Find Your Living Room Style

Photos and text by http://www.housebeautiful.com

Quirky and Deliberate

Are you constantly rearranging to fit in your latest tag sale find? Are you afraid to commit to one style or time period? Then try a look similar to stylist Peter Frank's living room. Here, an 18th-century Korean screen takes center stage and a comfy slipcovered sofa hangs out with a cowhide rug. This kind of personal style gives him freedom to change things up whenever he pleases. To mix eras, styles, and sizes, he says, "It's all trial and error. My best advice to admit your mistakes and try again." He also recommends contrasting items: mixing hard with soft, square with round, and blocky with leggy.

Natural and Polished

Would you describe yourself as laid back and casual? Do you like soft neutral tones? If so, check out this design by Dana Abbott and Kim Fiscus. This casual California-style living room has a comfortable and earthy feel. Brown and beige tones dominate the color scheme, but textures and materials are layered so the overall look isn't boring. The pair also recommend using furniture with legs, since it gives lightness to a room.

Modern and Easy

Are you neat and orderly? Do you dislike clutter? Then a sleek white living room like designer Lindsey Bond's may be the right fit for you too. Her style is "Pristine white, clean lines, symmetry, neatness," she says, evident in her 1950's Birmingham, Alabama cottage. To get the look, take a cue from Bond and remove moldings from the mantel, hang curtains from the ceiling, slipcover chairs, and try mounting free-floating shelves.

Formal and Romantic

Are you drawn to fanciness and grandeur, but also have a wild side? Designer Melissa Rufty's New Orleans living room may suite you. "Decorating should exude a sense of place," she says. The charm and sultry attitude of New Orleans is reflected in her living room and throughout the home. But don't get too carried away-- to make this room kid-friendly, Rufty covered the furniture with outdoor fabric.

Classic and Worldly

If you spend a lot of time antique shopping, browsing art galleries, and dreaming of your next vacation, you may like this look by designer Daniel Sachs. He decorated this New York living room for an owner who loves contemporary art, antiques, Indian designs, and tribal textiles. Don't be afraid to decorate with your favorite finds and souvenirs -- the result can be a sophisticated yet friendly space.