3 Tips for Refreshing Your Living Room for Less

Tips for Updating Your Living Space with Budget Savvy Ideas

If you haven’t updated your living room for 5 years or more, it may be time for a refresh.  If your budget doesn’t allow you to start completely over, why not opt for a one day makeover or refresh instead with a local interior designer or decorator? Read on for my top 3 tips for updating your space for less.

Interior design by Karen Mills

1.  Create an inviting floor plan that emphasizes your main feature whether its a fireplace, a view outside or another prominent feature.  If you don’t have a focal point, design one yourself by grouping furnishings together like a sofa table or chest with a piece of artwork overhead and a table lamp and/or tabletop decor.

In this room our interior design client started with a favorite piece of art over the mantel to emphasize the focal point and we helped them select a new fireplace tile, chair fabric for existing chairs and a new ottoman to support the color scheme in the art.

2. Shop your entire house for furniture/furnishings you can use in your room.  Keep those items you discover in mind as you start to put together your room, bringing ones you think might work to a staging area nearby.

As an interior designer I often re purpose items to make them work in a space such as this family room where we reupholstered the sofa and chairs along with layering in a new rug, repainting the walls, adding a new light fixture, tables, and decor.

Interior design by Karen Mills

3. Add a pop of color with accents throughout your room ‘s interior design with pillows, art, drapes, decor or an area rug.   Remember, you can repaint or re purpose items to use in your refreshed room also.

For example, a chest could repainted and moved to your entry, used as a focal point in a living space, or even placed behind a sofa.  Ottomans can be upholstered and tucked under a sofa table for extra seating, used as a coffee table or pulled up to a comfy chair.

In this fabulous ocean blue living room, our interior design firm began with existing mermaid art as inspiration, then introduced bold blue and orange pillows along with custom blue drapes.

Looking for more great budget friendly decorating ideas?  Sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on 
INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK here! <

Karen Mills

Interior Designer Karen Mills believes everyone should have access to beautiful design and loves to inspire people around the globe by sharing the latest design trends through different venues including her radio show "Living Large", her green show "Living Green with Karen Mills", in her nationally published work or Designer's Eye columns.

Recent Posts

Unveiling the Latest Luxury Bathroom Trends

Tips and Suggestions for Crafting Your Bathroom into a Luxe Oasis with Latest Looks Photo…

2 months ago

3 Secrets to Selecting Better Outdoor Fabrics

Photo courtesy of B&B Italia Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the outdoor fabric…

6 months ago

5 Important Steps to a Well-Designed Bathroom

Whether building a house or remodeling, it's important to take a step back and walk…

7 months ago

Principles of Interior Design: Part 2

What are the Principles and How do You Use? As an award-winning interior designer, I…

9 months ago

Principles of Interior Design: Part 1

What are the Principles of Interior Design and How to Use Them Today I'm going…

10 months ago

This website uses cookies.