Monday, July 27, 2015

Thrifty Thinking: 5 Affordable Living Room Ideas to Change Things Up

Do you want to give your living room a fresh look without destroying your wallet in the process? If you have been putting off updating your main living space due to financial or time limitations, you may want to consider making smaller tweaks. There are numerous easy and affordable ways to change up a room. With a little creativity, you can transform your central hangout into an inviting showpiece that reflects your individuality and style.

Personalize Your Space

The simplest way to freshen up any room is to add some personal touches. Look around your home for mementos, collectibles, travel souvenirs or any beloved objects with visual appeal. Group each collection by color, shapes or theme. If you create large, prominent displays, you'll draw instant interest. Line up the pieces on a mantle or on several shadow box shelves, or arrange framed objects of varying shapes and sizes in an asymmetrical pattern on a main wall.

Some pieces to consider for your displays are:

-Framed maps marked with places you’ve visited
-Older family portraits
-Antique vases or dishware
-Retro toys
-Perfume bottles
-Sports memorabilia

Install a Barn Door

A bold and unique focal point can breathe life into any lackluster space. Adding a barn door will not only give your living room an interesting edge, it will create a sense of comfort. You have a variety of materials and textures to choose from, such as stained or distressed wood, etched glass, wrought iron, steel and even chalkboard. There are also countless
barn door hardware options to complement your new addition and your existing decor.

Highlight With Paint

Your living room is a blank canvas that can be easily revived with paint. To create instant drama, use a vibrant accent color or a cozier, deeper tone on one wall or on the edges of doors and windows. Emphasize architectural features with a pop of color as well. You can also layer the walls with several neutral shades for depth, then add larger crown moldings or baseboards in bold hues. For a truly one-of-a-kind look, paint rectangles on your walls and hang 3-D wall art in the spaces.

Use Color for Creating Character

If you prefer neutral paint, you can still add punctuation points of vivid color with your accessories. Just changing your pillows, curtains, rugs, lampshades and wall art will create exciting effects. High-impact tones such as turquoise, plum or ruby generate visual energy that changes the entire vibe of the room. One effective trick is to hang colorful framed artwork in a straight line across a longer wall. Use pieces that are similar in style, and place them at eye level.

Divide and Add Borders

Creating borders or divisions completely alters a room’s look and feel. Stack books on an open bookcase parallel to your favorite reading chair, or place a see-through freestanding box shelf perpendicular to one wall. Move low benches, lounge chairs or tables from the perimeter of the room to the center for an even more dynamic living space. To add a quick border, place a large area rug in the middle of the room, and rest every piece of furniture on top of the rug.

Whether you prefer a rustic and welcoming family space or a contemporary work of art, you don’t need a lot of money, time or skill to revitalize your living room. Small, inexpensive fine-tuning can go a long way. You just need to take some time to tap into your imagination. If you simply let your personality shine through your creation, you’ll end up with an incredible masterpiece.

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