Furniture has become very much a fashion industry in the last decade and a half, what with Pantone’s color of the year, and popular tones for metal and wood fininshes changing in the blink of an eye. The good news is, just like fashion styles, you don’t have to embrace every new trend that comes along.  The same way most women know what fashions look best on them, and change just a few accent pieces in their wardrobe to stay on trend, the same came be done in your home. No one really expects to see a person walk down the street in runway fashion designs, and most people don’t constantly update all their home furnishings as styles come and go.  Your home, like your outfits, should most of all reflect YOU, and not every new decorating style is going to work for you.

So suppose you really loooove the room above, from the Designer Showhouse of New York, May 2014

 

Great room, but probably too pricey for most of us.

But maybe you have a neutral color sofa already.

Suppose you switched the pillows out for something like  this:

 

or this:

You could add an inexpensive accent chair like this,  ($175, here at Smith Village)

and already you have the feel of the room for a minimal expense.

You could mimic the brassy shine in the designer room  by spray painting some old accent pieces or lamps. (Krylon has some great metal finish spray paints.)  The key is to not be afraid to change what you have. Paint can always be repainted and pillows can be recovered.

If you want to keep going, add a rug like this,

and you’re well on your way.

From there you can take it as far as you want to go.

The same idea will work with most any room style… you add some new pillows, change some inexpensive accent pieces and paint, and you can give your room a whole new spin.

As long as the look expresses your unique style, it’ll be the best trend of all… at least until a new one comes along!