When decorating your home or business in Los Angeles, the world is literally your oyster with trends ranging from Californian to vintage and mid-century modern. Whether you invest in professional interior design services or spend leisurely days browsing the best home decor shops in town for unique pieces, becoming familiar with the top Los Angeles decor trends will help you find the decorating inspiration you need.
1. House Plants
There’s no better place to start when choosing home accessories than your local nursery or artificial plant store. Bringing a bit of greenery into your home keeps things fresh, adds a splash of color and texture, and gives your space a California flair. Take some inspiration from the Southern California landscape with low-maintenance house plant species such as:
- Sansevieria varieties – Small, potted plants that are perfect for offices or any space with a warm interior. Popular varieties include “snake plant” and “mother-in-law’s tongue.”
- Hoya – A tropical plant that thrives on light and produces vibrantly-colored flowers. The leaves store water, so you don’t have to worry if you’re out of town for a few days.
- Epipremnum aureum (Devil’s Ivy) – A climber that quickly spreads and can be trailed along a roof beam, along the counter, or around the door. It’s easy to revive if it dries out.
- Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm) – For something a little more vertical, consider this hard-to-kill palm with a statement tuft of grass-like leaves at the top.
2. Scented Candles
A throwback to the candle lighting of yore, scented candles add charm and fragrance to any Los Angeles room. California-inspired scents are especially popular, including Vanilla & Ghost Pepper, Spiced Pumpkin, Spruce, and desert-themed aromas. Try P.F. Candle Co. on Sunset Blvd for seasonal SoCal candles that are free from cruelty, phthalates, and parabens.
3. Canvas Signs and Prints
Signs and prints personalize your Los Angeles decor and can be adapted to any theme. For a rustic, colonial interior, consider farmhouse signs with wooden frames and your favorite inspirational quotes as part of your living room or kitchen design. If you’re going for a more modern style, consider a single canvas or sets of canvas prints showing family photos, California landscapes, or the iconic Los Angeles skyline.
4. Decorative Books
There’s nothing like a small stack of books to communicate sophistication and showcase the urban and natural surroundings. When used as part of your Los Angeles decor, go for two or three books that are roughly the same size and feature photos and stories about your neighborhood, the city, or the state. Colorful jackets and a new book smell are a must for this popular decor trend.
5. Themed Furniture and Accessories
When it comes to coffee tables, seating, art, and lighting, you really have a lot of options. However, the secret here is to choose a theme and stick to it for the entire main living space—or even the entire home! Whatever your budget or personal taste, there’ll be a decor theme for you:
- Custom furniture from top designers
- Mid-century modern
- Refurbished vintage
- Antiques and reproduction pieces
- Bohemian
- Moroccan
- European
- Scandinavian
- Industrial
After shopping for the furniture itself, be sure to add your own touch with textiles, throw rugs, and cushions, or try reupholstering a vintage piece to truly make it your own. Add some art, pottery, candles, fun handmade ornaments, plants, and a couple of copies of the Architectural Digest, and your L.A. space will be ready to go!
Best Home Decor Shops
To help you get started with your decor shopping, these home decor shops are said to be some of the best:
- Amsterdam Modern—a treasure trove of ‘60s and ‘70s vintage furniture, including leather sofas and lounge chairs.
- Berbere World Imports—a colorful store in Culver City with treasures from around the world.
- Grace Home Furnishings—a massive, 3,000-foot store in Brentwood Village filled with brightly colored and custom textiles with a beach feel.
- JF Chen—a large store on Highland Ave with a great eclectic mix of pieces from several centuries.
- Lawson Fenning East—a delightful store in Silver Lake with a designer-curated selection of California, European, and locally made pieces.
- The Mart Collective—a large space set out like a flea market with vintage decor at great prices.
- Restoration Hardware—a three-story store in West Hollywood that’s filled to the brim with upscale furnishings and fixtures.
- Stephan Jones Studio—a showroom on Santa Monica Blvd with everything from vintage and antiques to contemporary art.
Make Your Los Angeles Decor Your Own
With so many trends to choose from, it’s easy to create a personalized masterpiece that expresses the best fusion of LA then and now, infused with your own unique flair. If you’re struggling to know where to start, take a walk down Santa Monica Boulevard or Melrose Avenue. You’re sure to find a little something to love!
