There are two things I am passionate about in design: creating beautiful spaces and finding budget friendly solutions. Combine the two and I am in my happy place!
Today I want to merge those two worlds and share some of the most effective ways to refresh your living room without a huge renovation.
My hope is to inspire you to see all the amazing possibilities for your own home.
1. Geometric Wallpaper
I love a good room refresh that doesn’t break the bank. You don’t need a huge, complicated project to make a change.
Giving just one wall an interesting upgrade is sometimes all it takes to give your living room a total facelift.
2. Magnificent Stone
Talk about the ultimate man cave! The magnificent stone walls are so commanding and strong. It’s a truly extraordinary look.
3. Black and Blue
This is full on Goth! You can let your inner Goth celebrate in this black and blue room. The white roses and silver candlesticks give off such a wonderfully spooky vibe.
4. Country Plaids
You can get a serious old country feeling with some gray plaids. Just toss in some plaid pillows and a country rug. And I love letting a lot of the wood plank floors show through.
5. Bare Concrete Walls
Why not be different and let your walls go bare? That industrial feel from the concrete gives the room such a cool vibe.
Plus, cushy pillows and some fascinating touches keep it all feeling warm and welcoming.
6. Shabby Chic Surprise
Bringing in something old and beautiful is such a great way to add character. The shabby chic center table gives this room a fascinating charm that you just can’t get from newer pieces. It’s a total showstopper.
7. Pops of Colour
This look is definitely for the adventurous and daring! I love that this modern living room design is not for someone who just wants to conform.
You don’t need expensive furniture or huge wall features because the glorious colors give it more than enough character.
8. Fierce Feline Theme
Decor with a cat theme can be so fierce and beautiful! This room is just perfect for people who are still holding back on their feline instincts. It has just a hint of kitty prints, textures, and shapes.
9. Photo Gallery Wall
Using a living room wall to show off your most special photos is one of my favorite tricks. It’s a real attention grabber and an instant conversation starter.
I’ve done this in my own hallway and it always gets people talking.
10. Reclaimed Wood Accent Wall
Are you looking for something rustic, interesting, and affordable for your living room? Just add some reclaimed wood panels to one wall for a countrified effect.
It’s a simple project that makes a huge impact.
11. Innovative Lighting
You can instantly upgrade your living room’s atmosphere with some creative lighting. Using lighting strategically is a great way to draw attention to your best design details. It really makes them pop.
12. Wicker and Weaves
Bring in something whimsical and raw with a little weave and wicker! I think the burlap rug and wicker swings are so charming and refreshing
13. Yellow Delight
A pop of bright color can really liven up a stiff living room, turning it into a fun and energetic space. I find that delightful yellow touches are the perfect contrast to the coolness of grey.
14. Prints and Plains
This is such a smart design trick. Keep the plain colors on the big pieces and use prints on the smaller items. Here, the walls, sofa, curtains, and table are all solid hues.
Meanwhile, the throw pillows, rug, centerpieces, and even the column of the floor lamp all show off interesting prints and details.
15. Eclectic
I just love a modern living room that has a little bit of everything. This eclectic mix includes some exotic Moroccan touches, a variety of frames, a modern center table, and classic white walls.
It all comes together so beautifully.
16. Sleek and Structured
Sometimes you need to take out all the unnecessary fluff. Let the clean lines and structure of the modern furnishings really show through. It creates such a crisp, intentional look.
17. Wood on White
The warm tones of natural wood are perfect for balancing out stark white. This is a classic living room favorite that has definitely stood the test of time.
I like to add bursts of color, like a bowl of greens, for an interesting little detail.
18. Black and White Stripes
So clean, crisp, and basic. The bold black and white stripes remind me of those idyllic French outdoor bistros. It’s such a timeless and chic look.
19. Relaxed Seascape
If you can’t get enough of the sea, this is for you! You can create this cozy sea themed living room with white gingham, wicker, and those fascinating seascape shapes and colors.
20. Mirrored
Reinventing a tired living room can be as simple as adding mirrors. I love using them because they also make rooms seem larger and more spacious. It’s one of my favorite design tricks!
21. Warm Orange
You can upgrade a classic formal living room just by adding splashes of warm orange. All you need to do is throw in some new pillows and seat covers. It’s an easy change that makes a big difference.
22. Amazing Centre table
Here’s another easy way to upgrade your living room. Add a really marvelous and beautiful center table. It instantly becomes a focal point and pulls the whole space together.
23. Street Scene Wall Art
This wall literally brings the streets right into the living room! I love how everything else is muted to really highlight the wall’s effect. It makes such a statement.
24. Fuchsia Fun
This living room is all about fun, exuberance, and style! It’s such a bold and happy space. You can’t help but smile when you see it.
25. Shades of Purple
I love the confident beauty of this violet room. It uses everything from dusty periwinkle curtains to delicate lavender pillows. Adding touches of gold gives it a little extra shimmer.
26. Cool Minimalist
Sometimes it’s best to keep things understated. This room uses white walls and shelves, with a light grey sofa and floor.
Just a few touches of silver add some shine, and the cool grey green pillows bring in a pop of color.
27. Modern Symmetry
Even when modern design ideas and trends lean toward more irregular and asymmetrical looks, there is always room for a classic. You can’t go wrong with a perfectly balanced living room.
28. Mirrored Walls
Mirrors in a living room are pretty common. But when you have an entire wall of hexagonal silver beveled mirror tiles, your living room is simply exceptional! What a glamorous statement.
29. Pretty Pink
Soft pastel colors are wonderful for creating a comfortable and welcoming room. I think pink is such a sprightly shade, and it goes so well with basic colors like white and grey.
30. Blooms on White
And if nothing else works, you can just bring in a bunch of lively blooms. They will color up your basic white living room in an instant. It’s the easiest fix ever!
31. Blue and Peach
Here’s another fresh peach combination. This time it’s blended with cool blue shades. The attention grabbing rope and glass center table really captures the beautiful, relaxed feeling of the room.
32. The Rainbow Rug
If you aren’t ready to commit to a permanent change but want to refresh your living room, just replace that old, boring carpet with a rainbow rug. It’s the same room, just instantly enhanced!
33. Olive on Black
You can get this cool forest air just by adding some pops of olive. A rustic center table, an oak brown rug, and a few ferns complete the room and tie the whole look together.
34. Whimsy Hodge-Podge
This is a room for the wandering mind, an artist’s room! I love this whimsical collection of colors, patterns, and textures. It feels so creative and free.
35. Moroccan Poufs
Moroccan poufs are so fun and exotic. They can be an interesting addition to any living room. I often see them used as an ottoman or a floor seat.
They also come in so many different colors, styles, and materials.
36. Lakeside Inspired
Why not bring the best of the marshlands into your living room? This small and sweet space features the colors and patterns of the water, sky, and all the flora and fauna from the gentle outdoors.
37. Pink and Grey
This living room is just so cool, fun, and girly! It’s perfect for the grown up girls who aren’t quite ready to let go of pink!
38. Cosy Monochromatic
Using several shades of ashy grey makes for an interestingly cozy living room. Amp up the texture game and add a little silver sparkle to break up the single tone.
39. Marvellous Chandelier
Or you could install a breathtaking chandelier. Finding one that really captures the essence of the room can completely transform the space. It’s a total game changer.
40. Deep Earth Shades
While a lot of popular living room designs focus on tans and browns, you can go deeper for these cooler colors of the earth. I think warm wood tones perfectly complement the cool ore blues and greys.
41. Modern Rustic
Wood tones are always great for adding warmth to a room. This rustic living room really radiates a cabin vibe with lots of outdoor touches like the rug, wood plank panels, center table, and a weaved rug.
42. Bright Pastels
Do you need a room that will always perk you up? There’s absolutely no room for gloom in this bright pastel living room. It’s just so cheerful!
43. Statement Wall Art
You can easily transform a well designed living room into a sensational show room! All you have to do is add an exceptional piece of art. It brings so much character and sophistication.
44. Trendy Turquoise
Why not add a dose of invigorating color to your basic modern living room? I think cool turquoise is the ideal complement to the cool natural shades you see in a lot of today’s styles.
45. Plant Accents
Adding plant accents is a surefire way to get a refreshed look in your living room. A big bonus is that plants also refresh the indoor air, so it’s a healthier choice for you too.
46. Exotic Blued
The nautical blues in this room will make you think of far off seas. At the same time, the shapes and textures from the chandelier, reed lampshades, and golden fronds are all exotic Egypt.
47. Bare Floor
If you want to plump up your living room with more pillows and textures, my advice is to keep the floor bare and clean.
A busier floor would only make the room feel cluttered and disorganized. It’s all about balance.
48. Elegant Pink Walls
You can totally update a drab and overwhelming old living room just by injecting some color! I love how the deep rose walls complement the wine velvet furniture and energize the once dour atmosphere.
49. Exotic Interiors
You can really rev up the eastern vibe of your home with a Moroccan inspired living room.
A beautiful Moroccan wedding blanket throw, an intricate center table, and a few palms are all you need to complete the look.
50. Built-in Window Seats
Why not throw away your sofa and chairs and install built in window seats instead? This is perfect for rooms that have marvelous views.
Keeping the floors bare with wide windows and off center tables helps the room feel open and spacious.
51. Exposed Brick Walls
There’s nothing like something surprising to rough up an otherwise ordinary living room.
All you have to do is clean up a wall and expose the bricks underneath. It adds so much texture and character.
52. Scents and Lights
You can instantly transform your everyday living room just by adding a few interesting candleholders and some scented candles.
It’s such an easy and inexpensive way to change the whole mood of the space.
53. Floor Cushions
Add a good measure of coziness to your living room with these delightfully welcoming floor cushions. They make the space feel so much more relaxed and inviting.
54. Bohemian Glow
Elegance and bohemian don’t always go together, I know. But in this living room, the sometimes rash Bohemian tones are totally subdued.
The peach and gold combination is surprising, eye catching, and so elegant.
55. Coral Prints
One fantastic way to revitalize a tired living room is to dress up the walls! Just find some fun prints that share a color scheme and make matching frames.
The vibrant corals simply pop against the cool baby blue wall.
