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Fast and Fun Living Room Updates on the Cheap
Need to update your living room? These quick and easy ideas deliver maximum creative impact and won't break the bank
Jo Simmons
27 November 2014
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
As one of the key communal rooms in the house, the living room deserves to look its best. After all, it’s somewhere you and your family and friends are likely to hang out. But how can you freshen up your living space without hammering your bank account? Simple! Just rethink your displays, work in some colour and spend time tidying and rationalising your possessions. With a fresh eye and a splash of imagination, your living room can be quickly and cheaply transformed.
View our gallery of living rooms for more design inspiration
View our gallery of living rooms for more design inspiration
Group simple artwork
Inexpensive frames used with simple artwork, pages of magazines or kids’ sketches look impressive when grouped together. No one image stands out; rather, it’s the arrangement of frames in different shapes and sizes that creates overall impact.
Inexpensive frames used with simple artwork, pages of magazines or kids’ sketches look impressive when grouped together. No one image stands out; rather, it’s the arrangement of frames in different shapes and sizes that creates overall impact.
Hang vintage mirrors
Mirrors make a great alternative to artwork and, when hung in groups, as here, reflect the opposite wall and help break up a dark paint shade. Vintage mirrors, especially from the 1930s and 1940s, are abundant and inexpensive, too.
Shop a wide selection of mirrors
Mirrors make a great alternative to artwork and, when hung in groups, as here, reflect the opposite wall and help break up a dark paint shade. Vintage mirrors, especially from the 1930s and 1940s, are abundant and inexpensive, too.
Shop a wide selection of mirrors
Paint existing furniture
Make a simple piece of existing living room furniture suddenly stand out and demand to be enjoyed by painting it in a fresh new shade. In a neutral scheme, a few black pieces lend gravitas, or if your living space is already moodily grey, give it a shot of fun and spice with a coffee table painted in contrasting hot pink or neon yellow.
Make a simple piece of existing living room furniture suddenly stand out and demand to be enjoyed by painting it in a fresh new shade. In a neutral scheme, a few black pieces lend gravitas, or if your living space is already moodily grey, give it a shot of fun and spice with a coffee table painted in contrasting hot pink or neon yellow.
Organise your objects
Sometimes, updating your living space can be as simple as tidying and reorganising what you already own. These shelves demonstrate how neatly arranged magazines and a few objects confined to a couple of shelves make an attractive wall, without looking messy. Try arranging your books according to spine colour and limit the number of objects you have on display at any time, for a crisp, more considered look.
Find the perfect shelving for your home
Sometimes, updating your living space can be as simple as tidying and reorganising what you already own. These shelves demonstrate how neatly arranged magazines and a few objects confined to a couple of shelves make an attractive wall, without looking messy. Try arranging your books according to spine colour and limit the number of objects you have on display at any time, for a crisp, more considered look.
Find the perfect shelving for your home
Personalise with photos
Snaps of your family, holidays and pets instantly add personality to your living space. No need to frame them, either. The most inexpensive and immediate way to display photos is to peg them directly to a length of string.
Here are a dozen more ways to display your favourite photos
Snaps of your family, holidays and pets instantly add personality to your living space. No need to frame them, either. The most inexpensive and immediate way to display photos is to peg them directly to a length of string.
Here are a dozen more ways to display your favourite photos
Make more of house plants
The humble house plant and unassuming cactus can become suddenly stylish when grouped, isolated in bell jars or cloches, or teamed with small bottles, vases and jars. Then just arrange them in a fireplace or on a coffee table as an original, organic display.
Find out how house plants can improve your health
The humble house plant and unassuming cactus can become suddenly stylish when grouped, isolated in bell jars or cloches, or teamed with small bottles, vases and jars. Then just arrange them in a fireplace or on a coffee table as an original, organic display.
Find out how house plants can improve your health
Go wild with wacky displays
Who says pictures have to hang on your living room walls? Here, dolls have been strung up to make a kooky wall display. If your tastes are less Barbie-ish, consider instead hanging plates, old racks or printing drawers, coasters, metal advertising signs or textiles.
More ideas on how to bring life to blank walls
Who says pictures have to hang on your living room walls? Here, dolls have been strung up to make a kooky wall display. If your tastes are less Barbie-ish, consider instead hanging plates, old racks or printing drawers, coasters, metal advertising signs or textiles.
More ideas on how to bring life to blank walls
Have fun with lamps
Mismatch your lamps and bases for a fun lighting update. This colourful vintage base is topped off with a simple two-tier shade, which might look rather plain on a more conventional base. The insect brooch, pinned to the shade, adds another shot of individual style.
Mismatch your lamps and bases for a fun lighting update. This colourful vintage base is topped off with a simple two-tier shade, which might look rather plain on a more conventional base. The insect brooch, pinned to the shade, adds another shot of individual style.
Create a patchwork feature wall
Forget feature walls painted in one shade or hung with a single wallpaper and go for something more creative and colourful. Use wallpaper offcuts to create a patchwork effect across a wall by pasting them up in an overlapping and random pattern.
TELL US
Share stories and snaps of your ingenious living room updates in the comments section.
Forget feature walls painted in one shade or hung with a single wallpaper and go for something more creative and colourful. Use wallpaper offcuts to create a patchwork effect across a wall by pasting them up in an overlapping and random pattern.
TELL US
Share stories and snaps of your ingenious living room updates in the comments section.
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