to build a room around, you could opt for lighter shades like beige or camel. If you have a few pieces of dark brown furniture or wood accents in any room, you’ll want to balance it out with lighter fabrics and paint colors. If you struggle to figure out what colors go with brown, you’re not alone. It’s not apart of the traditional color wheel so it doesn’t generate as many clear color scheme suggestions, but that means you have more opportunity to let your creative side take the lead! To get you started and guide you through your design journey, here are a few color combinations that work well with brown.

Brown & White

You’ve heard before that white goes with just about every color, and brown is no exception to that rule. Pairing any shade of brown with a crisp white will give you a clean contrast that works well in a room like a formal dining room or living room. If white and brown are your two main colors in any room, make sure you vary the shades to keep it interesting. Shades of dark brown or woods such as teak pop well against white too. For this living room they chose to use white as the main color, with brown furniture and wood accents providing the contrast.

A bright white living room makes the wood and brown leather accents stand out [From Annie B Designs]

Brown & Orange

Since brown and orange are such similar colors you might shy away from pairing them together, but we’re here to save you from that mistake. When placed in a primarily brown space, orange accents will serve as the perfect energizer for the room. A pop of orange in a brown room comes across as trendy or artsy, especially against darker woods. For a more warm, sophisticated color scheme, you can try pairing a dark chocolate background with orange and cream accents.

Brown & Green

Brown is a color perceived as natural and neutral; pairing it with green plays into the grounding feeling of nature, bringing it into your home. Lighter shades of green like mint soften the darker furniture in a room. Using darker shades of green paired with dark brown accents or wooden furniture creates a darker, moody vibe that would work for a den or office space, as seen in the photo below. There are few combinations of green and brown that wouldn’t complement each other thanks to the two colors being natural foils in nature.

The dark green wall adds a moody feel to the office space without overpowering the wooden furniture [From Artesanos Design Collection]

Brown & Yellow

When considering the best colors to go with brown in your home, yellow should be at the top of your list. You could opt for a lively shade of yellow to give you a needed pop of color, or consider a rich shade of golden yellow. Pairing brown with yellow creates a contemporary vibe in a bedroom or sitting room. Using the 60-30-10 rule would work well when pairing yellow and brown. 60% of the room should be a neutral shade such as white, with 30% of the room decorated in various shades of brown, and the last 10% is reserved for yellow accents.

If you’re looking for more suggestions on working with yellow, here’s a few more ideas on colors that go with yellow.

Brown & Purple

A more unexpected pairing that you might not come up with yourself is pairing browns with purple. Deeper shades of purples and browns can make larger spaces feel cozy in a way that brighter colors can’t achieve. When pairing purple and brown, always focus on the opposites. Darker woods like walnut pair well with pastel purples, and lighter brown woods pair well with deep shades of purple like plum or bright shades like amethyst. Brown and purple work very well in a room with yellow accents as well, if you’re looking to add a third color to your color scheme.

A darker purple works best in a room with lighter woods [From Amazon]

Brown & Blue

You won’t find brown on the traditional color wheel, but since its closest shade is orange, many use blue as a complementary color for brown. Combining blue and brown tones can make a relaxing environment out of an ordinary bedroom. Brown leather paired with navy blue makes a room feel rustic and refined, whereas pale blue paired with beige or a lighter wood creates a more serene environment. The cool tones in shades of blue mix well with the warm browns of darker wooden furniture without leaving the room feeling too dark or heavy.

For more ideas on how you can use blue around your home, we have more suggestions on colors that pair with blue. 

Brown & Pink

Brown might not be the first color you think of when decorating your daughter’s bedroom, but you’d be surprised how well it can pair with shades of pink. Pairing brown with shades like rose or fuchsia creates a feminine space without overdoing it. If you’re going ahead with a pink room, the natural order would be to start with a brown base and brown or wooden furniture, using shades of pink as your accents in things like pillows, curtains, or artwork. You could choose a more subtle, subdued shade of pink for the wall as well, like this room with a pink-peach shade on the walls.

The leather couch and wooden furniture pop against the subtle pink wall [From Swoonworthy]

Brown & Black

Much like a brown and white pairing, brown pairs well with black to create a classic color palette in any room. When using black as one of your main colors, you must make sure to balance it well. Lighter shades of brown or light woods work better so the room doesn’t appear too dark. In spaces with black furniture, brown accents can add depth and interest to the room, whereas black can create drama against brown furniture.

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If you are having thoughts about a lovely vacation and how you can spend a few days away from it all, then that is all too common this time of the year. Yet, the fact that we are still dealing with a global pandemic and travel restrictions across the world is a factor that is forcing many of us to stay indoors and abandon all such thoughts. Even if we are tired of fighting the deadly virus, it is important to remember that the virus is not exhausted! A lovely backyard escape offers that ideal balance between escaping it all and staying safe at home.

Expansive and relaxing rustic backyard with stone deck, amazing natural water feature and a cozy fireplace [From: Designscapes Colorado]

The idea of a rejuvenating staycation starts with creating an outdoor escape that moves away from the more mundane world. And few landscapes look as beautiful and appropriate for this idea as one which is rustic. Taking us back to our roots and encouraging homeowners to spend more time outdoors than inside, the rustic backyard can be created in even the most compact urban settings. Some are expansive and captivating while others are more modest yet equally enchanting – this is a look at the best and most attractive rustic backyards –

Gather Around the Fireplace

It is barely a surprise that in most rustic backyards, it is the fireplace that sits at the heart of it all. This brings back memories of camping in the woods and is a perfect place for everyone in the family to come together after a long, hard day. A few marshmallows, drinks and wonderful stories about past adventures is the perfect way to spend the many evenings as festive season rolls in. In the rustic garden or backyard, it is stone that often provides the base for your fireplace with greenery all around. If you happen to have a wonderful view to take in as you sit there and relax, then even better! It is the landscape and the scenery that do most of the work here.

Modern rustic landscape with lovely little fireplace, wooden benches and smart seating [From: Project Masterz]

Rustic waterside terrace and backyard with fireplace and ample sitting space [From: derek lepper photography]

Bean bag and outdoor cushions bring pops of red to the rustic landscape [From: One Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & Hardscape]

Make sure fire pit is the focal point of the small rustic backyard [From: ARNOLD Masonry and Landscape]

Natural Water Features

Natural ponds and tranquil pools are the perfect way to complete the rustic backyard. If you happen to be blessed with an expansive backyard, then you can combine this pond with a waterfall or another similar feature to add something even more special to the setting. Flowing water has a certain calming ability about it and the sound that it adds to the backyard definitely brings positivity to the backyard. Not every backyard can hold water features that are as impressive as the gardens below, but you can still draw ample inspiration from them and scale things down to suit your own, modern backyard.

Dreamy rustic landscape with stone waterfall and a lovely wooden shed in the backyard [From: Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction]

Natural pond, pools and a mesmerizing view make the biggest impression at this rustic backyard [From: Design by Sundown]

Natural pools and ponds surrounded by stone are just perfect for the rustic landscape [From: Upwall Design]

Shade, Sheds and Greenery

Not every backyard is the same and while some of us might want just a small sitting area next to the pool or water feature with a fire pit and a few comfortable chairs, others might want a more expansive sitting space with shade. Pergolas covered in greenery bring a certain dreamy charm to the backyard and ensure that it has a fabulous focal point. Small sheds at the end of this backyard can serve as your bedrooms while on a staycation and an outdoor kitchen can complete this setting. Stone and wood are the preferred materials here when compared to glass and more polished, man-made finishes.

Smart modern rustic landscape with a swing seat and ample greenery [From: Clarissa Judd Gardens]

Curved stone wall plays into the overall narrative of the rustic landscape around the home [From: Pacwest Builders]

Perfect natural hideaway in the rustic backyard that both kids and adults can enjoy [From: Dargan Landscape Architects]

Pergola covered in greenery provides a calm refuge in the nature-filled backyard

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