So, here it goes!

The living room as it stands now:

Earthy Inspiration

The first inspiration: earthy. In this room, the browns and the artwork really set the mood. This translated into beige walls, large art above the sofa, plus some natural Flor tiles and the wooden Nelson bench from Room and Board.

Modern Inspiration

Even when your furniture isn’t exactly modern, you can still pull off a modern look. It’s all about bold moves with paint and the right accessories. A geometric paint scheme creates a focal point in gray and red. The zebra rug, though modern, is also classic safari and ties the mod wall with the not-so-mod furniture. With some black pillows and metal tables, I think modern can work!

Asian safari inspiration

Lastly, inspiration from a richly colored room that I think of as “asian safari.” This room has deep jewel tones and lots of lush accessories. In our reader’s living room a deep teal wall and maroon persian rug really set the mood. Add an eclectic mix of wall art and you have your own asian safari retreat!

One simple move is to cover the room in cool neutrals. Gray walls and a black accent wall blend nicely with the existing curtain and neutral furniture. A couple of toss pillows from Etsy shop Nena Von adds a little personality and contrast.

Another way to spice up this muted color palette is to flip it!  Try a dramatic black ceiling with gray walls and add definition with a thick white border. I love how these standard colors turn into something unexpected. As a finishing touch, add some playful wall art such as “Mona Prankster” from Blik. 

This option is inspired by the original red striped walls.  The clunky red panels have been replaced with a more sophisticated retro wallpaper from online wallpaper shop DesignYourWall.com. Add an accent wall in Molten Lava from the Pantone interior paint collection, and you’ve got one hot room. Also note the retro vase accent from hi+lo modern glass

This last option adds color, but still keeps the space cool with Pantone Federal Blue. I couldn’t resist more Blik wall decals-these from the Eames office collection. An oversized deco pendant from 2modern.com adds a focal point over the dining table.

This bedroom has nice clean lines, but it’s a bit boring.

Just a simple swath of khaki already sets the mood.

Add interest with a dark half wall at the same height as the headboard. This is an elegant, minimal alternative to a solid color.

But why stop there? Take it step further with a mosquito net and dramatic vase. We’re pretty certain that any bedroom can benefit from a mosquito net.

The other staple of the safari repertoire is, of course, animal print. Add some dramatic emphasis to the headboard with a wide strip of purple giraffe print. Giraffe print is pretty forgiving and you can easily “eyeball” the pattern or use a stencil. Paint the light purple, draw the “spots” with chalk and fill in with the dark purple. Too much work? Just try 2 strips of wallpaper or nail up some fabric.