How to Decorate With Expresso Coffee Tables & Black Leather Couches

Your home is a reflection of you---an environment that fits your fashion style as well as your lifestyle. In the best of circumstances, a warm and inviting environment is achieved with a clean slate and an unlimited budget. But more often than not, room and home design evolve over time. Perhaps you inherit Grandma's mahogany secretary desk or receive a patterned rug as a wedding gift. And what happens when you are left with black leather couches and expresso-colored coffee tables? You may have to regroup and rethink your overall design aesthetic, but it is possible to create a warm, welcoming room with black and expresso furniture. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Pick your pattern. With monochromatic furniture, you have an opportunity to make a strong design statement by introducing a pattern. Try a polka dot, oriental or wildly patterned rug, drapes or a wallpapered accent wall. Choose a stripe or toile fabric for accent pillows.

2

Add some color. Black serves as a foundation and will make any color "pop." Choosing your palette becomes a matter of preference. Traditionally red has been a design favorite with a black color scheme, but according to the Sheffield School of Interior Design, orange is the new red. Try deep russet in varying textures for pillow accents. Or, add an upholstered chair or large cabinet for real drama.

3

Accessorize and edit thoughtfully. Once you have your pattern and accent color, bring in different shades or secondary accents. A small pattern that incorporates your entire color palette will add another layer to your dcor. Choose a slightly lighter shade of your dominant accent color for still more warmth.

4

Finish your look with some black-framed art, again using your basic color choices as the dominant focus. You might also try framing feathers or decorative fans for your walls. Another layer of interest in the form of black-lacquered objects such as boxes, bowls of decorative marbles or vases can be just the thing to bring your environment from utilitarian to warm and welcoming.