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Cheap small living room ideas


Living Room Ideas on a Budget: Styling Affordable Furniture

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Check out these cozy living room ideas on a budget for refreshing your living room space on a budget.

Tip #1: Choose a Color Palette – and Stick to It

Before you start choosing pieces for your glamorous living room on a budget, pick the main palette of one or two colors, and keep the main furniture pieces within those color families. Consider sets – like these 2 piece living room sets – to make matching easier. Unlike busier, multicolor color schemes, sticking to one or two main colors will help create a clean, timeless aesthetic that will outlast trends – saving you time and money in the long run.

If your living room is on the smaller side, make your living room decor expand its storage capacity – instead of taking up precious space. From storage coffee tables with drawers to lift-top designs – and even day sofas that can double as nighttime beds – today's options for room-saving, budget-friendly furniture are endless.

Tip #3: Choose Durable Designs

When shopping for living room furniture, remember that 'budget-friendly' means nothing if the furniture isn't well-built, made with durable materials and designed to last. While furniture pieces of low quality will need to be replaced time and time again, costing you more in the long run, affordable furniture crafted from solid wood, thick wood veneers, 100% leather and high-density foam will keep you – and your wallet – happy and comfortable for years to come.  

Tip #4: Incorporate Standout Decor

Once you've chosen your main living room staples – such as the coffee table and sofa – define the look with statement decor. Incorporating smaller pieces such as a table lamp or living room art canvas will give you a chance to express your style personality without breaking the bank. Other cheap decorating ideas for living room walls (that's cheap as in budget-friendly, not cheap in quality or style!) include clocks, sconces and tapestries.

Watch: Living Room Ideas on a Budget

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Editorial Disclaimer: Articles featuring tips and advice are intended for educational purposes and only as general recommendations. Always practice personal discretion when using and caring for furniture, decor and related items.

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10 luxury looks for less |

(Image credit: Future)

If you are looking for budget apartment living room ideas, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making a room look much bigger, brighter and inviting, all on a limited budget. 

Interior transformations don’t always have to be grand affairs. Instead, they can be slowly curated through minimal updates that don’t break the bank but leave your home feeling all the more sophisticated. 

Though it can be challenging to find the right living room ideas for apartments, there are several benefits to compact living. A well-designed apartment living room or studio space can feel just as comfortable as a larger space, with all the coziness and comfort associated with functional family living.  

Here, some of our favorite interior designers offer their living room ideas, advice and expertise for decorating your apartment living room on a budget.

Budget apartment living room ideas

One of the main advantages of an apartment is the convenient accessibility of everything that’s needed. Easy maintenance is another reward. All you have to do now is to find the perfect color palette, apartment layout, furniture and storage ideas to suit your space – and that's where our apartment decor ideas factor in. 

Whilst it is essential to set an interior design budget and stick to it, it is also important to design a home you will love. These budget apartment living room ideas will help inspire you to achieve the space of your dreams; you might also want to consider how you can rethink organizing in a small apartment since a clutter-free space can work wonders on making inexpensive reworks look luxurious. It is also important to avoid anything that makes your house look cheap.

 

1. Support artisan makers

(Image credit: Jessica Nelson Design/Carina Skrobecki)

One of our favorite ways to save money on a project while still getting quality items in a home is using makers from Etsy. There are so many great small lighting shops that have amazing products for a fraction of the price of big retailers. 

'You can find vintage or newly-made lamps specifically for living rooms that can make a big impact on your space,' says Jessica Nelson, principal designer at Jessica Nelson Interior Design .

'We also source a ton of vintage rugs from Etsy that come straight from Turkey for a lot less. These are another high-impact item that can transform a living room, playroom, or basement.'

2. Create stylish display areas

(Image credit: Emilie Bonaventure/Nicolas Matheus)

If you love collecting beautiful pieces then ditching the books and creating simple yet stylish display areas in an alcove or mantlepiece will update your budget apartment living room instantly and affordably. Interior stylists always group items in odd numbers because they work much better visually and remember to vary the heights and textures for added interest. 

'Look out for artisan made ceramics as they will have a uniqueness that will add character and shape more so than mass-produced pieces,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens.

3. Embrace the biophilia trend

(Image credit: Sofology )

Decorating with plants is a simple yet beautiful way to add interest on a budget. Invest in a selection of plants and you'll transform your budget apartment living room into one that feels fresh and revived in no time, as Suzy McMahon, buying director at Sofology explains: 

'Nature always feels so life affirming and positive so the biophilia trend is something we can all embrace. Whether you opt for patterned wallpaper, fabric or simply add a few house plants  to your room, it provides an uplifting and optimistic feel. Lush velvet upholstery in rich color sets the look off perfectly. ' 

4. Be creative with your paint 

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Creative paint ideas and paint tricks can bring unique beauty to a home – and the more inventive they are, the better. 

Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene agrees: 'Paint is the perfect way to transform a space quickly and easily, adding personality and character to create an inspired interior.'

'Add impact to your living space with bands of color painted as horizontal stripes or use blocks of color to create a focal point such as the backdrop to a favorite artwork, or perhaps highlight architectural detailing. Vivid hues and lively tones work well in budget apartment living rooms that are made for entertaining.'

5. Create a gallery wall 

(Image credit: Maestri Studio/Nathan Shroder)

Curating beautiful gallery walls have never been so effortless. Affordable art fairs, where modern masters sell for under $1,000, are thriving, so creating your very own gallery wall in your apartment couldn’t be easier, or cheaper.  

'Often it can be hard to know what to put that expanse of space behind the sofa, a gallery wall is a good option and it won't break the bank,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'Scour flea markets for vintage frames and intersperse them with mirrors you already have, the result will add interest and color to your budget apartment living room.'

6. Update a tired cabinet with paint 

(Image credit: Annie Sloan )

Think about a fresh lick of paint, but in small doses as a weekend DIY project. 

‘Most of us have an old chest, chair or table that has seen better days,’ says Helen Shaw, director of Benjamin Moore . ‘Painting the inside or the legs in an eye-catching color can make it feel like you have a brand-new piece at a fraction of the cost of buying new furniture.’ 

Annie Sloan , color and paint expert agrees: 'Painting is the best form of DIY – a coat of color transforms the look of your home, and you don’t get much cheaper than a tin of paint. My paint is especially thick and creamy and exceptionally pigmented, so that furniture painters can achieve decorative effects. This means it goes a long way. You can water it down and apply with a wet brush, you’ll be stunned how many pieces you can paint with a litre.'

7. Add a natural wood shelf

(Image credit: Kitesgrove )

Decorating shelves is a simple way to add space to a budget apartment living room, and works especially well for small apartment living rooms that might not be large enough for a side table. 

'Aside from functionality, this has created space for decorative objects that add style and nuance, but can also be updated easily throughout the year so that your living space always feels fresh,' says Katie Lion, senior designer at Kitesgrove . 

8. Visit antique markets for retro pendants 

(Image credit: Jessica Lagrange Interiors/Werner Straube)

Statement living room lighting ideas are an essential part of the design of the space. Layers of lighting provide the illumination for every one of the room’s functions, and allow changes of mood. But if your budget is limited, then consider visiting antique shops and scouring flea markets for retro finds for a fraction of their retail cost.

'The lights add a personalized flare to a classic interior design and allow for extra décor in a space that may not have the wall or floor space to display other items,' says Jessica Lagrange, founder and principal designer at Jessica Lagrange Interiors . 

9. Update your cabinetry with a fresh shade 

(Image credit: Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop/Chad Mellon)

Adding color to living room furniture with paint is a quick and easy way to add style and personality to  budget apartment living room. Whether your living room is an oasis of calm or home to a house full of children, nothing can transform a space like paint. 

'Painting your living room cabinetry is a quick way to revamp the room,' says Lindye Galloway, founder and chief creative officer of Lindye Galloway Studio+Shop .  'By painting the built-in cabinets a beautiful shade of sage green, we injected the space with another calming color and added more visual interest. We chose black trim for the alcove shelves for a bold impact that reflected other black elements in the room.'

10. Match your carpet to your walls 

(Image credit: Carpetright)

When integrating color into your home, it’s often a question of ‘how much?’ People are increasingly bold when it comes to choosing flooring for living rooms, with practical, neutral carpets no longer necessarily the automatic choice, instead, we’re seeing more on-trend colors being used for a far more aspirational style, and in particular we’re seeing an increase in customers co-ordinating their flooring with their walls. 

'When you find a color that works for you, be brave and consider using it on both the floor and ceiling. Gentler, tranquil shades such as lilac, will create a calming inviting environment. It will also unify your space, making it appear larger,' says Punam Chads, head of carpet buying at Carpetright .  

How do you decorate a living room on a budget in an apartment?

The easiest way to decorate a living room on a budget in an apartment is with affordable but effective updates. An easy way to create a tailored space is through paint – choose understated hues for a calming yet expensive effect. 

Lighting and hardware are also important considerations when it comes to improving the overall look of your budget apartment living room. It is easy for these elements to look tacky or stand out for the wrong reasons so look out for high-end materials at flea markets and antique fairs for more affordable prices and pieces that tell an unrivalled story. 

Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events.  For H&G, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.

60 interior photos, renovation ideas

A small living room is not a problem. Even the cramped, at first glance, room can easily be turned into a cozy place for evening relaxation in front of the TV, chatting with friends and family holidays. Our ideas and tips will help you to ensure comfort, as well as create a relaxed atmosphere!

Interior style for a small living room

The living room is the face of the house and its arrangement should be given special attention. It is always a pleasure to relax in a beautiful interior, as well as invite friends. To visually increase the space of the room, it is advisable to opt for one of the styles described below. They are united by lightness, unloaded details and predominantly light colors in the finish.

Contemporary living room

This style combines functionality and neatness. Clear graphic lines, soothing monochrome colors, cutting-edge materials and the latest in electronics are the perfect environment for busy people. Modern style is reminiscent of the office, but it can always be complemented with cute home decor, textiles, cushions or houseplants.

Classic living room

The luxurious classic style is characterized by harmony and symmetry. The abundance of white, crystal chandeliers and sconces, mirrors in gilded frames will fill the room with a soft glow.

The main decoration of a small living room in a classic style is carved furniture in ivory color or expensive wood polished to a shine.

Stucco molding, relief cornices, arches, columns are required. The windows are covered with heavy curtains with vertical drapery and jewelry-made tiebacks.

Provence style living room

The charming simplicity of southern France is the best solution for a small romantic living room. The distinctive features of Provence are lace, floral prints on the wallpaper, as well as pastel beige, peach, blue and gray shades. It remains only to get a beautiful service, put a vase with homemade jam and have a tea party!

Loft style living room

The design of a small loft-style living room provides for bare walls, panoramic windows and a minimum amount of furniture. Abstract paintings, black and white photographs, metal floor lamps can act as decor.

Minimalist living room

The name of this direction speaks for itself - a minimum of things, no decorations, only the necessary compact furniture and modern appliances.

Only one of the colors is used, in extreme cases - two. Available in white, grey, beige, silver or blue. Accents can be saturated, but always in a calm range.

Scandinavian style living room

Scandinavian interior style - a snow-white background with a slight admixture of beige, bright accents, as well as a lot of natural light. This design will create a feeling of freshness in a small living room.

Color matters!

To visually enlarge a small living room, it is necessary to keep the design in two or three light or neutral colors. Darker ones can be used in flooring, furniture, neat decor. The pattern should be on one thing - if the walls are decorated, then the textiles are plain, and vice versa. Restrained palette, conciseness, lack of flashy details - this is the secret of a room in which nothing will distract or annoy.

White living room

White color is ideal for the background (walls, ceiling), goes well with other colors - gives them contrast. Makes the living room more spacious and brighter.

Gray living room

Neutral grays tone down objects that are too bright. For vertical surfaces, a bleached tone of dry asphalt, silver, is suitable. Furniture and decor could be darker.

Brown living room

Brown color looks great in autumn colors - from sand to chocolate. Interspersed with orange, red, burgundy or light green shades are possible.

Blue living room

Blue color has a calming effect on the human psyche, cools. A white ceiling, blue walls and light furniture are a magical option for a small living room interior design.

Green living room

Green color has a good effect on vision and improves well-being. Looks beautiful surrounded by natural elements in shades of wood, stones, water and flowers.

Lilac living room

Shades of sunset and lavender fields. A small living room in lilac color will set you in a romantic mood and will become a favorite vacation spot for all the inhabitants of the apartment.

Small living room decoration

To make the living room look impressive, you should choose high-quality, but not necessarily expensive materials for its decoration. The main criterion in this case is aesthetics.

Floor

For flooring in a small living room, natural parquet, laminate and carpet are most often used.

An extravagant design can also be created with self-leveling floors, artificial stone, tiles or porcelain stoneware. A glossy or polished surface will visually add height to the room.

If there are small children in the house, it is worth laying carpets - they will soften falls and warm the kids while playing on the floor, and protect expensive finishes from damage.

Walls

The side background of a small living room should be light, without noticeable color spots. Monochromatic painting, seamless wallpaper (with narrow vertical patterns), brick or stonework, polished stone, plastic panels are suitable.

Panoramic wallpaper with 3D effect, mirror and glass partitions, artistic painting can be an interesting addition.

You can make interesting illuminated niches in plasterboard walls to place appliances, an aquarium, a collection of souvenirs or books.

Ceiling

Best of all in a small living room will look stretch mirror ceiling, two-level plasterboard or combined.

In an economical version, it is enough just to level it and paint it white. All kinds of plastic panels should be abandoned - squares and stripes will visually reduce the height of the room. The same goes for massive hanging chandeliers.

Decor and textiles

The choice of fabrics will largely depend on the overall style of the interior. So, for the classics, satin, silk, velvet textures are ideal; for the loft - translucent white, for Provence and country - in a small flower.

To visually increase the space of a small living room, it is recommended to use light and shiny textiles. Curtains should be in harmony with the rest of the finish, partially repeat the patterns on the wallpaper, emphasize the color of the walls or merge with it.

Attaching a cornice to the ceiling and lowering the curtains to the floor will make the room appear higher. A good solution for a small-sized hall is curtains throughout the wall, always light and with vertical drapery.

Large perspective paintings, mirrors, modular images, family photos and interesting panels are suitable for decoration. Vases with flowers or branches, indoor plants will also be appropriate in the living room.

Collector's editions of books, figurines and interior candles can be placed on open shelves. In order not to disturb the harmony of a small space, it is advisable to use the decor very sparingly.

Placement of furniture and appliances

The location of the sofa, TV, coffee table, shelves and other important things in a small living room largely depends on its layout. So, in a studio apartment, you will have to combine a recreation area with a dining room, and perhaps also provide for a folding bed; the walk-through living room should somehow be protected, made more comfortable; a rectangular room will need to be balanced using geometric techniques.

Small square living room

The symmetrical harmony of the square allows you to beautifully arrange any furniture under the wall or in the center. Using corner structures, the situation can be made diamond-shaped.

Narrow (rectangular) small living room

In such rooms, usually the door is located opposite the window and the effect of the corridor is obtained. You can improve the situation as follows: curtain the window with white curtains with a smooth horizontal drapery, make the front door large and light - this will increase the narrow walls. Free areas should be trimmed with elements like brickwork or racks with elongated shelves should be arranged.

The broad sides should be mirrored, glossy, with prominent vertical lines of contrasting color and clear form from floor to ceiling.

Plank flooring should be laid parallel to narrow walls.

It is advisable to choose furniture with high backs - a squat one will “smear” the room.

Small irregular living room

If the living room turned out as a result of complex zoning or the owners decided to equip the attic for this purpose, the problem of non-standard planning arises.

In this case, it is worth ordering corner or semi-circular furniture, walls with beveled edges, unusual tables and taking care of the access of light to every part of the space.

Small living room lighting

Proper placement and aesthetic appearance of luminaires can greatly transform any small space. The living room definitely needs at least one powerful lamp on the ceiling, but you should not hang a bulky chandelier if the actual height of the room is less than 4 meters.

Neat spot diodes can be installed along the perimeter, wall lamps can be attached to the wall near the sofa (for example, to make it convenient to read books), and decor or shelves with favorite things can be illuminated with flexible ribbons. In some design options, stylized lanterns, garlands and luminescent elements will look very nice.

Get rid of the feeling of hanging overhead ceiling will help the light coming from below, vertically from the floor. Reflected in a glossy film, it will make the room look higher.

Design of a small living room in Khrushchev

In Khrushchev, as a rule, one cannot do without redevelopment - in such cases the living room is often combined with the kitchen. This helps to increase the area and turn a familiar room into a modern studio.

To save space, it is recommended to stick to minimalism: use compact narrow racks, doors without handles, hang a flat-screen TV on the wall, and not install it on a bulky cabinet.

Upholstered furniture is better to choose folding - so in case of spending the night guests will have an extra bed.

A free corner of a small living room in Khrushchev should be equipped as a workplace: put a computer, a lamp and attach hanging shelves for books.

Integration with other premises

In cramped conditions, a good way to increase the area is to combine the living room with adjacent rooms.

Combination of a small living room and kitchen

This is a very logical option - in the living room they receive friends, relax, and can not do without tea or festive feasts. It is enough to visually separate the cooking area with a bar counter, and on the other hand put a sofa, TV, wall - and you get a comfortable multifunctional studio.

Combination of a living room with a balcony or loggia

By removing the partition between the small living room and the loggia, due to the latter, you can significantly expand the space, as well as arrange a greenhouse or work area. To prevent heat from escaping from the apartment, the balcony will have to be glazed, the cracks closed and well insulated.

Combination of a living room with a hallway or a corridor

This redevelopment option is often found in private houses, but it is also quite suitable for apartments. A few square meters at the entrance can be left for storing clothes and shoes, separating this area, for example, with ceramic floor tiles (to make cleaning easier), and cover the rest of the space with carpet or parquet and use it as a living room.

Small living room design ideas - photo

Our gallery contains the most interesting design solutions for small living rooms. In the photo you can see what effect this or that finish gives, how different combinations of colors look, where it is better to put furniture and appliances. Get inspired!

Video: Small living room design

Small living room - 55 photos of custom design in a small living room

Today, a small living room is not a reason to worry.

Using certain design ideas, you can create a modern and beautiful interior of the living room and housing in general.

Contents:

Features of a small living room

It is important to focus on important details before arranging a very small living room:

when purchasing furniture, you should not choose furniture that takes up extra space due to convex elements;

you can give preference to the redevelopment of housing, for example, equipping a small kitchen, which is combined with the hall;

the gamut of shades of the room, as well as the abundance of light, is of no small importance;

Do not neglect modular compact walls that take up a minimum of usable space in a small living room.

Accents and colors

Surely, many people know that light shades and compact pieces of furniture are suitable for a small room. However, there are more nuances.

For example, in addition to plain wallpaper of light color, you can use coatings with a pattern, and the smaller it is, the more the room visually enlarges.

You can focus on a particular subject. For what?

For example, if you are creating an interior in a cottage, then you have freedom in your own actions, it makes a lot of sense to focus next to the sofa, like in the photo of a small living room in the catalog of our site. Furnish the sofa with chairs.

It is important that the room is well lit, especially if it is a small room. Don't forget about accessories too.

All decorative elements in the form of curtains, rugs, pillows should be colorful, and the materials should be natural and almost weightless. Matte as well as shiny material will look great.

Stripes

Vertical or horizontal stripes fit perfectly into the interior of a small living room.

Visually enlarge the room with horizontal lines, while vertical ones stretch it, visually lifting the ceilings up. Decide on the disadvantage in the room: a narrow room or a low ceiling surface and use a suitable strip when arranging.

You can combine similar colors with mirrors, but the main thing is not to overdo it. You can hang a large mirror on one wall, and make the opposite wall glossy.

If you plan to put a wardrobe in your living room, then choose furniture with mirrors.

Furniture

If you want to furnish the living room in a small apartment, then do not forget about the rational approach to the design layout.

It is important for you to exclude congestion with unnecessary items, take into account the shape and dimensions of the furniture.

The main furnishings, without which it is impossible to imagine a room, even a small one, are a sofa with armchairs, a table and, of course, a wardrobe. You can purchase a folding table, as well as a sofa.

If you need chairs, it is also a good idea to purchase folding models that can be hidden if necessary.

As for the closet, the best choice, of course, will be a closet, because in a regular closet opening doors visually reduce the room. Armchairs will bring maximum comfort to the interior design of a small living room.

A small area with a corner sofa will look unusual and extraordinary. Remember that there should be enough free space between the furniture.

Therefore, if the dimensions of the living room allow you to accommodate the listed items, then by all means buy them.

Style

If we talk about the stylistic design of a small living room, the Scandinavian style will be the best option. The classic is not without demand, but the room in this style will look simple, which is not typical of such a design.

If you wish, you can create your own extraordinary style, for example, by combining designs in different styles, transforming the room in a special way in this way.

Learn more