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Decorating your living room doesn’t have to be costly. A little creativity and a smart strategy, you can transform your living room into a comfortable and stylish spot without having to break the bank. In this article, I will go over some practical tips and ideas for decorating your living room on a budget!
1. Set a Budget
First of all, if you want to decorate your living room a budget, it’s crucial to set a budget before diving into decorating. Decide exactly how much you can afford to spend for your living room makeover. Having an exact budget will help you make decisions and prioritize certain purchases. Remember, sticking to your budget is crucial to avoid all unnecessary financial stress.
2. Plan Your Space
Take a little time to consider how you want your living room to function. Is your living room going to be a cozy space for family movie nights or a sophisticated area for entertaining guests? On top of the functionality, think about the layout and how you’ll be using your space. If you’re more of a visual thinker like me, you can draw a simple floor plan on piece of paper or use an online floor plan tool to see what different configurations will look like.
3. Use What You Have
Before buying new furniture or decoration, look around your home for things that you can reuse. A lot of the time, older furniture can be given a new life with just a fresh coat of paint or a new fabric. Even small decor items, like vases or picture frames, can easily be moved around to create a different style and look to your living room. This saves you money ands adds a personal touch to your space!
4. Shop Smart
Shopping smart is one of the best ways to achieve a living room on a budget!
- Thrift Stores and Garage Sales: Places like thrift stores and garage sales can be amazing to find unique furniture and decor at low pries. You can find a vintage coffee table or some interesting artwork at a fraction of the retail price!!!
- Online Marketplaces: Use online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp to find low-cost furniture and decorations from local sellers. (Those 3 are my top favorite online marketplaces for affordable finds!)
- Clearance and Outlet Stores: Always be on the lookout for any signs of clearance sales at your favorite home goods stores. Outlet stores also often have unbeatable discounts on furniture and decor.
5. DIY Projects
Rolling up your sleeves and getting crafty is the best way to save money when it comes to decorating your living room. I always like to include DIY projects in my affordable home decorating series!
- Wall Art: Create some artwork on a blank canvas and paint them or frame them using colorful fabrics. You could even do a photo or printable gallery on the walls of your living room, above your couch.
- Furniture Makeovers: if you have old furniture, you can repaint or change the hardware to give it a new life.
- Throw Pillows and Blankets: You could sew your own throw pillows or blankets using fabric from any craft store like Michaels. You can also try to create some custom looks with simple plain pillows by tie-dyeing or just painting them.
- Add Mirrors: This is my favorite thing to do because it not only gives your living room a new look but it also creates an illusion of a bigger space, this will make your living room look bigger than it actually is, who doesn’t love to have a big living room?
6. Affordable Lighting
Having good lighting can totally change the feel of your living room. If your living room feels a bit dull, try adding different sources of light. Here are some budget-friendly lighting ideas:
- String Lights: I always rave about string lights because they bring in a warm and cozy atmosphere to literally any space, even your balcony! They can be draped on walls or laid over furniture.
- Lamps: Floor and table lamps help get rid of the dark areas in a room. You can get reasonably priced ones from discount stores or thrift shops, I particularly like floor lamps because they can placed in any corner of your living room and they instantly illuminate the space without needing any extra lamps.
- Candles: Use candles to create a soft light to your living room. Set a group of them together on a coffee table or mantel for a cute illuminated centerpiece.
7. Use Color Wisely
Color can make a surprising change to the look of your living room. You don’t have to paint the entire living room but adding small touches of color can make a huge difference. Here are some affordable ideas:
- Accent Wall: Paint one wall in a bold color to create an accent wall, this can be an affordable way to add something new without overwhelming your space.
- Accessories: Use color with colorful throw pillows, rugs, and curtains since they are generally less costly and easy to change out when desiring a new look.
8. Add Greenery
Adding plants can refresh a boring living room and give it some color and life! Plants also purify the air and can really create a relaxed atmosphere. There’s really no need to spend money on expensive houseplants. Here are some affordable ways for adding plants in your apartment:
- Make New Plants: You can make new plants by taking cuttings from existing ones, it’s a free way to grow more plants!
- Plant Swap Locally: Check out local community groups like on Facebook for plant swap events to exchange plants with others.
- Low-Maintenance Affordable Plants: Find low-maintenance plants, like succulents or snake plants, which are usually very affordable.
9. Personal Touches
Finally, finish off your living room with personal touches. It’s a certain way to make your living room feel uniquely yours, here are a few ideas you might want to consider:
- Family Photos: Put up a number of family photos in a gallery-wall way using inexpensive frames or even just clothespins for a casual and stylish look.
- Traveling Souvenirs: Show off Items and souvenirs you brought back from vacation in different spots of your living room.
- Books and Magazines: Use books for decoration by stacking them on tables or creating a mini bookshelf with your favorite pieces. I like to buy cheap designer cover books that look expensive, think of Chanel and Prada decorative books that you can get for an affordable price like the ones below on Amazon!
10. Be Flexible
The more you decorate, remember your living room can evolve over time. You don’t have to get everything perfect right off the bat. It’s okay to make changes if you find something you love later down the line. If you’re flexible with decorating your room overtime, its okay to switch things up, being flexible keeps your living room fresh and exciting!!
It’s absolutely possible to decorate a living room at an affordable price, using creativity and resourcefulness. You can have a space that truly reflects your style by having a little planning, shopping smart, and especially paying special attention to personal touches, you can turn your living room into a space you love spending your time in without overspending. Your cozy, stylish living room is just a few thoughtful changes away!
