Inexpensive decorating ideas for a living room...

The livingrooms is very often the central room in a home, traditionally where guests are entertained, holidays are celebrated, and a great deal of “living” takes place.  You want your living room to look fresh, warm, comfortable and inviting for your family and your friends.  If your living room needs some sprucing up or a few decorative touches, there are many things you can do to enhance your living room, give it a new look, and also stay within your budget.

Ten inexpensive ideas for decorating your living room:

1)   Rearrange your furniture 

Do this first before you start any major decorating.  Furniture rearranging is an easy and totally cost-free decorating maneuver, giving the room an instant new look.  Once this is done, then look around and see what else you want to do.

2)   Add a fresh coat of paint 

Nothing creates a pleasant change more than a fresh coat of paint, especially if you change the color somewhat.  Also, if you do the painting yourself, painting is one of the less expensive ways to enhance your décor. 

Before

After

3)   Add some wallpaper 

Wallpaper adds charm and beauty to any room.  Wallpapering can be more expensive than painting but if you do the work yourself and buy your supplies at discount, wallpapering doesn’t have to be a budget-breaking project.  If you like painted walls but would like some wallpaper also, paper one wall or run a border around the top.  Save your leftover paper for patching and also for making accessories later on.

4)   Replace your window treatments 

Once the room has been painted or papered, hang some new curtains or drapery.  Attractive window treatments can be one of the main focal points in a room.  Place a few colored bottles or other glass objects in the windows for a lovely effect as the sun shines through.

5)   Toss in a few area rugs 

If your carpeting or flooring has seen better days but your budget can’t afford replacements, lay some reasonably priced area rugs over the worn spots.  The fresh new rugs will perk up your room instantly and with little cost.  Also keep an eye out for carpet remnants on sale that you could install yourself.

6)   Spruce up your couch 

The living room couch is typically another one of the main focal points in the living room.  If yours is a bit lackluster, add a new slipcover and some attractive throw pillows.  Do the same for other upholstered chairs that may need some sprucing up.

7)   Create an accent wall 

You can devote an entire wall or a portion of a wall to bookshelves, wall art, paintings, photographs, murals, plants, or any other purpose you would like to emphasize and draw attention to.

8) Accessorize 

Add a few accents and accessories here and there to complete your decorating efforts.  Some brightly colored throw pillows, a new lamp or two, a refinished coffee or accent table, a nicely framed mirror, all will enhance the charm of your living room.  If you did decide to hang some wallpaper, use some of the leftovers and cover a lamp shade or line the inside of a bookcase, continuing the wallpaper theme in the room.

9)   Introduce your personality 

Bring your own style and personality into your decorating.  Look through home decorating magazines, browze through antique shops, furniture stores and demolition warehouses that specialize in furnishings salvaged from old homes and buildings.  You may stumble upon something absolutely fabulous that strikes your fancy and gets your creative juices flowing.

10)   Think outside the box 

Don’t limit your decorating efforts to a fresh coat of paint or some new throw pillows for your tired old couch.  Be willing to try something new, daring and different.

Have a great week!!!