Sometimes the desire to redesign your living room will just hit you. You’ll be lying on your sofa, staring at the ceiling or walls of the room or even just at the furniture and just think “it’s about time I changed this room up a bit”. However, not everyone can afford to make really expensive changes and buy new furniture but whilst this is unfortunate, it is not the end of the world.
It is entirely possible to redesign your living room on a budget, so below are some handy tips which will help you do this.
1. Analyse what you currently have and what you really need
A lot of people will just go out and spend money on things they like…not things they actually need. Therefore it’s a good idea to make a list of everything you currently have and then see if you’re willing to get rid of anything (sell it for a small sum) and then it will be clearer as to what your living room is now in need of.
Keep in mind all that you plan to keep will have to fit in with your new theme or style, so be stringent but also beware of getting rid of things you might be able to customise or revamp later on. (Discussed in point 4)
2. Spend less, buy more
Many people are snobbish about buying furniture or fabrics at sales or at online auctions but that’s just silly. Just think about how much money you will be able to save through buying in the sales or from buying second-hand goods. A lot of sites like eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle offer thousands of products that have hardly been used but are at hugely discounted prices.
Buying second-hand furniture also means your goods have a bit more history to them, rather than buying brand new from the store, where they have no history at all. You need to be prepared to do a lot of digging before you find exactly what you are looking for though, so be patient because there are so many good deals out there.
3. Change the room’s layout
This is, without a doubt one of the cheapest options when it comes to redesigning your living room; this costs nothing! You’d be amazed at just how much a room’s outlook can change when you just shift the furniture around a little bit. For instance don’t be afraid to place furniture at angles or even completely remove certain furniture from the room, both of which will totally change the room’s look.
It’s a good idea to have a think about how you are going to be able to create the most space in your living room. Living rooms always look and feel nicer when they are open, so do a few trials before deciding on what your favourite layout is going to be.
4. Customise and revamp
Before getting rid of any furniture and spending any money to replace what you’re getting rid of, think about whether you can revamp your goods. Often, people will throw out sofas simply because the colours no longer match the colour scheme of the room, or the sofa covers have become a bit old and tattered.
It can often be cheaper to reupholster your old sofas than it is to buy a whole brand new suite so look into the costs involved in reupholstering. Alternatively if you’re up for a challenge, buy the fabric you want and do it yourself. With wooden furniture, it’s also very easy to revamp. All you need to do is sand down the varnished finish and re-varnish to make furniture looks as good as new, or even paint it to fit in with the new look of your living room.
5. Create a focal point and add accessories
One of the cheapest options for redesigning a living room is to paint it. Paint is very affordable and can really make a huge difference to how a room looks. It’s always a good idea to give your living room a lick of paint every few years or so anyway, just to keep it looking fresh. However, keep in mind you can really make your room stand out by adding a focal point. You can do this very cheaply by just painting one wall a different colour.
You should also look at adding a few accessories here and there, such as lamps, rugs, artwork and cushions. Not only can you pick up all of these kinds of accessories for very reasonable prices, thus saving a lot of money but they will also really make your living room look lovely and homely. You can also inject a whole range of new colours into the room, as well as make old furniture look a lot nicer, i.e. by using new throws and cushions.
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Laura writes for Jaga vertical radiators. When not blogging, she can often be found switching out her radiators on a whim.
