4 Classic Decorating Themes and How to Work Them Just Right

Decorating themes sometimes get a bad rap for being cheesy or overdone. But when done well, a theme can make a room feel personal and put together. Whether you would like to incorporate favorite finds from your travels or decor featuring a motif you love, you can pull off the theme of your choice in a subtly chic way.

Here are four theme ideas to try at home, along with tips that will come in handy no matter what the motif that catches your eye.

eclectic living room by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

1. Well Traveled

Tell a story with your decor by incorporating finds from your travels or by highlighting a culture you love. To evoke a sense of place, look at good photography books for inspiration and pick out key elements to replicate at home. For a Parisian-inspired space, for instance, go with a bistro table and chairs or vintage café au lait mugs rather than a bunch of Eiffel Tower souvenirs.

A room, like a novel, is more satisfying when it is well edited, so exercise restraint and display only your favorite pieces. Foundation pieces in your usual style (modern, traditional etc.) will help the room function well — and make the handful of carefully selected treasures stand out even more, as in the gorgeous Moroccan-influenced space shown here.

eclectic living room by Liz Williams Interiors

Chic vacation mementos. Cherished treasures from vacations and trips tell a personal story and deserve a special place in every home. Gather up all of your treasures and assess them as a group, as this can spark creative display ideas. Tiny mementos like matchbooks and sea glass have the most impact when grouped together, so consider mounting and labeling them in shadow boxes, or display them in a glass apothecary jar. Use larger items, like vintage glass bottles, as a centerpiece or line them up on a windowsill.

Less is more, so try to winnow your collections to the best examples and the most meaningful treasures, and let go of the rest. Isn’t one photo album, lovingly created, more important (and easier to rescue in an emergency) than 10 boxes of jumbled messes that no one looks at?

traditional living room by Shannon Malone

2. Natural History

The natural world as a decorating theme is quite flexible and inspiring, encompassing everything from insect motifs and bird’s nests to botanical prints, natural fibers and found and foraged items from nature.

Support your natural finds with a color palette inspired by the environment that most resonates with you — dunes on a windswept beach, a lush wetland or a dense forest.

eclectic  by Stephanie Wiley Photography

Decorating with natural objects. Every room can benefit from the addition of something from nature. Try adding fresh green plants, cut flowers,terrariums, stones and shells, feathers, branches, driftwood — you name it. You may even discover that these organic finds do more for your rooms than store-bought decor.

traditional bedroom by Jane Lockhart Interior Design

3. Birds and Blooms

Floral prints and bird motifs are still trending now — but that doesn’t mean they are trendy! These superversatile romantic accents work equally well in traditional and modern interiors, and are worth giving a try today.

If you want to incorporate a theme of birds and blooms into your decor, look for accent pillows, artwork and 3-D objects (like a vintage birdcage) that work thematically and are tied in colorwise.

modern kids by Jen Talbot Design

Noncheesy nursery decor. It’s easy to go overboard with themes in the nursery. But as long as you use a light touch, themes can help create an imaginative and personal nest for your little one. Avoiding overly commercial motifs (like cartoon characters) means the space will still feel appropriate a few years down the line.

For a bird theme, try using pale blue or robin’s egg on the walls, and seek out nursery art and soft toys featuring birds, feathers, nests or eggs. For textiles, reference the theme in a subtle way with a mix of one or two solids, a stripe and a botanical or geometric print in shades of sky and grass.

contemporary staircase by Joel Snayd

4. Nautical

A popular theme with good reason, nautical style manages to be both classic and fresh — as long as it is approached without too heavy a hand. Keep the nautical look current by steering clear of too many dark woods and an excess of decorative items.

You can’t go wrong with a crisp, clean color palette of white and blue with bright red accents. Curtains with rope ties inspired by sailcloth, floors painted with a wash of deck paint and a few well-chosen pieces of wall art would complete the look.

traditional kids by Mitch Wise Design,Inc.

General Tips

Creating a theme is as easy as 1, 2, 3. When you are planning your room, think about choosing three ways to bring your theme to life — this ensures that you will make a statement (one or two items might just feel random) without going overboard. A good rule of thumb is to include a fabric print, some sort of art or art object, and a color related to your theme.

In the bedroom shown here, the three items include the nautical maps, anchor-print bed skirts and blue wall color. You can always add a few more subtle touches (like the sailboat on the desk); the point is to keep things simple.

eclectic living room by CapeRace Cultural Adventures
Seek out the authentic.Nothing says “theme gone bad” more clearly than a bunch of knickknacks that are obviously not the genuine article. If you want nautical style, head to a marine supply store or an antiques shop specializing in nautical goods, and scoop up a few vintage fishing floats or lobster traps. But even with the real deal, less is definitely more!
traditional kitchen by Joel Snayd
Choosing themed art. Artwork is a great way to tell a story in your home, building on the other elements and really bringing your theme to life. Just remember to choose art because you love it, not only because it fits your theme. Usually this means taking your time and allowing your collection to grow organically over time.

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell  in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

DTLA Real Estate Agent

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me

10 Tips to Obtaining an Urban Loft Feel

Recently, the interest in urban lofts has gained popularity amongst urban goers and rural home owners.  Exposed flooring and overhead mechanical ductwork bring the contemporary feel of the city to your home. What is it that makes urban loft living so desirable? I think it’s the feeling of a cosmopolitan lifestyle looking over a city with industrial décor with a soft edge interplayed is the appeal.  If you want to bring the urban loft feel into your home, follow these 10 tips to feel on top of the world!


1.) Modern furnishings: Minimalistic and modern furniture is the idealistic ‘look’ of an urban loft. Clean lines of seating areas, décor, and few decorative items are key.  Use simple forms and allow for plenty of space to walk around furniture to take full advantage of space, height and views.

2.) Exposed heating and air ductwork: Since most urban lofts are inside of warehouses or urban industrial buildings they have been turned into residential spaces and high ceilings are the norm.  For heating and air ductwork, leave the pipelines exposed and consider painting black, brown or leave with metallic finish for a truly industrial feel.

3.) Leave floors bare: Urban loft living brings the industrial nature into your daily living with finishes that are exposed, bare and ‘unfinished’. For flooring consider leaving concrete exposed and adding a concrete stain to seal it, and add a patina of color. Hardwood flooring and slate are also typical for flooring. To soften sitting and conversational areas add area rugs to match the décor.

4.) Simple window treatments: The view takes center stage in an urban loft.  Ensure your window treatments don’t interfere with the view by choosing simple sheer fabric or sheer blinds for covering.  Depending on the height of your home and privacy issues you may not need window treatments. For homes with tall windows consider motorized treatments that are remote controlled.

5.) Open space means less storage: In urban lofts the feeling of multiple rooms occupying one open space is the appeal.  Although, when considering storage bookshelves, armoires and storage units will need to be low in height or back up against walls.  Take advantage of multifunctional ottomans, storage benches and furniture that doubles as display and storage.

6.) An open kitchen is great for entertaining: To get the urban loft kitchen feel in your home leave one side open to the living and dining spaces. The appeal of urban living is to be able to entertain and interact with your guest while you cook and prepare food and drink.  Industrial and professional stainless steel or black appliances pulls the entire look together, coupled with an eye catching range hood.

7.) Artwork and color: Urban living can still have beautiful colors amidst the greys and blacks of industrial finishes. Choose furniture that has punches of color along with colorful artwork to adorn the walls. Add colorful area rugs, throw pillows and decorative décor for table tops and display areas.

8.) Consider lighting: In the daytime natural light pouring into your space is an asset. In the evening hours, ensure you have ample lighting throughout your home. If your ceilings are very high, wall sconces, floor lamps that extend over couches and table lamps should be considered.

9) Multiple levels create the true urban loft experience: For lofts that have the option of having another split level for a bedroom, bathroom or entertaining space have a great experience. To look out over the main living floor and to see great views outside. Remember that this also can be a noise problem for multiple people sharing a loft.  In your home, consider this lifestyle before opting for a multilevel – open urban living environment.

10.) Bring nature in: To stay well balanced with nature, bring live plants, running water fountains and nature inspired materials into your urban loft. Even though you feel far above the city below, your home and you will always benefit from nature at hand.

Urban loft living and décor is a lifestyle that many love. While not for everyone, open outdoor spaces are replaced with expansive windows and views over metropolitan vistas. Depending on your lifestyle and your preference for architectural layouts you can bring urban loft details into your home or opt to live in the real deal. Whichever you choose, urban loft living will always have a favorable appeal.

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell  in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

DTLA Real Estate Agent

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me