Remember when you first walked into your home and instantly knew it was the home you wanted? It looked stylish, sleek, and free of clutter. Nowhere was this more noticeable than in the living room - a place where you know your family would spend a large amount of time together.
Now the home is your own and your new living room is a blank canvas just waiting to be filled with colour and personal pizzazz. But where do you start? How can you re-create the same appeal without spending a fortune? Don’t worry, we have ideas! Here are some ways you can update your living room with simple and affordable decor ideas.
Add Some Colour
Let’s start with the easiest thing you can do - add some flare to your living room with some colour. Whether you’d like to do something subtle, or really go all out, there are several ways to add colour to your space.
This could be as easy as purchasing some throw pillows in colours that contrast with your current furnishings. You might also consider adding lamp shades and drapes with vibrant colours as well. Best of all, these can make for some fun DIY projects!
Decals and Stencils
When we say decals, we don’t mean your neighbours stick family rear window sticker. Wall decals are a great way to add some serious class to your living room. Whether it’s an inspirational quote you’d like to grace one of the walls with, or a small area where you’d like to use a stencil to add a pattern, there is a lot you can do to make your living room unique and beautiful.
Both decals and stencils can be purchased at home stores or on the internet at very affordable prices.
Themes
Basing your living room’s decor around a central theme will not only give it an identity all its own, but it will show off a bit of who you are, provide a conversation piece for guests and provide you with a fun project as well. Best of all, the theme you choose can be as subtle or as obvious as you wish.
For example, if you love the ocean, you could deck out the room with furnishings and fixtures that are blue, beige, brown and/or white in colour. Throw in a few small vases filled with sand and seashells and you’ve got yourself a little beach retreat in your own home!
Express Yourself
There is so much you can do with pictures and art to enhance your living room’s decor. With one-hour printing, you can order photos from home and by using inexpensive frames found at several stores, you can provide a pictorial history of your family’s life.
Alternatively, you might consider the popular new trend of hanging three pieces of framed art, that when hung as a collage, form a larger work of art. You can set whatever mood you’d like for your space simply through art - the possibilities are endless!
Mix Old With New
When you move into a new home, you might be tempted to deck out your entire living room with sleek, modern furniture. But it doesn’t need to be that way.
It’s becoming more and more popular to include both old and new items into your living room in order to give it character and functionality. Consider some of the older items you already have but haven’t considered using - an old trunk that could double as a table, or side table that would add to your space. You may have to re-arrange your furniture, but a little persistence will pay off.
If you don’t have anything, consider making a visit to an antique store or garage sale. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and you may just find that perfect item to add to your living room.
Layered Rugs
Even though you may have carpet in your living room, don’t let that stop you from layering an area rug on top of it. It can add some delightful contrast to your space and interrupt the floor with some colour and texture. Another advantage to this is providing some extra comfort and warmth for your chilly feet in the winter!
Trendy Storage Spaces
Half of the enjoyment of a living room is to have a nice, peaceful place to relax. However, that can be pretty hard when your living room is cluttered. Whether its books that litter your coffee table, or LEGO on the floor you keep stepping on, it’s important to incorporate storage into your living room.
Consider buying square canvas or plastic bins that will fit in square shelves to store toys, remotes, and other small items. Give your bookshelf some order with some nice book ends, which you can find at any bookstore or antique shop.
Whatever you decide to do with your living room’s decor, never feel like you need to pour a large amount of money into it. Like the ideas mentioned above, there are subtle elements you can add without breaking the bank.
What are some things you’ve done with your living room to enhance its decor? Feel free to share in the comments!
