How to Update Living Room Furniture on a Budget

Your living room furniture is most likely the most used furniture in your home. Even with this, so many people live with outdated furniture that they hate because they don't think they have the money to update it. So what do you do when your living room furniture starts to feel old and outdated but you are working with a tight budget? Simply use these tips to bring your old living room furniture back to life.

Slip Covers

If your couch, loveseat, or chairs are looking shabby, just cover them with a slip cover. Slip covers have come a long way from what they were a decade ago, and so they are perfect for updating an old chair or loveseat. Inexpensive slip covers can be found for $50 or less, which is far cheaper than a new couch. However, if slip covers are financially out of your reach, try purchasing inexpensive sheets in a neutral color for a new look for much less.

Lamp Shades

Make sure you change out any old lamp shades that feel dated. New lamp shades can cost as little as $10 a piece at stores like Wal-Mart and they can make an old lamp feel like new. Just make sure the new lamp shade fits the style of the lamp. No matter how nice a shade might be, if it does not work with the lamp it will just look out of place.

Paint

Paint is a perfect way to update outdated wood furniture and old metal hardware. If you have an old coffee table that is obviously from another decade, give it a coat of inexpensive latex paint. It really is amazing how paint can make a tired old piece look brand new and mismatched furniture look like a set. Just make sure to stick to colors like white, brown and black, as these colors will never go out of style.

In addition you want to paint any old hardware that might be feeling outdated. Many people do not know that hardware can be inexpensively painted to look like a more updated finish. Why live with old gold hardware when you can paint it to look like brushed nickel?

Throw Pillows

You would be surprised how changing out old throw pillows can bring a piece of furniture into this century. So many living rooms are dated by inexpensive details. A couch can feel brand new because it has brand new $5 pillows sitting on it. So take a good assessment of your current throw pillows to see if they are holding your furniture back.Updating old living room furniture does not have to cost a fortune. With nothing more than some throw pillows, paint, new lamp shades and a few nice slipcovers you can make your furniture look new. So start looking for these inexpensive new pieces and you will soon have great looking furniture on a budget.