8 Luxury Ideas To Give Your NOLA Home The Regal Flair It Deserves

2432 Camp Street, Listed by Tim Armstrong

Moving to NOLA feels like entering a different world as you leave behind reserved architecture and color palettes for utter opulence. Even “plain” homes here overflow with cute details reflecting the vibrance of this unique city. Whether decorating an older, established home or trying to bring old-world charm to a new build, you’ll find something in this list to transform your space.

Go Bold With Colors

The first thing any visitor to New Orleans notices is the rich color palette. Coral and pink facades butt up against bright aquas and rich emeralds. Here you can follow any matching “rules” or disregard them altogether. All that matters is if your combos look good to you.

You can bring color to your siding and other architectural details, or through bright flowers and stunning greenery. Tie everything with decorative pieces that speak to the culture or who you are.

Inside, add bright pops of color to everything from your furniture to your walls and ceiling. Any surface is fair game with NOLA style.

Lean Into Green

While green is a popular choice for paint and accessories, NOLA’s verdant and prolific greenery is the most common way to see this color here. The warm, moist climate is ideal for growing many types of plants.

You’ll see almost every balcony sporting crawling ivy or potted ferns. Balance these greens with colorful birds of paradise, bougainvilleas or the elegant southern magnolia.

New Orleans locals deeply value their plant life, so go ahead and bring yours into your interior decoration as well. Large antique planters and modern ceramic pots make ideal homes for your favorite greens.

Stock Bougie Bar Accessories

NOLA natives live for a good party, so liven up your home for the next one with some bougie bar accessories. You can’t go wrong with ornate crystal glasses and decanters. Guests will also love gold or brass tongs and shakers.

The cherry on top of these regal pieces is the bar cart you rest them on. Look for something eye-catching, whether modern and sleek or delightfully antique.

Seek Out Unique Antiques

Speaking of antiques, you should use these liberally throughout your home. People here especially love French and low-country finds. The more elaborate the piece, the better. Display your antique as is or give it a little NOLA pizzaz. Add velvet upholstery, staple on a gold fringe or bring in bold colors. New Orleans is a beautiful blend of old and new — represent that with your antique collection.

One final note on decorating with antiques and heirlooms is these are meant to be out in the open, used and loved, not tucked behind glass. They should be a part of your life like any other element in your home.

2432 Camp Street, Listed by Tim Armstrong

Work With Decorative Iron

A prominent NOLA exterior feature is the decorative ironwork displayed on balconies. Curlicues of beautiful metal form rails and columns anyone would be envious of. If your home already has these, you can stop here. However, many newer homes need this stunning detail. Rather than reconstruct the exterior, bring elements of metal into your home. A wrought iron bed frame or bench would give a nod to this historical element and aid flair without breaking the bank.

Set the Mood With Lighting

Lively parties, evening soirées and haunting stories are all part of life in New Orleans. The best way to accent these get-togethers is mood lighting. You’ll want to have the right type for each situation. Add can lights for a bright night of fun while gilded wall sconces and crystal chandeliers bring a warm glow to an elegant evening.

One word of caution — many people remember to keep up with antique and ornate furniture but tend to forget light fixture maintenance. Most cleaners work fine on modern lights. However, you must be far more careful, using only soap and warm water with your older lights, and avoiding chemicals as much as possible.

Hang Art Everywhere

If you’ve been here for any time, you know the people love art — any type, style, color and size. In fact, it would be impossible for you to hang too much on your walls. You can place pieces symmetrically on your walls or lean into the shabby chic side of New Orleans with mix-and-match frames in various sizes. The best way to find new pieces for your home is to search through a flea market or antique store or head to a gallery featuring local artists.

Think Music and Mardi Gras

You may think themed decor is cheesy. Elsewhere in the country, that may be true, but NOLA natives love to live it up year-round with Mardi Gras decorations. In many homes, you’ll see masks, feathers and beads as intentional focal points.

You also can’t go wrong with music-themed pieces here in the home of jazz. Metalwork and canvas art with instruments or musicians are good choices. You could even display the instruments themselves.

Grow an Eye for Details

The maximalist style prevalent in NOLA homes screams luxury but also fun. Each little detail you add will bring your house closer to the look you hope to create. These places are lived in and comfortable, balanced with elegant charm.

2432 Camp Street, Listed by Tim Armstrong

Proper New Orleans charm doesn’t come overnight. Your home’s style will grow with you as you find the perfect new pieces to add to your collection. For now, have fun with it and infuse your place with a mix of the local flavor and your personality.

Written By Rose Morrison of renovated.com