If your living room is feeling stale, you don’t need a ton of money or time to spruce it up. Give yourself a budget (which can be as little as zero if you don’t have extra cash), then create a rough outline of what you’d like to change.
If you need some inspiration, here’s the best way to make over your living room this weekend.
Start with a Deep Clean and Declutter
Before you get to making any substantial changes, clean every inch of your room and declutter things you no longer want, love, or need.
- Go around the room, toss any trash, and place items you no longer want in a donation box.
- Pick up dirty clothes or items that don’t belong in the room.
- Clean the room from top to bottom. Start with the ceilings, walls, and flat surfaces, then sweep and mop.
- When cleaning, move furniture so you can sweep underneath it.
- Use a vacuum to suction all the crevices in your couches and chairs.
Find Your Makeover Inspo and Analyze It (Don’t Skip this Step)
Once you have your room clean and decluttered, it’s time for your mini makeover. Rather than going in blind, I recommend that you find several inspo picks capturing the style you’d like to convey.
The best way to do this is to start 1-2 weeks in advance. Create a Pinterest board for your inspo, and start pinning your favorite living rooms. Once you have at least 20 pictures on your board, analyze them to find out what elements are your favorites.
For example, do half the pictures you’re pinning have beige wall colors? How many plants are in the room? Is there a particular rug you keep pinning over and over?
Once you spend time analyzing these pictures, you can quickly identify what you’re drawn to. (And the results might surprise you!)
Best Living Room Makeover Ideas
With a clean room and a clear idea of the style and design concepts you like, you can put your mini makeover to work.
Rearrange Your Furniture
The easiest and cheapest way to give your living room a makeover is to rearrange your furniture. First, draw out a plan and make sure your new idea still allows for easy paths of travel throughout the room.
You can even swap out some furniture. For example, switch your current recliner with an accent chair in your bedroom, swap lamps with a different room, or pull in some new accessories.
Paint an Accent Wall
If, during your Pinterest audit, you found that the rooms you loved the most had a specific paint color or accent wall, give your room’s walls a fresh new look.
Either paint the entire room or consider one of these 30 accent wall ideas.
Consider a Built-In Feature
If you have DIY chops, make the most of them and create a built-in shelf or TV stand. While this project will likely take your entire weekend and a few hundred dollars worth of supplies, it can make a big impact toward making your room look more high-end.
Add Plants
When I create my Pinterest room-inspo boards, I notice that many of the rooms I pin contain at least three plants. Plants add a sense of liveliness to all types of spaces, and you can get nice ones for around $20 at Lowes or The Home Depot.
Browse the Thrift Store for New Furniture or Accessories
Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army is probably the cheapest place to find new furniture or accessories. (Check out Facebook Marketplace, too.)
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, look for a pair of new lamps, picture frames, or decor you can place on shelves or your fireplace mantle.
Buy a New Area Rug
Area rugs ground a room. If you don’t have one or have outgrown your current rug’s style, swapping it out will give your living space a new vibe. You can check the big box home improvement stores or go through your Pinterest boards and look for the sources of your favorite rooms.
Install a More Dramatic Light Fixture
Light fixtures are easy to install and instantly change the look of a room. Switching out a light fixture will especially make a big impact if you builder-grade boob lights.
I like rattan shades for a dramatic effect, but you should pick a light fixture that complements your design tastes. (Again, if you need ideas, look toward your Pinterest boards.)
Add Accent Lighting for a Cozy Glow
Many designers cringe at the thought of using overhead lights. Sure, they’re practical, but they can create harsh lighting that’s not conducive to a cozy home. If you, too, hate your overhead light, create a calmer atmosphere with accent lighting. The best way to do this is with a myriad of lamps.
