Have you recently walked into your living room and been underwhelmed at the way it looks? Are you looking to make some changes without breaking the bank? This feeling is all too common! Everyone takes time to fix up their kitchens and bedrooms, yet somehow, the living room stays relatively untouched for what seems like years. We’re going to tell you a few simple ways to give your living room the makeover it deserves without breaking the bank.

Keep reading for more information!


Declutter Your Space

One of the easiest ways to help make your living room feel more comfortable is to get rid of unnecessary extras. If you have a large collection of items on display, consider either storing them neatly in a curio cabinet, putting them into a storage bin in a closet or even donating items that don’t hold financial or sentimental value.

Take a look at your walls. Having one gallery-style wall is a fantastic way to show off your travels, family, or other beautiful photographs. Having multiple gallery-style walls can look cluttered.

If your walls are bare, consider purchasing a beautiful piece of art from a local artist. This helps you avoid buying multiple items to hang, ensures that you have a one-of-a-kind piece, and also helps your local art scene.

Don’t forget to hide electric cords and wires, either. Although much-needed, they are unsightly and make even the neatest areas look disorganized.


Clean the Room

Once you’ve decluttered the room and your walls, consider some deep cleaning. Dust from the top of the room to the bottom (yes, this includes ceiling fans) and vacuum or sweep and mop.

Aside from the basic dusting and vacuuming or sweeping and mopping, consider the state of your furniture. If you have upholstered items (typically sofas, loveseats, and chairs) use a vacuum to remove surface dirt, hair (from humans and pets,) and any other debris.

If you have the time and funds for it, now would be a great time to have carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned. If you don’t have the budget for professional cleaning, consider renting the needed machines for a day to complete your deep cleaning process.

Sometimes even the cleanest carpet still looks dingy. Should this be the case with your living room, a new area rug might be a perfect choice. Area rugs can typically be found at a relatively low cost and always in an array of colors; just be cautious about matching it too closely to your current flooring!


Finding the Right Furniture

Replacing your entire living room set might not be in your budget but the good news is you can keep most of your current furniture and opt for a single statement piece. A statement furniture piece is something that immediately draws your eyes to it, is bold, unique, and of course, a piece that you love!

While there are several items that you could choose as a statement piece, be sure that it is functional! One such piece might be a womb chair. This type of chair is as stylish and distinctive as it is comfortable.

Other bold options might include a grand bookcase or a funky lamp that you found while bargain hunting at the flea market. The idea is to limit the amount of pizazz you have in your living room yet still have some furniture that tells your guests a little about you.

Another way to make your living room feel like new without spending a dime is to rearrange the furniture. If you’ve ever wanted to see what your space would look like with the couch against a particular wall or the chairs moved to a certain area, try it out! You can always move furniture back to where it was if you dislike the outcome.

The one type of furniture to avoid if possible is temporary furniture – not so much cheap furniture, but the items that weren’t meant for this use from the beginning. Old crates might look rustic in some homes, but they look like that after several hours of labor and love. Don’t use non-furniture items as furniture if you’re not willing to put in a little bit of effort.

Lighting and Color Schemes

You already know that a dark space will seem smaller whereas a brighter room feels larger. If you don’t have plenty of natural light, consider a DIY paint job to brighten (and freshen up) your living area.

If painting isn’t an option and you have very little natural light, you will likely need some assistance. The overhead lights in your living room likely do a great job of illuminating your space but they can also be a bit harsh.

Floor and table lamps can generally help solve this dilemma. Just keep in mind that having too many types of lamps might make your space feel more cluttered than it should. Consider using dimmable bulbs in order to set the mood you wish to create.


Making the Necessary Changes

Hopefully, these tips will give you some insight on how to achieve your desired living room within your budget. The key to success with your living room makeover will start with decluttering and cleaning. Once you jump these hurdles, you will quickly see the areas of your space that require a bit of help – and which can be left alone.

Don’t be afraid to use a pop of color, a unique piece of furniture, or an item that doesn’t completely fit your living room design. Get creative, within reason; keep trying until your room feels perfect!