For many of the families and friends we grew up watching on TV, the living room was often where all the action happened.
If the same is true in your home, it’s understandable to want a refresh now and again. If you’re constantly starring at the same living room decor, the cozy and inviting space you were hoping for when you first decorated will soon feel tired and boring.
But it can be hard to come up with inspiring living room ideas that don’t cost the earth – especially if you have to stick with the same wall color and furniture for a little longer.
Wondering how to decorate a living room without breaking the bank? Keep reading to find out!
1. Declutter
One of the key principles of how to decorate a living room is to only include items that are practical or decorative, if not both.
Before you get busy adding anything new, make it your mission to cut the clutter and remove any items that don’t serve either a useful or aesthetic purpose. We’re talking about the stacks of CDs you never listen to, the ugly armchair that no one ever sits in, and the tired old living room decor items you’ve amassed over the years.
Without this unnecessary clutter, your living room will feel like new without you needing to spend a dime.
2. Change the Layout
An easy – and free! – way to breathe new life into your living room decor is to move the furniture around. Even small tweaks to the layout can make your living room feel fresh and new without having to buy or do anything major.
Try placing your sofa against another wall or beneath the window to switch things up. Or, instead of having everything face the TV, how about putting your armchairs opposite your sofa to create a conversation area? You might also want to change the position of your coffee table or bring some smaller side tables into the mix.
3. Rearrange Your Accessories
While switching your furniture around has an obvious impact, don’t underestimate how much of a difference you can make by rearranging accessories like vases, candles, and photo frames.
Start by topping your coffee table with a tray full of stylized decor items. Your coffee table is your living room’s centerpiece so arranging a new plant, a stack of marble coasters, or some coffee table books on top is a great way to make your space feel more put together.
You can then try mixing up any other accessories or displays you have on shelves, bookcases, or tables. But remember, the idea isn’t to overload these areas with trinkets but rather to create meaningful displays that add a unique touch to your space.
4. Layer Lighting
A great way to make your living room home decor feel warmer and more inviting is to layer your lighting. Rather than relying on a central bulb to light the whole room, adding sconces, floor lamps, table lamps, and even candles adds instant interest and ambiance.
Having a range of different lighting options can help divide a larger space into zones for specific activities such as entertaining, studying, and watching TV. Layered lighting also elevates small living room decor to give a more polished and considered feel.
You might also want to update your central lightbulbs with something more decorative after seeing to those all-important ceiling fan maintenance tasks too.
5. Add an Accent Rug
Nothing updates your living room decor quite like adding an accent rug.
But, you must get the size and placement right to ensure the rug has the desired effect. Ideally, the rug should go under the sofa and coffee table, and be large enough for the front sofa legs to sit squarely on top. This will make your living room feel larger and more put together.
As for the color, choose a rug that offers a contrast with the flooring, coffee table, and sofa colors while also bringing in colors from around the room.
6. Cover the Sofa
If you’re sick of your old sofa but don’t have the budget for a new one, don’t despair. While some fancy covers can cost almost as much as a new sofa, draping a blanket or throw over your current couch is a much more cost-effective update.
You could also add some new throw pillows into the mix as a way to detract from your sofa. For a polished look, add throw pillows that complement your living room’s existing color palette.
7. Hang New Wall Art
Don’t neglect your walls while you’re wondering how to decorate a living room on a budget. Yes, art can be expensive but prints and even DIY art or enlarged versions of your favorite photos can add personality to your living room home decor.
Look for paintings and prints that complements your color scheme or convert your favorite photos to black and white for an elegant way to decorate your walls. And, while your wall art placement depends on your living room decor and your personal preferences, you can’t go wrong with an eye-catching print above your sofa.
8. Bring the Outdoors In
Many people overlook how much of a positive impact that plants can have on your decor. As well as adding life in both a literal and figurative sense, they can help clean the air and even improve your mood. Plus, plants are one of the few decor additions that can work with any kind of living room decor style or aesthetic.
Resilient plants like spider plants, snake plants, or Chinese evergreen are all perfect for those of you not blessed with green thumbs. You might also want to add fake plants if your living room doesn’t get much light or you want to brighten up a dark corner.
Living Room Ideas to Transform Your Space
As these living room ideas show, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make a big difference to the look and feel of your space.
Often, rethinking and rearranging what we already have can breathe new life into your existing decor, while small additions such as a new plant or a colorful throw pillow can have a big impact.
For more inspirational interiors advice, be sure to check out our other blog posts.
