In Just Five Easy Steps, You Can Give Your Living Room The Makeover It Deserves

We’ve all done it. You know, browsed through a high-end furniture store and dreamed of buying fancy new furniture to flaunt to your guests. But let’s face it: In today’s tough economic times, most homeowners simply don’t have the financial means to justify spending hundreds of dollars on one piece of furniture.

Not to worry. It’s likely you’ve seen episodes of HGTV’s Design on a Dime, TLC’s Trading Spaces and A&E’s Flip This House, but even still, you have no clue how to spruce up your living room for next weekend’s party at your place, all while on a budget. Feeling stressed? Don’t be. Follow these five simple steps to freshen up your living room, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving a lively new space that guests will envy.

Tip #1: Paint

By now, most homeowners know that painting is the easiest and cheapest way to improve the look of your home. Steer away from painting dark, bold colors on your living room walls; instead, use lighter, more refreshing colors. (Popular colors include light blue, light green, taupe and warm yellow.)

Best of all, paint is inexpensive. Think of your walls as a blank canvas: once you have your backdrop (i.e. paint), you will become inspired to make other changes and get creative. Take a look at the existing furniture in your living room, and flip through the pages of various design publications to get a better idea of which color will best suit your personality and your space.

Tip #2: Focus

The most important element of any room is focus. Ever been to a friend’s house and felt overwhelmed by his or her overly cluttered, disproportionate living room? All too often, people make the ‘wall-to-wall’ furniture mistake, whereby every bit of wall space is crowded with oversized furniture. What’s more, the walls are bland and the artwork is too small.

The trick is to buy furniture, artwork, accessories and the like with one item in mind, so that everything complements everything. With focus, comes balance. And that’s the key to a relaxing, cozy room. Have a favorite piece of artwork? An inviting fireplace? An antique chair? Use it as the room’s focal point, and decorate with it mind at all times. If you still can’t think of a way to bring ‘order’ into your living room, then try pulling the sofa away from the wall and make that the heart of your room. Be artistic—it’s okay.

Tip #3: Accessorize

Accessories are a great (and cheap) way to freshen up your living room. However, pay close attention: Don’t go overboard, because too many accessories translates into clutter. Stores like Ikea, Rooms To Go, Target and Home Goods have inexpensive knick-knacks that will liven up your living room on a dime. Additionally, there are plenty of useful websites that offer home accessories—from candles, to flowers, to picture frames and designer pillows. Always remember the old adage, less is more.

Tip #4: Organize

There is nothing worse than a living room that is jam-packed with unnecessary crap—not only for the occupants in the home, but also for guests. A cluttered home can cause stress and feelings of incompleteness, as well as make your guests feel unwelcome. If you’re not sure whether or not to keep it, then throw it away. It’s that simple. Chances are you rarely use it anyhow. Purchase stylish open shelves and storage containers, and put anything you don’t use every day away.

Tip #5: Function

Who says a functional space can’t be fashionable at the same time? Create a nice flow, and think about how people enter and leave the living room. De-cluttering any space is important, but making it functional is equally essential. Why not go one step further and make your functional area feng shui? (A simple Internet search on this term and you’ll be hooked on positive energy within the home!)

See? It’s not difficult or expensive to change your ordinary living room into an extraordinary space, all while remaining on a budget. You may even find your project fun and rewarding. Once you’re finished, it’s your turn to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new cozy living room!

Alison Adamo, editor of Celebrate Personal Improvement, recently improved the look of her own living room by utilizing the five aforementioned steps. After beginning the project, she was surprised at how much fun she had. Now, Adamo plans to spruce up her dining room… on a dime!