Ways to Jazz Up Your Living Room Without Breaking the Bank

The living room.  Typically, the center of the home…the place you love to hang out, take an afternoon nap, play games, or binge watch Game of Thrones. So if you’re spending so much time here, why does it look so…umm…blah?  Just because it’s comfortable and cozy doesn’t mean your living room has to look busted.  You can actually have the best of both worlds!  Oh, and you don’t have to spend your whole paycheck to get it! Score!  Read on to learn some simple ways you can add some inexpensive pizazz to a lackluster space.

1.  Cover It - If it’s not in the budget to invest in new furniture, don’t trip.  Cover it up to switch it up!  No silly…not with your grandma’s embroidered floral blanket.  Slipcovers my love.  You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes in your space.

Go with a neutral color like a gray, white, or beige.  Add punches of color and texture with throw pillows and shoot for a size of at least 20X20. Whenever you get tired of the colors or you want to re-decorate for a particular season, just swap out the pillows. I always recommend pillow covers because it’s so much easier to make that change and also less expensive than buying the whole pillow all over again.  

You can find an amazing assortment of reasonably priced pillow covers on Etsy or Amazon.  Or, if you have mad sewing skills, make your own!  You get to pick out your favorite fabrics and patterns so it truly becomes personalized. Just be sure to give grandma the credit for your talent (wink, wink).  

2.  Light Me Up - Add or replace your existing, boring flush mount lighting with a statement piece!  You know you have poor lighting that’s less than appealing in your living room. Don’t lie.  It’s okay…the truth shall set you free.  

Lighting is everything! You shouldn’t have one source of lighting in any room, let alone the living room.  When you want to curl up on the couch under your cozy throw, do you want to be straining to read every word because it’s too dark or the light is casting awful shadows and you just can’t see anything?  Or, what if you want it dim because you’re watching a movie but your one source of light is too bright?  That’s a no-go honey.

If you live in a warmer climate like me, you probably have a ceiling fan.  That’s not a terrible option, just make sure it’s not an old, outdated one.

But if you really want to give it a wow factor, opt for a really cool chandelier.  It doesn’t have to be one that looks like Liberace lives there. Go for a modern, funky Sputnik style like this one from Wayfair.  Or, if you’re a little more on the urban industrial side, you might like this globe style chandelier from All Modern.  There’s so many possibilities out there, you just need to get out of your comfort zone a little and have fun with it!  Make it a conversation starter!  

3.  Sit On What? - Include some extra seating that not only looks cool but is playful and fun.  Don’t be limited to just accent chairs and sofas.  Incorporate a couple of poufs!  They come in small, medium, large, and oversized.  You can choose from all sorts of patterns, textures, and colors to go with your specific color palette and style.  I love them! 

4. Don’t Leave Me Naked – You can’t forget the artwork.  This is a fantastic way to add pops of color and interest to your room.  Add something a little unexpected!  If you lean more towards the traditional side, go with an abstract or geometric canvas with lots of color to spice it up.  

Or if you’re digging the beachy vibes, include nautical themed pictures or wall art like a whitewashed wood anchor or a couple of oars.  The possibilities are endless!  Just make sure you don’t overdo it by creating a “busy” look.  You don’t want to walk into the living room and feel like there’s too much going on.  It’s meant to be a relaxed, comfortable space.

Lastly, always go big! When there are several small pieces of wall art or pictures, it gives off a very “choppy” and cluttered feel. Large scale artwork visually fills your space and walls much easier than smaller pieces.  It also grounds a nicely done gallery wall.  But don’t get it twisted… it can also command the room all by itself.

You can find some fabulous large scale artwork at places like Great Big Canvas, Target, CB2, and Minted.

5.  I Need Some Work Done - Style your coffee table.  Yes, it’s true.  A coffee table needs to be functional…not just some random afterthought in the middle of your living room.  But functional does not equal boring or ugly.  Dress it up a bit with a nice tray where you can store your remotes and coasters. You can also add a flower arrangement with a few coffee table books and a decorative accessory.

Don’t overthink it. Just a few simple items that are stylish and colorful is all you need.  Remember, you’re not going for cluttered or busy.  Less is so much more!

Bottom line.  Getting your living room from drab to fab on a budget is not a longshot!  By implementing these easy tips, you can get a space that you’ll actually want to spend time in and be proud to show off.  Give your furniture an inexpensive makeover with modern slipcovers.  Take your lighting game to the next level by swapping out your tired, boring fixture with a fresh, updated chandelier to give the room that wow factor. 

With the infusion of awesome artwork and a stylish coffee table, you’ll be on the right path to living room heaven!  So, give it a try and see the transformation unfold before your eyes.  If you still need a little help, contact Shades of Gray Design and we’ll create that amazing space for you!