There’s plenty of interior design inspiration everywhere you look. Magazines, TV shows, the Internet, you name it. No matter where you look, you’ll always see something that could actually make your living room look better. The problem is most people don’t always have the budget to implement all these ideas.
But there’s also some good news. Everyone dreams about the ideal lounge for family and friends to relax in. Luckily, you can also redecorate the lounge on a budget without spending a fortune on expensive makeovers.
With these ideas in mind, let’s go through a few simple ideas to make it happen.
Work on Your Shelves
If you already have some shelves around the living room, restyle them. The idea is to work with what you already have. The moment you decide to buy something new is the moment your expenses will go up. If you work with your current design, the only thing you’ll waste is a bit of time.
For example, this idea works wonders with floating shelves. You can take them off the walls, unscrew them, repaint them for a new theme, and reattach them. It’s a simple, yet effective move that will give your wall a fresh appearance.
But that’s not everything. You can also find inspiration in terms of what goes on those shelves. If you only had a small plant and a few books, how about placing some magazines? How about having them facing you rather than stacked one on top of the other? This way, your shelves will look like a library.
An Ottoman for Convenience
Getting an ottoman is an excellent idea that will add a bit of style to your living room. Obviously, it depends on what you already have in there. If the room is already crowded, you’ll make it worse. Or, of course, you could just get rid of a few useless pieces first.
Anyway, an ottoman is a good idea because it’s multipurpose. In an ideal case, you should get a new sofa with an ottoman. At least they’re in the same color and style. But then, a sofa won’t come cheap. If you’re on a budget, stick to a simple ottoman instead.
It could be a matching color and texture, but if you can’t find something identical, you might as well go for a contrasting design, only to make this piece stand out. Place it in the right position and chances are it will become the focal point of the room.
An ottoman is good if you struggle with available seating when you have friends over. You can also store things inside it, not to mention using it as a footrest after a long day at work. Moreover, the ottoman can become a coffee table too.
You get the point. This is mainly about the idea of getting multipurpose furniture.
Go Antique Shopping
If you do need some new pieces in your living room, a vintage emporium is probably your best bet. Obviously, it depends on the décor. If you have a minimalist living room with just a few pieces and simple black-and-white lines, chances are you won’t find something to match in an antique store.
But if you’re after a more traditional and warmer experience, you’ll have lots of good options over there. Many of these places can be browsed online, from the comfort of your armchair. However, it might be wiser to just go see things in person. You’ll get a better idea about their quality and build.
Other than that, if you think about it, vintage furniture has already passed the test of time. It’s been around for decades. They no longer make it like they used to. So, if you get a quality piece of furniture, chances are a little maintenance will make it last just as long.
Now, when it comes to vintage furniture, you’ll need to know when to stop. People often buy more than what they need, so they overcrowd their living rooms with random things. Bad idea!
Indoor Rattan, Why Not?
When you think about rattan, you naturally think about garden furniture. It makes perfect sense. It’s not just rattan but pretty much any material that resembles the appearance, even cheap plastic. It looks good; it can resist all weather conditions, so why not?
As unusual as it may seem, rattan is a pretty nice indoor option as well. It’s a relatively fresh idea, but it’s been nicely implemented over the past few years. However, it doesn’t work for any type of home. It’s mainly associated with good weather, as well as holiday stays.
Rattan looks good, but it’s also durable. It won’t come cheap though, so if you’re on a budget, you can also invest in some imitation. It can blend into a traditional décor and even a minimalist one. However, you need to give it a bit of extra to make it feel homey.
For instance, get some pillows. Throw in a backrest. Make it feel comfy and it’ll work wonders in your living room. Maintenance is very simple as well. To make it look even better, get a few other decorations in the same material, so you can have some sort of a theme.
Heavy Colors for Everything
Going heavy on colors will give you a nice result. It sounds overwhelming, but it’s a style you won’t regret, especially if you like a more traditional approach.
Most people use bold colors to put an accent on something. Go the other way; use them as the main colors. In other words, cover big pieces in bold colors. Dark red, dark green, dark blue, whatever suits you. Paint the walls, get a sofa in the main color, or even some furniture.
You can do some of these things yourself. Despite looking heavy, it looks luxurious as well.
An Accent Wall for the Change
You can turn a dull wall into an accent wall in many ways. The easiest way? Get to the closest DIY store or look up online and get a couple of rolls of wallpaper. You’re less likely to need more, yet you should still measure everything upfront, just to play it safe.
If your walls are simple, opt for a rich color, maybe a pattern or a texture.
Obviously, this idea works better on an empty wall. If all your walls are covered with large pieces of furniture, the idea won’t work because, well, the accent’s not visible.
Rugs! Rugs, Everywhere!
Large living room? Nice, you’re lucky, but that means extra space makes it feel cold. Don’t be afraid to get some rugs in. Even if the floor is covered in carpets, you can still double up with some rugs here and there, only for the accent. Even better if you’d like an accent wall but can’t get it.
A few small rugs here and there will work wonders. You do have to plan it carefully in terms of coloring and theme. Complementary textures work well together. Also, if you can, circular rugs are better than square rugs.
Accent Lighting for a Warm Feel
Most people stick to a nice central light hanging from the ceiling. Not bad, but you could do better. A few different lights hanging from the same place will look better. Hang them in a cluster and you’ll obtain some nice shades around the living room too. Also, it helps if they’re all in the same theme.
To take things even further, focus on accent lighting. Freestanding lamps, table lamps, you name it. As long as they match, install them here and there for a nice effect. Not only does the place look cozier, but it also offers a more luxurious feel.
Invest in Artwork
This doesn’t mean you’ll have to buy a Picasso or a Rembrandt. Instead, you can even print your favorite pictures or images and frame them in matching frames.
The idea works better if you have a big empty wall. It’s boring, indeed, so you can just cover it up. To give it a more personal feel, cover the whole wall in small pieces of artwork. You can have a symmetrical look (all frames in the same shape and size) or mix and match different concepts, whatever suits you.
Move Existing Furniture Around
This is the classic way to obtain a fresh look for your living room. Sure, we have options these days, but decades ago, our parents weren’t that lucky. It’s how they changed things back then.
All you have to do is rethink your living room layout. Move everything around, literally. Place pieces in a different arrangement, simple as that. It’s free and it will give your room a new perspective.
Let’s Conclude
In the end, by focusing on practical tips such as repurposing items you already own, incorporating DIY projects, and choosing affordable decor pieces, you can make your living room uniquely yours without overspending. Just FYI, the images shown on this post are for illustration purposes only.
