The living room or den is often considered the heart of the house because it’s where the whole family can gather comfortably for a common activity. It’s also where guests are generally entertained. If your living room is looking a little shabby, consider some of these updates that do not involve complete furniture replacement.
Small Touches
Sometimes just changing a few accents can make a big difference to a room. Imagine replacing all your throw pillows with new ones featuring a current color trend. If you plan ahead and purchase pillows with removable covers, you can easily change pillow covers each season or as the mood strikes you. Lampshades can also be replaced to update a room. You can even color coordinate the shades and the pillows. Rooms with fireplaces add warmth (literally) and hominess. Adding custom fire gates can be like adding a work of art to the room’s focal point. And speaking of the fireplace, a little work on the mantle would not be out of line. Either repaint the mantle itself or change out the decoration by adding on trendy decorative items.
Walls
Painting one wall can really breathe new life into a room, and it’s not as disruptive as painting an entire room. Choose a complimentary color to your furniture or pillows. Consider this wall to be the statement wall and put something wonderful on it like floating shelves or custom shelving made out of upcycled materials. Another option is to hang a painting or a group of paintings with a focused lighting source so that the eye is drawn to the picture. If your wall features a window, you can also spruce up curtains from the last decade. Replace bright outdated colors with neutrals. Remove curtain toppers like the fancy valance or gauzy swag. Sometimes, the drapes are fine and just need modernized hardware.
Floors
If you’re in the mood for a larger project, look into natural or manufactured hardwood floors which will add depth and warmth to the room. Layer beautiful rugs on top for a pop of color. Although replacing flooring can be an expensive and cumbersome project, new floors will change the entire look of the room. And unlike decorative accents, flooring will stay around for years to come, so it’s worth the investment to put down something that you truly love.
It’s okay to update your living room either quietly or dramatically. Homes should be a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and a beautiful space to entertain friends. Choose one or two updates, either large or small, and create a comfortable and fashionable space that will make you happy to stay in.
