Over time, even the most beautifully designed, perfectly laid out living rooms can become stale and boring. If you wanted to improve the scenery, you could always move to a new house or invest heavily in new furniture, but these options are financially untenable to many people.
Instead, are there ways you can spruce up your living room without hemorrhaging money to do it?
The short answer is yes. Let’s explore.
How to Spruce Up Your Living Room
These are some simple and relatively inexpensive ways you can spruce up your living room:
- Install a fireplace or insert. One of the best ways to improve the appearance and functionality of your living room is to install a fireplace, or if you already have a fireplace, a new fireplace insert from this website. Once installed, you’ll be able to use your fireplace to provide supplementary heat, a pleasant background visual, and if you’re burning wood, a cozy crackle that can make any living room gathering much warmer and more enjoyable. Best of all, installing a fireplace can boost your home’s value, ultimately returning some of your investment.
- Rearrange the furniture. Investing in new furniture can be prohibitively expensive, but sometimes, you can get just as much value from rearranging the furniture you already have. You don’t have to be a feng shui master to see adequate results, either; simply swapping the positions of two or more pieces of furniture could be the refreshing redesign you need. If you want to make the greatest impact, focus on creating as much open space as possible, and make all your furniture point to the same locus of attention.
- Hang mirrors. Hanging mirrors in your living room can create the illusion of additional space. You’re not really adding anything to the living room, but if you purchase mirrors large enough, they can give you a sense of greater depth. As an added bonus, mirrors can reflect some of your favorite design elements, capturing and replicating their image on the opposite wall.
- Invest in artwork you love. Almost any type of artwork can be a good addition to your living room, assuming it’s artwork you genuinely love. Big paintings, sculptures, and other works of art will make your living room seem more unique and reflective of your identity. Generally, the best works of art to include are abstract or suggestive ones, making them serve as excellent conversation starters.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint. Applying a fresh coat of paint is a ridiculously cheap DIY job that you can tackle in the span of a weekend. It’s a way to introduce a new color to your environment while simultaneously making your walls seem cleaner and newer. Choose an especially bold color if you want to make a statement.
- Harness the power of accents. Accents can complement the other colors of your living room and make the entire space seem more interesting. Consider painting an accent wall as a strong contrasting color, or using other decorative items as smaller accents.
- Add pillows and throw blankets. Tasteful pillows and throw blankets give you an opportunity to introduce even more design elements to your surroundings – and they have a practical purpose as well. Experiment with different colors and styles to see what works best.
- Replace your window treatments. If you’re looking for a bigger, more prominent upgrade, consider replacing your existing window treatments. Swapping out your curtains for blinds or shopping for more luxurious treatments could be exactly what you need to make your living room feel welcoming. While you’re at it, consider replacing or upgrading the window treatments all over your house for a more cohesive feel.
- Tinker with your lighting. Lighting can make a big difference in how you experience a given space. Swapping your light bulbs for LEDs, installing a dimmer switch for more lighting options, and adding more supplementary/complementary accent lighting could help you establish a better atmosphere.
- Introduce a signature scent. Finally, remember that living room design isn’t just about looks – it’s also about scent. Consider using incense, oils, candles, or other aroma diffusers to introduce a signature, pleasant scent to the area. Vanilla, lavender, and orange are just a few options worth considering.
Changing Things Up
You may be satisfied with the way your living room looks now, but chances are, this design will wear on you just as your previous design did. If you want to stay ahead of the game, commit to continually refreshing your living room layout, adjusting the furniture, swapping out centerpieces, and relocating various decorations on your walls.
If you make small changes on a regular basis, it can make your environment feel fresher and more inviting.