Spice Up Your Living Room With These Stylish Accent Cabinets
Accent cabinets can be the perfect addition to give your living room an instant style boost. More than just a pretty face, these multifunctional pieces provide extra storage and display space in a compact footprint. Accent cabinets come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, materials and finishes to complement any existing decor. From vintage-inspired looks to sleek and modern designs, you're sure to find the perfect accent cabinet to spice up your living room.
When choosing an accent cabinet, consider your living room's current aesthetic and layout. Look for a great combination of form and function - stylish looks with features like adjustable shelves, hidden storage and interior lighting. Accent cabinets can act as side tables, room dividers, display cases or simply provide tucked away storage. Place them thoughtfully and let your new accent cabinet become a charming focal point.
Versatile Accent Cabinet Designs for Any Decor
Modern and Minimalist Styles
For contemporary living rooms, sleek and streamlined accent cabinets tend to work best. Look for pieces with metallic finishes, clean lines, and an overall minimalist form. Glass doors and surfaces help maintain an open, airy feel. Neutral colors like black, white and gray complement the modern style, while a pop of color adds a bold accent.
Mid-century modern credenzas and sideboards have become popular accent cabinet choices, with their tapered legs and luxe walnut finishes. Opt for sliding doors rather than hinged for a super sleek look. Brands like West Elm and CB2 offer many contemporary accent cabinets perfect for urban lofts and modern homes.
Rustic and Farmhouse Looks
The distressed paints, vintage hardware, and reclaimed wood of rustic accent cabinets add cozy farmhouse charm to living rooms. Mixing stains, paint colors, and natural wood grain deepens the timeworn appeal. Sliding barn doors, woven baskets, and raw metal accents enhance the rustic style. Look for cottage-chic details like scalloped trim, carved legs or embossed surfaces.
Painted finishes in chippy whites, sky blues, and sage greens complement the rustic farmhouse aesthetic beautifully. For a modern twist, pair reclaimed wood with sleek metal legs or handles. Rustic accent cabinets lend living rooms comfortable warmth and vintage character.
Ornate and Traditional Options
For traditional living rooms, an ornate accent cabinet brings lovely embellished style. Look for pieces with turned wood legs, carved detailing, paneled doors, and classic Queen Anne curves. Everything from the hardware to the millwork exudes refinement. opts for luxe materials like mahogany and cherry woods with rich finishes.
Traditional accent cabinets often feature glass-front doors or fixed shelving to display prized china, artful objects, and curated book collections. Add visual interest by mixing open and closed storage. Plus, built-in lighting casts a lovely glow over treasured items on display behind cabinet doors.
Unique Materials and Shapes
Beyond classic wood cabinets, a wide world of materials can elevate accent cabinets into artful statements. Metal, lucite, concrete, stone, and leather offer an element of the unexpected. Choose unique triangular, oval, or curved shapes to make your living room accent cabinet far from ordinary.
For a touch of industrial flair, try a metal and wood combo cabinet on a caster base. A small leather or velvet-lined jewelry case adds a glamorous accent. Concrete and stone pieces make earthy yet modern statements. Let your creative spirit run free in choosing an accent cabinet that wows.
Functional Features for Living Room Accent Cabinets
Adjustable Shelves
Being able to adjust shelf positions provides major convenience and storage versatility. Tailor the interior space to fit everything from large coffee table books and baskets to display collectibles. Adjustable shelves let you customize your cabinet as your needs change.
When choosing adjustable shelves, look for thick, sturdy materials that won't sag over time. Metal pin brackets offer industrial appeal while classic shelf rests blend into any style. Consider glass shelving to continue an open, airy look inside your cabinet.
Hidden Storage Compartments
Accent cabinets present the perfect opportunity to get creative with hidden storage. Pull-out trays and drawers stashed behind false fronts keep items easily accessible yet concealed. Flip-down pegged bars work wonderfully for hanging keys and bags. Lift-top cabinets with storage cubbies inside maximize every inch. Use hidden compartments in your accent cabinet for office supplies, electronics, barware, linens - anything you want at your fingertips but out of sight.
Built-in Lighting
The right lighting takes your accent cabinet from drab to fab. Ambient options like LED strips and ceiling-mounted fixtures give an overall soft glow. Swing arm sconces or adjustable lights provide task lighting. Inside the cabinet, lighting illuminates contents and creates a cool visual effect behind glass doors. Go for smart bulbs to control brightness and tone. Built-in lighting makes accent cabinets even more versatile.
Drawers, Doors and Pulls
When it comes to cabinet access, drawers offer easier storage of smaller items while doors neatly contain things on shelves. Combining drawers and doors provides the best of both worlds. Pay attention to quality drawer slides and hinges that open smoothly and close softly.
Don't overlook the importance of drawer pulls and knobs - they really define the accent cabinet's style. Sleek modern bars, crystal knobs, rustic wrought iron pulls...whichever you choose, quality hardware withstands daily wear.
Choosing the Perfect Color and Texture
Statement Colors
An accent cabinet coated in an electric hue adds pow to any living room. Vibrant citrine yellows, emerald greens, cobalt blues - opt for your favorite bright color and go bold. For a two-tone look, pair a colorful cabinet with neutral walls and decor accents. Temper more exuberant paint choices with classic lines and detailing. And don't forget the interior of the cabinet - a fun surprise color inside makes opening the doors an absolute delight.
Neutral Tones
You just can't go wrong with an accent cabinet finished in a versatile neutral. Opt for a black, white or gray painted cabinet and then layer on colorful accessories, pillows and art. Distressed wood cabinets in weathered grays, soft taupes and warm walnut let the reclaimed lumber shine.
High-gloss lacquers, sleek laminates, and matte stains all put a stylish spin on neutral-toned cabinets. A whitewashed coastal cabinet lightens up the living room while still providing plenty of storage. Neutral accent cabinets simply let your decor personality shine.
Unique Textures
Textural materials like feathergrass, concrete, leather and woven seagrass lend accent cabinets facinating depth and dimension. Antiqued mirrors, metallic crackle finishes, and distressed paints also impart eye-catching visual texture. Pair lustrous materials like lacquer or polished stone with soft upholstered fabrics on cabinet panels or doors. Multi-tonal finishes like rubbed black over ashy gray oak heighten the accent cabinet's tactile appeal. Playing with textures wins big style points.
Where to Place Your Accent Cabinet
How and where you position your accent cabinet in the living room impacts both aesthetics and function. Flanking a fireplace or TV creates symmetrical balance while anchoring a seating area or defining a space places it right in the action.
Placing an accent cabinet by the entryway or staircase capitalizes on visual impact in transition areas. Wherever it lands, be sure your accent cabinet gets seen and admires - but also provides accessible storage for items you use daily.
Being a functional furnished piece, it's key that your accent cabinet stands the test of time with quality construction and durable finishes. Solid wood offers superior strength over wood veneers prone to peeling and warping. Reinforced cabinet boxes prevent sagging.
Look for full-extension drawer glides, mortise and tenon joinery, and corner blocking for added stability. Prioritize heavy-duty hinges. And for a flawless finished look for years to come, choose topcoat paints and stains that protects against scrapes, stains, and wear.
You can upgrade your living room for years of entertainment and organization with the right accent cabinet. Let your new favorite furniture piece put the perfect finishing touch on your living room today.