Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Living Room
Want to add a bit of creative flair to your living space in just a couple of days? Try these quick ideas
Lara Watson
29 April 2016
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing and I'm currently a freelance writer/editor. I live in a converted dye factory in East London and am forever searching 'exposed brick' on Houzz.
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing... More
A lick of paint here, a new cushion there… It’s surprising how easy it can be to pep up your living space. Try these ideas to bring new life and a personal touch to your home.
Pep up your sofa with new cushions
There are plenty of ready-made cushions on the market, but to get a selection of ones you really love – and that work with your décor perfectly – try having some made up.
For a cost-effective way to have a range of designs, find off-cuts and end-of-line material in fabric shops. Take them to a local soft furnishings professional, along with the measurements of your cushion pads, and you’ll have a revived sofa in no time.
Read reviews of soft furnishings professionals in your area.
There are plenty of ready-made cushions on the market, but to get a selection of ones you really love – and that work with your décor perfectly – try having some made up.
For a cost-effective way to have a range of designs, find off-cuts and end-of-line material in fabric shops. Take them to a local soft furnishings professional, along with the measurements of your cushion pads, and you’ll have a revived sofa in no time.
Read reviews of soft furnishings professionals in your area.
Stretch out with a few floor cushions
Extend the pervious idea and have some chunky floor cushions made, too. They’re a good way to bring a cosy touch to a room and a great use for cheap throws or even unwanted knitted jumpers patchworked together.
Assess what size of cushion would work in your living room (do you want fairly small ones to perch on, or bigger ones that could be pushed against a wall for a beanbag feel?) then take your materials to a soft furnishings expert.
Extend the pervious idea and have some chunky floor cushions made, too. They’re a good way to bring a cosy touch to a room and a great use for cheap throws or even unwanted knitted jumpers patchworked together.
Assess what size of cushion would work in your living room (do you want fairly small ones to perch on, or bigger ones that could be pushed against a wall for a beanbag feel?) then take your materials to a soft furnishings expert.
Paint a piece of furniture
It’s surprising how much a quick change of colour to just one item can freshen up a room, as this eye-catching yellow chair demonstrates.
A furniture restorer should be able to revive a wooden chair or other piece of furniture for you. If you fancy having a go yourself,
first apply a wood or multi-surface primer and leave it to dry. Once dry, sand it down so the paint will adhere to it, give it a dust, and slap on a coat of paint; repeat the process with a second coat of paint.
Find furniture restorers in your neighbourhood.
It’s surprising how much a quick change of colour to just one item can freshen up a room, as this eye-catching yellow chair demonstrates.
A furniture restorer should be able to revive a wooden chair or other piece of furniture for you. If you fancy having a go yourself,
first apply a wood or multi-surface primer and leave it to dry. Once dry, sand it down so the paint will adhere to it, give it a dust, and slap on a coat of paint; repeat the process with a second coat of paint.
Find furniture restorers in your neighbourhood.
Refresh your surfaces
This can take as little or as much time as you like, and it’s an easy and relaxing project in which to get lost.
Gather together your most beautiful vases, ornaments, small art sculptures and frames – any curios you’d like to put on display, or scour vintage shops, boutiques and websites to find new ones. Then spend time artfully arranging them on a suitable surface, such as a sideboard, mantelpiece, coffee table, shelf, side table or wide windowsill.
The secret is to pick an anchor object around which to arrange your items – the frame does the job here. A hero piece like this grounds the composition and brings everything together. Working with a limited colour palette can also help. Here, there are just four colour families: mustard, pale blue, cream and black.
Work from back to front, placing tall items at the back. Grouping pieces in odd numbers is also a good trick – try balancing pairs of objects with one other item.
This can take as little or as much time as you like, and it’s an easy and relaxing project in which to get lost.
Gather together your most beautiful vases, ornaments, small art sculptures and frames – any curios you’d like to put on display, or scour vintage shops, boutiques and websites to find new ones. Then spend time artfully arranging them on a suitable surface, such as a sideboard, mantelpiece, coffee table, shelf, side table or wide windowsill.
The secret is to pick an anchor object around which to arrange your items – the frame does the job here. A hero piece like this grounds the composition and brings everything together. Working with a limited colour palette can also help. Here, there are just four colour families: mustard, pale blue, cream and black.
Work from back to front, placing tall items at the back. Grouping pieces in odd numbers is also a good trick – try balancing pairs of objects with one other item.
Hang floating frames
Two shelves, family photos and artworks, and some imagination – that’s all you need to create a striking gallery like this. Once made, it also means you can swap around your art collection whenever you feel like it.
Search for local handymen to put up shelves for you in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Two shelves, family photos and artworks, and some imagination – that’s all you need to create a striking gallery like this. Once made, it also means you can swap around your art collection whenever you feel like it.
Search for local handymen to put up shelves for you in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Fashion a throw
Draping a smart new throw over an armchair is a simple way to add colour or pattern to your living room.
This is a fairly quick project if you can already knit or crochet and use a large hook or needles and a chunky yarn. However, you can also make a no-sew throw very easily using two sheets of fleece. It doesn’t fray, so it’s super-easy to work with.
Use one patterned and one plain fleece sheet, which your local haberdashery can cut to your desired size. Lay the sheets on top of each other and smooth out the wrinkles, making sure they’re exactly the same size. Trim if necessary.
Cut a 10 x 10cm square at all four corners of the double fleece. Next, cut out 10cm strips along all fours sides at 2cm intervals to create fringing. Fold back each fringe strip at the 10cm mark and cut a small vertical slit into the middle of each fringe on the fold.
To join your two sheets together, pull the end of each fringe strip under and through its slit to create non-bulky knots all the way around. You’ll get a look like this blanket, only the fringe will be a bit chunkier.
Draping a smart new throw over an armchair is a simple way to add colour or pattern to your living room.
This is a fairly quick project if you can already knit or crochet and use a large hook or needles and a chunky yarn. However, you can also make a no-sew throw very easily using two sheets of fleece. It doesn’t fray, so it’s super-easy to work with.
Use one patterned and one plain fleece sheet, which your local haberdashery can cut to your desired size. Lay the sheets on top of each other and smooth out the wrinkles, making sure they’re exactly the same size. Trim if necessary.
Cut a 10 x 10cm square at all four corners of the double fleece. Next, cut out 10cm strips along all fours sides at 2cm intervals to create fringing. Fold back each fringe strip at the 10cm mark and cut a small vertical slit into the middle of each fringe on the fold.
To join your two sheets together, pull the end of each fringe strip under and through its slit to create non-bulky knots all the way around. You’ll get a look like this blanket, only the fringe will be a bit chunkier.
Work in a bespoke lampshade
Having the right lampshade is a quick and easy way to enhance the look of a room. There are numerous companies that will make them up for you with your choice of material.
If you’d like to have a go yourself, you can buy kits that contain a wire frame in two parts, tape, self-adhesive backing, clips to fasten your shade in place around the frame while you tape it, and a rolled edge finishing tool to help you achieve a neat look.
All you need to do is provide the fabric (or wallpaper, which will also work well). Go for something with a natural fibre content that isn’t stretchy for the best results – linen and cotton are ideal.
Search for bespoke lampshades in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Tell us…
Do any of these ideas appeal? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Having the right lampshade is a quick and easy way to enhance the look of a room. There are numerous companies that will make them up for you with your choice of material.
If you’d like to have a go yourself, you can buy kits that contain a wire frame in two parts, tape, self-adhesive backing, clips to fasten your shade in place around the frame while you tape it, and a rolled edge finishing tool to help you achieve a neat look.
All you need to do is provide the fabric (or wallpaper, which will also work well). Go for something with a natural fibre content that isn’t stretchy for the best results – linen and cotton are ideal.
Search for bespoke lampshades in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Tell us…
Do any of these ideas appeal? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Related Stories
More Rooms
8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Small Living Room
Swerve these common design errors to make a big impact in your compact sitting room
Full Story
More Rooms
Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room
By Cheryl F
It’s your main relaxation space, so what should you splurge or scrimp on in the living room?
Full Story
More Rooms
10 Excellent Ideas for Alcove Storage
By Kate Burt
Those spaces either side of your chimney breast – are you making the most of them? Read on to find out
Full Story
More Rooms
The 5 Most Popular Living Rooms on Houzz Right Now
Get decorating ideas for your living space from these most-saved photos on Houzz
Full Story
More Rooms
7 Key Elements for a Relaxing Living Room
By Kate Burt
Focus on getting these core details right for a living space that soothes the senses
Full Story
More Rooms
7 Ways to Add Character to a Plain Living Room
If you’ve moved into a new space and want to bring it to life, check out these ideas for adding your own stamp
Full Story
More Rooms
The 10 Most Popular Living Rooms on Houzz This Summer
Steal ideas for your reception room from these most-saved photos on Houzz
Full Story
More Rooms
25 Colourful Living Rooms to Brighten Your Day
By Kate Burt
Feeling the need to liven up your living room with a bold splash? Check out these colourful schemes
Full Story
More Rooms
This is How Designers Would Make the Most of a Small Living Room
Follow these small-space tips from interior designers and architects to help you plan your compact reception room
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
How to Organise Your Living Room on Almost Any Budget
By Patricia Lee
Make your living room clutter-free and more usable with budget-friendly ideas to suit your storage needs
Full Story
Love the room with the very dark (black?) walls - really shows off the green and yellow colours - very innovative.
If I see another pair of antlers I will scream.