\Redecorating your living room doesn’t require an enormous budget. In fact, some appealing designs can be accomplished without spending anything. There are a variety of low and no cost techniques you can use to make your living room appear larger, define spaces and create mood. You can start by browsing magazines or home decorating websites to get an idea of the look you’d like to achieve then modify it to meet your budget. Furniture showrooms are not the only place to find chic furnishings. A little leg work can save you a tremendous amount of money. Shop thrift stores, yard sales and fleas markets; you may even find that $2000 designer sofa for a couple of hundred dollars. Below you’ll find some budget friendly living room design ideas that can make the room look new again.
1. Rearrange the Furniture
If your living room seems too cramped, you can give it a more spacious feel by removing clutter. Unused furnishings and large decorative pieces that take up space can be moved to another room or stored away. When re-arranging furniture, it’s helpful to consider how the room is used. One popular way to arrange furniture is around a focal point such as a fireplace, bay windows or the television. In this case, the sofa is positioned facing the focal appoint, and the other furnishings are arranged to face the same direction.
If you frequently use your living room for gatherings where people engage in conversation, reading, listening to music or other activities that don’t center on the focal point, you might try a symmetrical arrangement. Positioning two sofas or a sofa and two chairs to face one another facilitates conversation. In circumstances where the living room is used for games and family activities, you can form a cozy grouping. A sectional sofa is ideal for this arrangement. Move it away from the wall and place chairs facing each end of the “L”. There are even tools available online that allow you to rearrange your furniture virtually to decide on the preferred placement before you begin moving it.
2. Restore and Rejuvenate
Being a little creative will not only make decorating great fun but will save you money. Look through your closets or attic to see what you already have that you can repurpose. Choose a few mementos to display on a shelf or turn an old wine bottle into a light fixture or vase. You can use old fabric you have stashed away to make charming patchwork pillows. If you have children, wicker baskets provide lovely accents as well as a place to store toys. Books are also attractive display items and can add color to the room.
Rather than buying new furniture, consider reupholstering. New fabrics and designs can make your furniture look brand new. Furniture throws can be used to liven up a room with neutral colors or pull contrasting colors together. Combine an old table and a deep photo frame to create a memory box table or turn scrap lumber into floating shelves. The old desk you have stored in the garage can become a stunning accent for your living room once it’s sanded and refinished.
3. Freshen up the Paint
A new coat of paint will freshen up the walls, but it also provides an opportunity to add interest to the room. Choose two or more contrasting colors for adjacent walls or trim work. If you’re having trouble deciding on color combinations, choose colors that are present in other materials in the room such as the upholstery or drapes. Add stripes or stencil patterns to create a totally unique space. Paint shelves and the wall behind them a bold color to draw the eye to a display area. The ceiling is often overlooked as an element of design but is another area where color and dimension can be introduced. Choose cool colors such as blues, greens and purples to make your living room appear larger. Paint is an inexpensive way to refresh old furniture as well.
4. Create Mood with Lighting
The right lighting is more important than you might think. When your living room is properly lit, everyone looks their best and feels welcome. Soft, white light gives the room a warm glow while fluorescent lighting is harsh and makes everything appear off color. Lighting can be used to create mood and place emphasis on art or other focal points of the room. You can use accent lighting to draw attention to your favorite painting or sculpture collection. These are recessed, adjustable lights that are around five times brighter than the surrounding light. Use decorative lighting such as table lamps, hanging pendants and chandeliers to add intimacy. A floor lamp placed beside a comfortable chair or by a desk provides bright light for tasks such as reading or writing.
5. Personalize with Accessories
Accessories are an outstanding way to express your individuality or create a theme for your living room. Incorporate items which convey your personal tastes such as seashell art you craft yourself or your autographed baseball collection. Include personal photos and create a collage with those of family members. Frame patches or badges you’ve earned or those of your favorite sports teams. Gather up the peacock feathers you collected at the zoo and put them in a vase. Displaying mementos and memorabilia you’ve collected from your travels is a splendid way to add color and texture to your living room.
2 Point Highlight
There are a variety of low and no cost techniques you can use to make your living room appear larger, define spaces and create mood.
You can start by browsing magazines or home decorating websites to get an idea of the look you’d like to achieve then modify it to meet your budget.
