Decorating Your Living Room on a Budget

Decorating a living room can be a lot of fun and gives you an opportunity to show off your creativity and ingenuity to anyone who comes into your home, as your living room is usually the first room in the house that a guest sees. Living rooms can be as formal and elaborate as you'd like, or as informal and easy as you'd like. The choice is up to you! And either way, you can decorate your living room on a budget, without breaking the bank. The quickest and easiest way to start the process of decorating your living room, is to make sure it's neat and tidy at all times. Dispense with clutter. Make sure that your furniture is in as good repair as possible. Make sure there aren't any holes or scuffs on the walls. Clean light fixtures once in awhile. And make sure to get rid of cobwebs too. Use a spot treatment or stain-remover on any carpet you have in your living room. Use a furniture polish on your wooden furniture at least once a month, and also periodically dust your knicknacks and tops of bookcases, etc. Good housekeeping and de-cluttering makes a big difference in how your living room looks!

Paint/Wall Decor- Another quick "fix" for decorating your living room is a coat of paint in a color that coordinates with your furniture or decorating scheme! You can find paint pretty cheap, and it's an amazing "life-giver" to rooms that are boring or look outdated. A semi-gloss latex looks best, but you can also use just plain, cheap flat paint in a light color to change the look of your living room. Paint one wall, two walls or paint all of them! There are many painting techniques that will give a room texture and depth, two of my favorites are "sponge" paint or "rag" painting. Both of these methods will add color to your room, give the walls a textured look, and you can use two colors or as many colors as you'd like! Painting trim rather than walls is another way to update your living room, and takes far less paint. You can also half-way up a wall and then put a wallpaper border around it, at "chair-rail" height. Wall-paper borders by themselves are also a great way to spruce up a room, and you can find wall-paper borders at dollar stores and discount retailers for as little as $1.00 a roll. Use wall-paper borders around the tops of walls near ceilings, at "chair-rail" height with or without paint, or around windows or doorways. Stenciled designs are also a great way to change your living-room's look. You can make the designs as elaborate or as simple as you'd like. Stencil where you would put wall-paper borders or even in vertical rows on one wall for a "wall-papered" look.

Furniture- Never underestimate the power of simply adding a throw to your couch or using slipcovers to cover worn upholstery! Sure, we all want a nice, new updated living room set, but most people don't have the money to just go out and buy all that brand new. So, make do with what you have. If it's in your budget, you can buy just one piece to update the look of your living room. Shop yard sales and thrift shops too, you never know what you might find for your living room in one of these places. If you don't have a couch, and can't afford to buy one, there are many options! Use a futon or daybed, and oversized throw pillows to create a cozy "couch" for your living room. I've even used a twin bed on a metal frame, with no headboard or footboard as a couch before... I simply chose a pretty comforter to go over it, and then made a bunch of oversized throw pillows to make a "couch". It worked out nicely, and even better, provided an extra place for an overnight guest to sleep! Coffee tables can be made out of just about anything... Old trunks, 4 cinder blocks and a piece of wood, a nightstand or even a small child's table can make an excellent coffee table, and you can buy these things at thrift shops or yard sales as well! An old dresser or nightstand can double as a television stand that also provides extra storage, you can use cinder blocks and and narrow boards to make book cases with, a filing cabinet can double as an end table, just use your imagination! Furniture for your living room needn't be expensive or complicated. Throws, pillows, slipcovers or even re-upholstering (if you can do it yourself!) are all reasonably cheap solutions and won't break the bank.

Floors- Whether you have carpet or hard floors, simple throw rugs or area rugs can make a dramatic difference in how your living room looks, and you can find these relatively cheap at discount stores. If you have hardwood floors, you can sand them down and re-stain them for a reasonable price if you are able to do it yourself or know someone who can!

Lighting- Don't discount the possibilities that changing lighting can bring to your living room. You can find inexpensive fixtures to replace at most major discount retailers. Sometimes simply changing the shades on your lamps can make a difference, or replace all your lamps with "new" ones found at thrift shops. Consider different lighting styles, "over-head", wall sconces, chandelier-style fixtures, etc. Floor lamps are another great lighting option as well. Just use your imagination and find a look that suits you!

Windows- Window coverings can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like. You can sew your own curtains, or buy them pretty cheap at dollar stores or discount stores. Mini-blinds in place of curtains or drapes can make a room look more "modern." Switching heavy, dark draperies with light, airy curtains can instantly change the feel of a room. Lace curtains over light colored blinds can help insure that your living room stays lighter and feels larger. I have used twin-sized flat sheets to make simple curtains before. You can make simple or elaborate valances, "swags" and other things out of simple, discount fabric, and make a room instantly more "formal". Make your windows a focal point in your living room if you have good-sized windows and a nice view, it can help take a person's eyes off of the minor flaws in your furniture or flooring.

Wall Decor/Knicknacks- Never underestimate the power of simply changing or adding something to your walls. Decorate with quilts, tapestries, mirrors or groupings of family photos. Use tins or other types of knicknacks in small groupings to showcase a hobby or interest. Display your special flower arrangements or stuffed animals from a lover or friend, and give your living room a personalized, "cozy" feel. For a minimalist approach, try decorating with different sized and different colored rocks or stones, on your coffee table or tops of book cases. A basket of pine cones or a dried floral arrangement by a fireplace can give your living room a "homey" look. Posters or reproductions of art pieces are great for wall decor as well, and can show off your "fun" side.

When it comes to decorating your living room on a budget, the sky's the limit. Use your imagination, and see what happens! No change is too small when you're decorating, and there are literally hundreds of home decorating books out there, for budgets of all sizes! Use home decorating magazines for ideas or a "jumping off" point, and then use your imagination and give it your own personal touch. I promise, you'll be pleased with the results, and your budget won't be broken! You don't have to restrict yourself to just "living room" furniture or the most common or popular themes, just express yourself and make your living room be an expression of your interests and personality.