Budget Living Room Makeovers (refresh your space)
This is one of a series of posts with before/after inspiration to decorate various rooms in your home, without breaking the bank or harming the planet. If your living room is looking a bit dated and tired but you don’t have much money, here are some inspirational ideas.
If you use plants in the living room, know that many (like sago palm and lilies) are not safe near pets. Read more on pet-friendly plants. Also don’t face indoor plants to gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.
Before painting, remove and recycle clutter, and give it an eco deep clean (choose unscented products for pregnancy/nursing and near babies/children). Open the window if safe to do so, then leave things to air out and dry, so you have a clean slate from where to start.
Decide beforehand how much you can afford. If you can find some bargain eco paint and a few second-hand items, you could realistically makeover your living room for £50 to £100, if it’s small. Just put a limit and have a little money leftover for unexpected jobs.
Bright white often can look start, but off-whites are nice for small living rooms, then choose a couple of accent colours, to blend with the accessories you intend to choose.
Fresh natural paint is the quickest way to lift a tired living room. Some people prefer light and fresh living rooms, others prefer darker and warmer colours.
Eco Accessories and Other Nice Things!
Living rooms benefit from a few nice lamps, so you are not sitting with strong light over your head. Also visit charity shops and discount stores to find bargain sofas and armchairs (ensure they have fire safety tags attached, they should do as it’s illegal to sell them otherwise).
Ensure rugs are tacked down safely, and invest in a few pretty bowls and accessories, and of course some pretty pictures.
Experts say that rather make ‘all the chairs face the TV’, it’s nice instead to arrange them in an L-shape. You should still be able to see the TV, but this way you are also encouraged to sometimes turn the TV off and engage in conversation!
Often rearranging the furniture can encourage good walkability, and let in natural light. Look at the difference with this living room, simply from rearranging furniture and a fresh lick of paint:
