Our living rooms are often the rooms where we spend the most time and where we most need a room to match our needs. Relaxation and family time are most people’s main priorities, and how we design our living room depends on what’s important to us when unwinding. For some, that might be the streaming platforms available on the television, or how many books we can display. For others, it will be the decor, cushions and ambience that we feel is most important to help us relax.

If you want to renew your living room post-lockdown, to meet your post-pandemic needs, budgets might be tight at the moment. However, you can actually decorate a living room on a small budget and still achieve an amazing result. You just need to make the most of the space you already have, but change and refresh the mood through small, affordable decor touches that actually have the ability to transform a room.

How should you go about getting the most out of the room you already have, but still give it a refresh and a new ambience?

Second-Hand Storage

You don’t need the most impressive and expensive storage solutions that you see in interiors magazines. You can create a similar look on a budget by visiting second-hand furniture stores, bargain shops like Home Bargains (I got an amazing stool in there this week for £12.99!), or even adapting/upcycling the furniture you already have, so that they look good and fit well with the new mood of your space. If you are up for a DIY project, you could create wall shelves with reclaimed wood sleepers (https://www.sure-green.com/timber-products/railway-sleepers.html) from a reclamation yard or supplier, or you could paid a bookcase to create that white shabby-chic French interiors look.

Comforting Cushions

A few comforting cushions and throws, which are quite affordable from your local supermarket, can be a great way of helping your living room feel cosier. You can really change the colours and mood of a room with home textile items. Cosy throws and cushions (https://direct.asda.com/george/home/all-home-furnishings/D26M01G01,default,sc.html) will allow you to really make the space reflect your personality and current tastes. This is even more true if your sofas aren’t necessarily the most comforting or attractive. Current cushions can also have their covers swapped out, meaning that you can easily switch the design language of the space quickly and easily depending on the season.

Lighting Ambiance

Lighting can make a real difference when it comes to relaxing. Bright lights for socialising during the day, then moodier warmer lights for your evenings watching movies or sitting with family and friends late at night with some wine. However, don’t just think in terms of lamps and ceiling lights. You could also add some LED lighting strips (https://www.lepro.co.uk/12v-led-strip) to the floor to create an intimate mood at night, for example. These things can also be controlled with smart devices like your Amazon Alexa. Also think about adding dimmer switches and timers to get the most out of all your lighting. Make it work for your needs.

These are three very simple and affordable ways to transform your living room on a budget, whilst still making use of what you already have in that space.

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