Decorating your living room on a budget is simple if you know which clever techniques will create the beautiful new look you want. The living room decor ideas in this article will allow you to recreate this space in any style you like. Some tips require a bit of work, but they are well worth it when all your guests are envious of your updated living room.

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Change the Walls

Sometimes the wall colour in your living room can get in the way of a truly artful design. Consider what changing the colour of the space will do for you. You can paint the walls a new colour, focus on a feature wall, or you can design a pattern on the wall with your own ingenuity.

When you paint the walls a new colour, you need to be sure you choose one that matches the rest of your home. However, you can choose many complementary colours that work when you use them together. Try using a colour already in the room but isn’t dominant. Look at accessories in your living room or check out your curtains for inspiration.

Another wonderful idea is patterned walls. The pattern you create on the wall is set up using painter’s tape. The tape is arranged on the wall however you’d like, and you paint within the lines. When you remove the tape, you are rewarded with a pattern that is unique to your home. This is a fun one to do with kids and gives them some input in their bedroom design!

Lastly, you can use wallpaper to create a stunning look, either as a feature or throughout, depending on the pattern you choose. The more colour and/or pattern in your wallpaper, the less you need to have a dramatic effect. You can also find paintable textured wallpaper if you want your room to be that little bit extra. 

Change Up Your Furniture

You don’t need to buy new furniture to make your living room look grand, but you can get new coverings! These new coverings slide onto the furniture pieces easily, and they allow you to choose any colour you want without sacrificing the style of the furniture. There are plenty of tutorials online to make your own slipcovers if you’re interested in going DIY rather than purchasing them. Take a look at the video below to see how easy it can be!

No one wants to throw away all their furniture just because they feel like changing the colour of the room, and they can keep the sofa their grandmother handed down to them simply by changing the covering on the furniture.

You can also add small pieces of furniture to the room without spending too much money. An end table painted in a highlight colour is a great option. Try adding some unique hardware as well. Or you can simply rearrange your furniture! It’s amazing what a difference furniture placement in a room makes.

Add Some Art

Small prints you can hang in the room are another inexpensive option. You don’t need expensive pieces of art to hang in your home if you don’t want to! There are plenty of alternatives for simple prints you can buy almost anywhere.

This 3-Panel sunflower print adds some beautiful colour and can be hung together or separately.

If it’s in your budget, try going for a larger piece that can be a focal point in your living room. Or go the opposite direction and create your own gallery wall – this is a great idea if you have one large wall with plenty of open space.

Alternatively, you can get your favourite photo printed on a large canvas as a new art piece. Or, if you have a smaller living room, look at a large mirror, maybe with a graphic print on it. It will add texture or colour and makes the whole space feel larger.

Create an Entertaining Area

If you like to have company often, create a space for a bar – it can be built-in or mobile, it just depends on your space. If you have room for it, creating a simple bar space with shelves for bottles and glasses can become a part of your living room decor. Or you can use a rolling island and dress it up to match your living room, giving you the option to put it away when you don’t need it.

What Else Can You Do?

There are so many living room decor ideas that will add plenty of style to your home.

One favourite of interior design ideas is a graphic area rug. They add warmth, colour and a finishing touch to your living room. Take a look at this non-shedding shag rug with a large print, available in a variety of colours and sizes.

Another thing that really finishes a room is the window treatments. Just remember that your drapes should hang 1/2 – 1” off the floor. Too long and it looks messy; too short and it throws off the look of the room.

And don’t forget about lighting! It’s often an afterthought… “oh, darn, we need some light in that corner. Go grab the lamp from under the stairs, it should fit.” Lighting can make or break a room, so don’t skimp out.

If you have the lighting and the space, add some indoor plants! The living room is a place where you can have larger plants, and that kind of greenery goes well with so many different colours.

Your space can be easily improved when you try any or all of the living room decor ideas mentioned above. You can alter your furniture easily, hang beautiful art, and paint your very own pattern on the wall. Your guests will be impressed with the styling in the room, and you don’t have to spend much money to create a beautiful space.

Originally published Aug 29, 2017; updated Apr 07, 2023

Author: Sereena S.

Mom of two, wife to one, and a dog lover. Although cats can be okay too, but only sometimes...