Bold and fancy styles will help you capture the New Orleans spirit.
In a city with weather as hot as New Orleans, a ceiling fan is a common fixture in many homes. Whether you live in the Big Easy or not, using a New Orleans style ceiling fan, with its French-inspired ornate metal scrolls, is a great inspiration piece for your home decor. With a splash of color and the right furnishings and accessories, your home will capture the charm of this historic city.
Instructions
1. Paint your walls with bold colors. Rich jewel tones look spectacular in a New Orleans style home. If you cannot paint the walls, disguise them with bold color tapestries and draperies.
2. Purchase French style furnishings, as New Orleans is still heavily influenced by its original French settlers. Use antique 18th and 19th century French furnishings with ornamental carvings and elegant style, or use imitations or French-inspired pieces.
3. Use fabrics to incorporate more color and elegance into the room. Fine, delicate fabrics such as striped silks and toile prints fit the tone, and can be used to integrate patterns into the decor.
4. Cover the floors with decorative area rugs featuring floral patterns and scrolling designs. Use lush throw pillows and window treatments featuring gold fringe and tassels to imbue a formal, regal atmosphere.
5. Look for imperfect but grand accessories such as stately framed mirrors, brass picture frames with a bit of patina, hand blown glass lamps or a fleur de lis decorative plate with a wrought iron stand.
6. Use folk art and accessories with unique New Orleans style. For example, hang mardi gras beads on a room screen, or feathery masks on the wall. Make a voodoo doll collection on a shelf, or hang paintings of quaint French quarter cafes.
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