Now that spring is here, it’s time to put away those heavy curtains and warming rugs, and give your living room a refreshing new look. Check out these ideas for revitalizing your living room without having to spend a lot of time and money on redecorating.
Throws and Cushions
Revitalize your old furniture by adding contrasting throws or cushions. If you’re skilled with a needle and thread, you can make your own cushion covers, giving you the ability to instantly change the look of your sofa with the changing of the seasons.
Rearrange the Room
During the winter, the fireplace is usually the focal point of the living room. There’s no need for this to be the case in the spring and summer. Consider rotating your furniture, and changing your curtains for blinds, so that visitors have a good view of the garden.
A Breath of Fresh Air
If you de-cluttered your living room during your spring-cleaning session, you probably have a few bare surfaces that you’d like to fill up. Instead of filling them with ornaments, try decorating with plants. Houseplants not only look nice, they improve the air quality in your home too, so your living room will look great and smell fresh.
Show Off Your Hobbies
A few years ago, concealed storage was fashionable – TVs would be hidden behind wooden doors when not in use, and books, games and other items would be stored in cabinets, under-seat drawers, and other cunning storage solutions. Instead of hiding your hobbies, why not turn them into a part of the decor? Stack a pile of books with attractive covers beside your chair and use them as a quirky table. Proudly display your most interesting board games as “coffee table games”. If the rest of the living room is tidy, this will make the room look quirky and “lived in”.
Fashionably Well-Travelled
Hang a large world map on one wall, and place coloured pins to donate places that you’ve been, and places you’d like to go to. For an extra “well-travelled” look, hang clocks on the opposite wall, each set to different time zones. You could choose London / Paris / Tokyo, or a set of time zones that are specifically meaningful for you.
Let There Be Light
Many people don’t pay enough attention to light. They choose the wrong wattage bulbs for each room, and they rely on just one light per room, instead of adding functional and spot lighting as required for the layout and use of the room. Changing your light bulbs and adding extra lamps can work wonders for any room.
Fresh Paint
Re-painting your living room is one of the cheapest ways to give it a whole new look. Re-painting can be time consuming, but it is worth the effort. For an stylish look that will suit any season, choose a light, airy colour that is present in the rest of your decor, but is not the dominant colour. This will complement your existing decor, without overwhelming it.
Written by B. Frisby for Creatively Different Blinds.