How To Update Living Room On A Budget?

By Eugene WilliamsLast update: 2024-12-04

When it comes to updating a living space of a house, many people think that it must be expensive. But in fact, by spending extra time and effort, along with some cleverness, you can refresh it without spending a fortune. Below is how to update the living room on a budget:

Add greenery with house plants

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The best way to transform your living room without breaking the bank is to introduce house plants.

Aside from the aesthetics benefit, they help purify indoor air, lower your blood pressure, and reduce stress. Don’t worry if you are a novice, lots of indoor plants are very easy to grow and low-maintenance.

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Only make sure that the plants you choose suit the lighting and humidity conditions of your living room plus they’re not toxic for you, your baby, or pets.

But if you’re truly busy, artificial plants are a good alternative.

Update Your Cushion Covers

Whether it's a seasonal refresh, a trend update or theme transformation, you can give your living room a fresh look and feel with minimal effort and expense. In addition, regularly changing cushion covers can help keep your living room clean and fresh. It allows you to wash or replace covers that have become dirty or worn over time.

Play with colors and patterns

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Crochet texture and burnt orange color add a touch of bohemian

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Geometric pattern and neutral tones introduces modern sophistication

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Floral or botanical prints contribute to a natural and serene vibe

Introducing new colors and patterns can completely alter the look and feel of the room. Bright colors can make the space feel more lively, while muted tones can create a calming atmosphere.

Embrace the seasons

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Classic plaid brings a sense of holiday cheer.

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Playful and whimsical pattern of white Halloween elements evoke spooky and festive feeling.

Swapping out your cushion covers is a simple yet powerful way to capture the essence of each season right in your living room.

With each change, you'll breathe new life into your space, celebrating the unique beauty and spirit of every season.

Rearrange The Furniture

This is a literally no-money way to update your living room while you’ll get a good workout.

Search on Pinterest for some furniture rearrangement ideas for the living room or just freestyle on your way. But beforehand, determine which furniture-arranging style you like to apply on the space and if you do that for any purpose.

For example, if you aim to free up space in your living room, replace the seater sofa with armchairs.

Declutter Your Living Room

Decluttering is an easy yet extremely effective way to refresh and update your living room, making it easier to clean and tidy, save money, be free of allergens, and reduce stress.

Not saying that decluttering a space helps you find a smarter way to store your belongings or organize stuff better.

Decorate The Living Room Window

If your living room has a window, then why not give it a new coat?

Blinds, curtains, and shutters are some good ideas to decorate this area while the cost is very friendly. Besides, you’ve got hundreds of choices in colors, patterns, and materials on the market.

Each of them brings a specific look and vibe to the space, so make sure to determine your tastes and needs before dropping your money on anything.

If you don’t like to add curtains or blinds to the window, read the article “How to dress a window without curtains” to learn some worth-a-try alternatives.

A Mirror

Mirrors are deemed to be multifunctional items once adding to a space.

They give the illusion to make the room feel more spacious while reflecting light to make it brighter and more inviting. Not saying that they help you fix your hairs before going out or check your yoga pose (if that is a huge mirror).

On the market, there is a wide range of mirror choices regarding shapes, sizes, and frame materials.

Hang A Memo Board

A memo board is cheap but will be a great conversation starter between you and your guests. It’s also a wonderful place where you can revise good memories with your loved ones or show off your characteristics.

You can DIY one from some cardboards, pieces of fabric, or wood pallets – anything you have at hand.

For newbies, watch this tutorial video:

Add Lighting

Lighting plays a huge role in the look of a room.

If your living room is currently lacking accent lighting, then consider:

Placing a small table lamp on the table near your sofa

Adding a floor lamp near your reading nook

Hanging some light strings on a window.

They should give off a yellow glow for a cozy and romantic feeling at night. Pay attention to wattage and brightness level, too.

Paint A Lampshade

Make your weekend more interesting by trying hand-painting a lampshade in your living room – which is also a good way to refresh its appearance.

This project is simple and easy to do.

All you need are paints, a few brushes, a pencil, and some decoration items, such as ribbons.

To ensure that the final result is exactly the same as your upfront imagination, sketch it on paper, then on the lampshade using a pencil.

Your fabric paint should not be diluted so that the pencil drawing will not show through when you turn the light on.

A fantastic way to decorate a blank wall in your living room is to hang/mount some photo frames to create a wall art gallery.

And, there are a lot of affordable ways to create one – DIY photo frames from cardboard or wood pallets, or buying from a nearby thrift store.

If you want more ideas to decorate a blank wall, read this article. (Link về bài Genius Ways to Decorate a Blank Wall)

Repaint your furniture

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If you are looking to spruce up your living room without breaking the bank, I’ve got a fun idea for you. Forget about splurging on new furniture - grab a paintbrush and repaint your existing pieces. In case you want something more interesting than a plain paint color, consider adding a straightforward pattern like stripes on the furniture surface.

Use your vacation souvenirs as decorative items

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This idea seems easy to implement: simply put your vacation souvenirs in your living room and turn them into decorative items. However, to avoid causing clutter, incorporating these treasures in your interior design requires a suitable combination.

For instance, you can vertically hang a collection of handwoven tribal baskets from Pakistan on the wall to showcase their beautiful patterns. Plus, you can create a Bohemian-styled wall by combining these baskets with a macrame.

Place your family pictures on display

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If you want to create a collection of your family pictures with various sizes on the wall, consider choosing frames in the same colors. A single frame color helps you tie these pictures together for a harmonious and balanced look on display.

Create a welcoming ambiance with scented candles

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Candles are like, the easiest way to make your living room feel instantly cozier. The gentle flicker of the flame is mesmerizing, and then the scent is released, filling the air with something delightful. It's a treat for your eyes and nose.

Even before you strike a match, candles can enhance your living room. Their decorative shapes and colors add a touch of personality to your living room, while their subtle fragrance creates a welcoming atmosphere even before you light the wick.

Stencil your white curtains

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The key to creating beautiful DIY stenciled curtains is to wash, dry, and IRON your curtains to remove all stains and wrinkles. If you skip this step, these imperfections can make your curtains look unattractive after painting.

Add a pop of color with a throw

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Is your neutral or basic sofa too plain? You can make this furniture stand out by adding a colorful throw to create a contrast. Apart from decorative purposes, this item is also functional, keeping you warm on chilly nights.

Conclusion

And, above are all of my tips on how to update the living room on a budget. I hope that the article was helpful to you. After updating your living room, if you are interested in improving other spaces of your house, please follow my blog for more genius hacks.

Thanks for reading!


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