How to Refresh Your Living Room on Any Budget

How to Refresh Your Living Room on Any Budget

Update your living space, whether you have just $100 or as much as $10,000 to spend

Daydreaming about redecorating (or browsing Houzz on your lunch break) is fun, but when it comes to laying out your hard-earned cash on those upgrades you’ve been eyeing, it can be hard to prioritize. New rug or new sofa? Fresh paint and TV upgrade or built-in media wall? Instead of getting frustrated that you can’t get it all done at once, think about designing a room refresh plan that you can build on over time. Here are ideas to get you started, whether your budget is $100 or $10,000.

Margaret Wright Photography

If your budget is about $100: Declutter, rearrange the furniture, and paint an accent wall. Clearing clutter will make your space look and feel bigger right away — and it’s free! The same goes for tweaking the furniture arrangement: If your sofa is pushed against a wall, try pulling it toward the center of the room, as shown here, if space allows. Then pick a paint color and add the new hue to an accent wall — or, if your budget allows, to the whole room.

Get started:
Guidelines for arranging furniture
Tips for choosing a wall color
How to prime a wall
How much paint you’ll need

cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

If your budget is about $200: Declutter, paint, and then add plants and art. Far from being an afterthought, plants (like the tall fiddleleaf fig in this photo) and artwork are soulful, essential elements in any living space.

Treat yourself to a few potted plants (budget tip: start with small ones to save cash) and a piece of art that makes you happy.

Have some wiggle room in the budget? Pick an original painting or a limited-edition print, or group your favorite vacation photos together in gallery picture frames.

Get started:
Reasons to buy a painting
Hard-to-kill houseplants
Houseplants for first-timers
How to keep houseplants healthy
How to design a photo wall

WAKE + LOOM DESIGN

If your budget is about $500: What’s next? After decluttering, painting, and bringing in plants and art, it’s time to warm up the space with textiles. Drape a cozy throw over an armchair and fill the couch with cushy pillows. If you still have room in the budget, spring for fresh curtains.

Get started:
How to mix throw pillows
Uses for sheer curtains
How to hang curtains

Altius Design Group

If your budget is about $650: Pick up all the above, and then tweak the lighting. Good lighting enhances our experience of a room, making us feel warm and cared for.

If you have an overhead light, installing a dimmer switch is a relatively simple (and inexpensive) change that can have a big effect on the mood. If there’s not enough light in the space, don’t go for brighter bulbs; add another light source instead.

Get started:
How to install a dimmer
How to select a lampshade
How to plan your home’s lighting

Studio McGee

If your budget is about $1,000: Declutter; paint; add plants, art, textiles and light, and then swap out a tired old chair. If you love the shape of your old chair and the frame is still in good condition, you may be able to reupholster it or have a slipcover made. This option can expand the possibilities of color and fabrics — just know that it’s not necessarily less costly than buying a new chair.

Get started:
Clean, reupholster or replace?
An expert’s reupholstery tips
Durable upholstery fabrics
How to get quality upholstery

Benni Amadi Interiors

If your budget is about $1,500: Declutter; paint; add plants, art, textiles, light and a new chair, and then snag a new rug. Having a too-small area rug in the living room is one of the most common decorating mistakes. A generously sized area rug will make your room look bigger and feel more comfortable. If you already have a small area rug that you love, consider layering a larger (less expensive) natural-fiber rug beneath it.

Get started:
How to choose a rug
Tips for getting the rug size right
Rug rules and how to break them

MAS Design

If your budget is about $3,000: Along with a new rug, a new sofa is one of the most effective changes you can make to your living room. It’s also one of the most costly. Better sofas tend to last longer, so pick the highest quality you can afford. If you have kids or pets, you’d do well to choose upholstery in a stain-resistant fabric in a dark neutral hue.

Get started:
What to know about buying a sofa
How to choose the right arm style
How to choose the right back

Lindye Galloway Interiors

If your budget is about $5,000: With a new sofa and rug in place, it’s time to upgrade the media area. Invest in a sleek new media cabinet (or cool vintage midcentury credenza), and if the budget allows, a new TV or sound system too. Electronics situation already in good shape? Splash out on a new coffee table and a few vases instead.

Get started:
Optimal height for a TV
Pros and cons of a TV over the fireplace
How to hide a TV without a cabinet

Jetton Construction, Inc.

Save Photo

If your budget is about $10,000: Decluttering, painting, plants, art, textiles, light, chair, rug, sofa, media center … what’s left? If you have more room in your budget, think about tackling a bigger project, such as adding a built-in media wall, refinishing the floors or remodeling the fireplace.