Is it time for a living room update? With trends cycling so quickly, design elements can feel dated and tacky quicker than ever before, but for many of us, a complete renovation is beyond our time and budget. However, you don’t have to start over to transform your living room – with a few simple tricks, you can refresh an old, tired space over a weekend that won’t be too hard on your wallet.
- Paint or paper an accent wall
It sounds intimidating, but painting a living room is easier than most people think. You don’t have to paint all four walls to give your room a makeover – choose a feature wall which receives the most natural light or perhaps contains the TV or fireplace. A pop of bold colour or a striking wallpaper pattern will brighten up the room and refresh tired walls. Ensure that whatever colour you decide to use will complement the existing paint of wallpaper and look cohesive.
- Refresh your lighting
When was the last time you updated your light fixtures? Even if you’ve filled a room with modern furniture, dated lamps and lightings will drag down your room and look mismatched. You don’t have to rewire any fixtures to update your lights – replacing the shades will do the trick. Use modern hanging pendants for central lighting, and purchase stylish wall sconces online to update old-fashioned wall lighting. Don’t be afraid to select standout pieces that will catch the eye of guests and family members, but make sure it ties in with the aesthetic of your room and doesn’t clash with existing fittings.
- Rug up
A new rug can transform your living room floor at a fraction of the cost of floorboards or carpet. Rugs add dimension to a smaller room, and can establish different zones in larger spaces – a big room could contain a rug by the fireplace, a rug underneath the couch, and a rug beneath a reading chair in the corner. If you have well-kept floorboards you want to show off, a smaller rug in the centre of the room will leave your boards exposed but still create an extra layer on the floor.
- Touch up your furniture
Replacing a new lounge set is expensive, and often feels wasteful if a couch is a little tired or out of style but otherwise functional. Instead of throwing out boring furniture, try quick restyling to make it feel just like new again. A woollen throw or a sheepskin draped across the back of a couch will make it look completely different. New cushions complete the look, and you can use the opportunity to include pops of colour that match new elements in your room so your couch will still fit in to your new decor. Repaint or restain coffee and end tables, and touches such as new candles, photos, houseplants, or small vases and sculptures provide a great opportunity to include new textures like metal, glass or ceramics into your room.