10 Simple Ways to Refresh Your Living Room on a Budget
Check out these simple tricks for adding personality and character to your living room without breaking the bank
As two cash-strapped Londoners, we know how hard it is not only living and ‘getting-by’, but also putting a personal stamp on your home. Particularly when renting, it can be hard to make your mark and add style on a budget. But don’t fret, it can be done. Here, we take a look at ways to furnish your living room on a budget and how small changes can go a long way.
Look for pieces on the street
If you’re big on your beverages, an occasional table is a necessity in your living room. However, you don’t need to run to your local furniture shop to pick up something that will fit with your interior style.
Look locally for crates, boxes and pallets you could use. These can make fabulous statement pieces that will add a real sense of character to your home. Upcycle your finds by painting or varnishing them and adding details such as wheels or legs – or keep them rustic for an industrial look.
If you’re big on your beverages, an occasional table is a necessity in your living room. However, you don’t need to run to your local furniture shop to pick up something that will fit with your interior style.
Look locally for crates, boxes and pallets you could use. These can make fabulous statement pieces that will add a real sense of character to your home. Upcycle your finds by painting or varnishing them and adding details such as wheels or legs – or keep them rustic for an industrial look.
Upcycle with colour
Rather than throwing out an old piece of furniture and buying a replacement, try completely reinventing it with a burst of fresh colour. For the price of a pot of paint, you can create a unique and original item tailored to your taste and style. It’ll be much cheaper, and far more rewarding.
See how a simple lick of paint can transform your furniture
Rather than throwing out an old piece of furniture and buying a replacement, try completely reinventing it with a burst of fresh colour. For the price of a pot of paint, you can create a unique and original item tailored to your taste and style. It’ll be much cheaper, and far more rewarding.
See how a simple lick of paint can transform your furniture
Head to a charity shop
This is a tried and tested way to discover great finds at great prices. If you look in the right places, charity shops can have an abundance of cool storage ideas that have stood the test of time. From trunks to chests, the pieces are usually hard-wearing and will look fantastic once you give them a little bit of love.
This is a tried and tested way to discover great finds at great prices. If you look in the right places, charity shops can have an abundance of cool storage ideas that have stood the test of time. From trunks to chests, the pieces are usually hard-wearing and will look fantastic once you give them a little bit of love.
Get crafty with cushions
Everyone knows an easy way to dress up a room is by accessorising it. However, this doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Cushions can easily be made, even if you have the most basic sewing knowledge.
Visit fabric shops, but rather than rushing to those shiny new rolls that look ever-so tempting, root around in cuttings bins where you can find offcuts for a fraction of the price. Who cares if your cushions don’t match – it’ll add an element of individuality.
Learn how to make your own cushions on a budget
Everyone knows an easy way to dress up a room is by accessorising it. However, this doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Cushions can easily be made, even if you have the most basic sewing knowledge.
Visit fabric shops, but rather than rushing to those shiny new rolls that look ever-so tempting, root around in cuttings bins where you can find offcuts for a fraction of the price. Who cares if your cushions don’t match – it’ll add an element of individuality.
Learn how to make your own cushions on a budget
Play with display
Rather than throwing away scraps of material and wallpaper, use offcuts creatively to liven up display units. Whether it’s customising a set of shelves, wall-hung boxes or even the insides of drawers, these little details add personality and can bring an entire room together.
Rather than throwing away scraps of material and wallpaper, use offcuts creatively to liven up display units. Whether it’s customising a set of shelves, wall-hung boxes or even the insides of drawers, these little details add personality and can bring an entire room together.
Curate your cuttings
Prints are an easy way to put your stamp on a room – and they look best in a pack. If you’re anything like us, we love to hoard –everything from birthday cards to postcards, posters to magazine cutouts.
Dig yours out from that forgotten box under the stairs and place in frames. This is a great way to introduce art to a room without breaking the bank – and it’ll help you put some of that clutter to good use.
Prints are an easy way to put your stamp on a room – and they look best in a pack. If you’re anything like us, we love to hoard –everything from birthday cards to postcards, posters to magazine cutouts.
Dig yours out from that forgotten box under the stairs and place in frames. This is a great way to introduce art to a room without breaking the bank – and it’ll help you put some of that clutter to good use.
Drape fabrics on the walls
Whether it’s a beautifully designed vintage scarf, a rug that no longer has a place on the floor or a tapestry you’ve had rolled away in a cupboard, think about using throws and fabrics as wall art. It’s the perfect way to add character and texture to a living room.
Whether it’s a beautifully designed vintage scarf, a rug that no longer has a place on the floor or a tapestry you’ve had rolled away in a cupboard, think about using throws and fabrics as wall art. It’s the perfect way to add character and texture to a living room.
Colour coordinate your collections
Want to make a real change in your room without spending a penny? It’s easy. Just move some bits about, rearrange furniture and think about new ways you can display your treasured pieces. Colour-blocking a bookcase or DVD collection is a fantastic way of turning a messy display into a work of art. Or try grouping similar hued ceramics or glassware.
Want to make a real change in your room without spending a penny? It’s easy. Just move some bits about, rearrange furniture and think about new ways you can display your treasured pieces. Colour-blocking a bookcase or DVD collection is a fantastic way of turning a messy display into a work of art. Or try grouping similar hued ceramics or glassware.
Fake a fireplace
Most of us would love a working fireplace, but not all of us are that lucky. Placing some candles together, either in an empty hearth or on a low display table, will create a similar effect to that of a real fire without any of the hassle.
TELL US…
Have you refreshed your living room on a budget? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Most of us would love a working fireplace, but not all of us are that lucky. Placing some candles together, either in an empty hearth or on a low display table, will create a similar effect to that of a real fire without any of the hassle.
TELL US…
Have you refreshed your living room on a budget? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If you’re giving something in the living room a lick of paint, it’s very tempting to grab a High Street paint with an attractive price tag. However, this can prove less cost-effective than you might think.
Most of the time these paints are much lower quality so you will need to apply several coats, if not an entirely separate undercoat, for them to make an impact. Investing in good-quality paint will ensure you get the results you’re after first time, and you could find it ends up costing less.