09
Aug
The average living room is one of the busiest rooms in the house, with constant foot traffic and plenty of activity. From hosting friends and family to relaxing after a long day, this specific part of your home sees it all. Due to its high level of use, the decor that’s found in this area needs to be well-thought-out and intentional.
Most people use the living room as a multi-purpose space, so it’s important to design accordingly. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a specific focus for this room, but keep in mind that whatever you choose should be able to accommodate different activities. Start with the basics and add in personal touches to make the room your own.
Rugs are more than simply decorative items that bring a room together; they can easily become a crucial aspect of your design. Therefore, bring warmth and character to your living room by layering stylish woven rugs. Besides offering visual appeal and colour, a good woven rug softens a hard walking surface, absorbs and dampens sound, and aids in temperature regulation.
Today, the most affordable woven rugs are manufactured by machine looms. You’ll notice regularity and decent longevity, but a machine-woven model has less appeal and a far lower collector value. This makes them an excellent alternative for locations where rugs will only survive a few years even with periodic washing and proper upkeep.
Most of these machine-made rugs are power-loomed, which is a weaving method that interlocks yarns in groups of two or more using a series of hooks. The pieces are then cut away to create individual tufts that are sewn together by hand or machine to form the rug’s backing. A power loom can weave hundreds of yards of fabric in a day, which is something that would have taken a team of weavers months to complete just a century ago.
Thanks to this particular weaving method, you’ll find a wide array of styles, fibres, and patterns to select from at a fraction of the cost of a handwoven rug. You can also get creative with your rug layering by mixing and matching different designs, textures, and colours. This is an excellent way to add visual interest to your living room without going over budget.
For aesthetically pleasing décor, layer small rugs to delineate conversational groups or activity areas after anchoring a room’s furnishings with basic, affordable giant rugs. The rule of thumb is that all furniture should be placed on top of the rug, and there should be an abundant border of flooring visible around the rug’s edge.
Plants lend a sculptural element to a room, and low-maintenance varieties are frequently reasonably priced. To add some vitality to your living area, look for unusual leaf forms or bright vegetation. Try using a potted plant as a centrepiece on your coffee table, or fill an empty area with a hanging plant.
If your living area lacks natural light or you’re not sure how to care for plants, opt for realistic-looking artificial plants instead. Natural grasses or dried stems can also be used as a budget-friendly living room decoration. Gather some from your backyard for free living room décor or buy the fake variety from a craft store, then arrange them in a vase to make a nature-inspired arrangement.
Work with what you already have to update your living room on a budget. Purge the area of unnecessary stuff, clear away clutter, and rethink furniture layouts to completely transform your living room without spending a dollar. Recruit a friend or family member to assist you in rearranging furniture until you have a visually appealing layout. Arrange chairs and sofas in groups that encourage conversation.
On the other hand, you can complement your leather sofa or accent chair with a low-cost coffee table and a basic upholstered pouffe. Create pillows using expensive silks, brocades, and velvets on the front but inexpensive fabric backs.
Items that reflect your trips, hobbies, and treasured experiences can help to make your living space feel more special. Display ancestral photographs, framed genealogical charts, maps of your favourite destinations, and photo collages of family and friends. To keep your living room design budget-friendly, look for family heirlooms, hand-me-downs, or thrift things. Also, hang lettering or signage that mentions your initials or a family surname.
You can create a fashionable living room on a budget by using only a few statement pieces. Purchase furnishings with eye-catching silhouettes, high-impact fabrics or finishes, or bright flashes of colour. To make a statement, you just need a few dramatic pieces, such as a colourful area rug or a striking piece of wall art. For a contrasting look, pair them with neutral walls, adaptable upholstered pieces, low-key window treatments, and modest accessories.
Look for cheap living room decor at flea markets, antique stores, estate sales, and thrift stores. Consider reusing materials in unusual ways to create usable vintage-style furnishings.
Get an antique ladder to store and display throw blankets, a vintage trunk to keep board games or give seating, and wicker laundry baskets to hold periodicals or in-process projects to create a rustic coffee table. Refresh your upholstery or sewing abilities so that you can renovate existing furniture with new upholstery or slipcovers.
Display your collections to add colour, patterns, and your unique style to your living room design. When organised by colour, shape, or subject matter, curios and knickknacks including both precious passed-down artefacts and inexpensive thrift store purchases have the most impact. Keep those characteristics in mind while you browse for discounted items to accent your displays.
Dress up existing accessories with decorative embellishments to completely change their look on a budget.. Small changes can make inexpensive throw cushions, ready-made window treatments, fabric lampshades, and low-cost throws look more attractive and personalised. For a delightful flash of individuality, try adding interesting decorator trims, contrasting fabric bands, vintage buttons, or quirky tassels and fringe.
Make your DIY canvas art. Purchase blank canvases to paint and hang boldly above a mantel or sofa. Brush on a range of stunning geometric forms or simply scatter colours at random for a modern composition using paints in your preferred colours. If you prefer less abstract art, use the canvases as a foundation for painted images, stencilled motifs, or collages made from crafts scraps
Although a fresh coat of paint can radically change the look of a room, the same paint can be used to colour walls, refurbish flea market items, refinish worn-out flooring, or highlight architectural elements in a room. Choose wall colours that suit your existing furnishings and aesthetic preferences while also enhancing an atmosphere-the darker the tone, the cosier the sensation.
