As the name suggests, living rooms are made for day to day life. As the focal point of a home, changes here can transform your experience within these four walls whether you are watching TV, relaxing after a busy day at work or eating late lunches and drinking coffee.
However, if you have targeted home improvement in the living room you may be worried about the costs involved. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can design something new on a small budget. Here are a few tweaks and changes you could make.
Layer rugs for texture
Rugs are a versatile furnishing choice as they can be the centrepiece of a living space or complement other aesthetic design choices. An eye-catching rug is also a budget-friendly option to add a splash of colour to a wooden floor or cover up a worn through carpet.
You should consider the amount of foot traffic in your living room when deciding on an appropriate rug texture. Home design expert Anishka Clarke notes: “If this is a heavily used room, like a living room, or if pets are involved, you might want to consider an all-wool rug, sisal, or a cotton flatweave as these can take a good beating.”
Opting for a rug with an interesting pattern is recommended as this will hide wear and tear over time but you could layer two or three rugs with different colours to add dimension and make your space more visually interesting.
Update cushions
Cushions are another incredibly versatile and affordable upgrade as they come in a plethora of colours, sizes and shapes, adding a much-needed flourish and feel-good factor to the design of rooms. Like rugs, cushions can be mixed and matched, layered and stacked for different effects.
Install house plants
Bring nature into the home with the addition of inexpensive, high-quality plants. You could use trailing house plants to create a bohemian style gallery wall, add larger leafy plants in the corners of rooms and next to art to create a tropical paradise or opt for a simple pot plant next to an armchair for a modern twist to plant installation.
Another plus point is that they are not permanent additions so you can rotate plants in and out on a monthly basis to change the look and feel of your living room. You will find a great selection of plants for your every desire at local supermarkets, retail outlets and garden centres.
Move the furniture
Arguably the most cost-effective home improvement method is rearranging the furniture you already have. For a complete overhaul, opt for an alternative layout with sofas and chairs pulled away from the wall and located in the centre of a room. You could also adopt a minimalist mind-set and strip away everything that’s superfluous. A good declutter, clearing and clean can bring new life to a living room.
DIY paint job
Donning a pair of dungarees and painting walls is a cheap and simple way to switch up home spaces. There are numerous low cost, high-quality paints available and you could give yourliving room a different look after an afternoon of hard work with a brush. Contrasting blocks of colour is a good idea. You could also just paint one alcove with a bright hue to improve the atmosphere.
Add window shutters
Window shutters will make a living space feel more private and cosy while filtering light for a unique look when paired with contemporary, modern furnishing. Cafe style shutters covering the lower portion of windows are particularly stylish, as are tier on tier and full height shutters.
Ready-to-fit shutters from https://www.californiashutters.co.uk/ are the most affordable option for improving living rooms as there are no third party expenses for installation. You will also be able to select from a huge range of neutral colours for a clean finish that exudes timeless quality.
Change lighting
Lighting also has an effect on the mood of a room so why not add a couple of floor lamps or a large table lamp for cosy lighting by day and night.
Use removable wallpaper
Fancy a change but don’t want to commit to a wholesale refit? Peel and stick removable wallpaper will add sparkle to living rooms without the worry of being stuck with bold choices you may later regret. Removable paper is a great option if you currently renting an apartment and want to make changes or are unsure what direction you want to go in when designing a room. You will find lots of different sizes and prints online to suit your needs.
