Making stylish design choices as trends in home décor change is a wonderful way to freshen up the feeling of your apartment or home. One of the most-travelled areas in many homes is the living room, and making key choices in that space can have a ripple effect on how you, your families and guests experience your living space.

In 2011, new trends for remodeling included vivid colors and striking contrasts in both design and visual elements; thinking “outside the box” as one design blog recommends was a must. In 2012, this trend progresses even further, with intense colors balanced by other tones. 2012 sees the return of neon – this time as an accent colour that contributes to a striking impression. These and some metallic, particularly gold, are making a comeback in a big way when it comes to designing sleek, elegant spaces in the home. Using paint to touch up the appearance of a room offers an economical and effective way of changing your living space for the better, without breaking the bank. For those who want to invest a bit more, look for stylish furniture pieces, like sofas, tables and chairs, and pick those which are unconventional and fit with your personal style.

A key factor in your living room’s appearance is its lighting. Do you have ample natural light, in which case you can look for smaller area lights and lamps that will offer a softer impression when daylight is unavailable? Or do you need to plan for low-light situations, for example if your living room lacks sun-facing windows? Lighting is one of the biggest single factors in how a room is perceived, so understanding your “canvas” before you start creating a decorating scheme is critical to a stylish and exciting result.

Thanks to a depressed economic climate, the key in decorating this year is to aim for maximum impact with minimum spend. In other words, opt for luxury in the smaller decorative elements of your home. Lush fabrics and decadent, exotic designs can transform a room when used as accent pieces, particularly when colour is brought into play. The key with these lush, luxurious pieces is to display them in contrast to simpler design elements: an eye-popping chandelier can draw the eye in a room where it’s the featured piece, so don’t overcrowd your spaces.

Beyond the basic décor, you can also ramp up the aesthetics of your living room by looking at the mechanical systems operating in your home. Do you have a traditional, piped central heating system? These can be clunky and expensive to maintain – plus, the pipes can cause a major headache for anyone looking for a truly sleek design solution. Instead, consider using electric heaters – they come in numerous designs, from small, low-profile electric heaters to those designed to appear as a fireplace or small stove. It’s the more boldly-designed pieces that will fit best with this year’s trends, while adding value to how your experience your living room each day.

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