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Living room redos


9 Incredible Before-and-After Living Room Makeovers

By

Lee Wallender

Lee Wallender

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/13/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Living rooms are usually one of the first rooms you think about decorating or redesigning when moving into a new place or when it is time for a makeover. Some rooms might be dated or no longer functional; other rooms may be too spacious or too cramped.

There are fixes for every budget and every taste and style to consider. Here are 10 before-and-after makeovers for living room spaces that were ready for a change.

11 Before and After Dining Room Makeovers

Watch Now: 5 Clever Tips for Decorating a Narrow Living Room

10 luxury looks for less |

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(Image credit: Future)

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

Living room transformations don’t always have to be grand affairs. Instead, they can be slowly curated through minimal updates, simple color schemes and vintage furnishings.

So whether your living room decor is expansive, open-plan, a shared home office space or on the compact side, there are looks to suit any budget. 

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

Living room makeover ideas on a budget – how to get a luxury look for less

Whatever the living room makeover ideas on a budget you're searching for – whether elegant, classic or contemporary, we have wonderful decor schemes to suit your home's style and your color preferences. Plus, we have included a ton of added-value design advice for budget apartment living room ideas, too.

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 living room makeover ideas will help inspire you to achieve the space of your dreams.

1. Get crafty with decoupage  

(Image credit: Annie Sloan )

When we say 'DIY projects' at H&G, we are really not entertaining the idea of ripping out an flooring o, stripping paint. No, we are talking about giving your living room makeover ideas on a budget a spruce up with smart updates that any one of us could turn our hands to.

There’s been a big resurgence in the decorative, Bloomsbury-style aesthetic recently and decoupage fits in to that perfectly. It’s a delightful decorative room technique with so much history. 

'My aim with this collection was to create a fool-proof way for everyone – beginner or expert – to bring creativity, craft and character into their homes, and transform their interiors into works of art,' says Annie Sloan , color and paint expert. 

2. Swap your furniture around 

(Image credit: Pooky)

A free living room makeover idea is to completely change up your living room layout. We tend to do one thing when re move in and leave it, without realizing we can update it at any point, especially if we've bought new pieces over the last few years. 

'Symmetry in interior design will make a living room look expensive, too. This modern living room benefits from these armchairs being placed in front of the drapes and each side of the bold floor lamp,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'Have a play and you'll be impressed with the results.'

3. Match your ceiling to your walls

(Image credit: Bert & May)

Choosing the right living room color ideas is one of most important decisions you can make for your space, especially when you are working within a limited budget.  

If you are stuck in a decorating rut we suggest collating images, swatches and photographs to visually paint a picture of your desired scheme. This allows you to marry finishes together to ensure all your living room paint ideas work as one.

'Little Greene’s deep ‘Purple Brown’ has been used on both the ceiling and walls to create a warm and inviting space,' says Ruth Webber, creative director of Bert & May . 'Using the rich chocolate shade throughout the whole room doesn’t feel overwhelming, despite the richness of the paint color, and instead complements the dark textured rug, thick velvet curtains and bright Bert & May Manarola tile detail to create a comforting, cocooning space.'

4. Add a decorative border 

(Image credit: Susie Atkinson)

Decorative paint tricks and paint ideas are becoming increasingly popular in interior design, and is a wonderful DIY project for a living room makeover on a budget.

'Borders have been used for many years to elevate the simplest of rooms, adding detail and delight in an easy, affordable way,' says Susie Atkinson, founder of Susie Atkinson .  'They are less of a commitment than wallpapering the whole room but still bring that color and interest to walls adding an accent to contrast or complement a room.'

5. Add pattern and privacy with window film 

(Image credit: Purlfrost)

Window treatment ideas are myriad. Both functional and decorative, window film provides a great barrier between inside and outside.

'Add an instant wow-factor to your windows with a decorative window film,' says Joanna Baumard, co-founder of Purlfrost . 'Made-to-measure and assembled in minutes, this easy update offers complete privacy to onlooking neighbors and is a fuss-free alternative to sheers or shutters. Working in every room of the house and with a wide choice of designs to choose from, you can really let your personality shine through.'

'Go for a bold floral or abstract pattern to create a design statement, or for those looking for something a little more understated have the option of a much more delicate frosted design. '

6. Give your bookcase a color boost and add vintage luxe

(Image credit: JL Design/Alyssa Rosenheck)

There's not a home that doesn't have bookshelf ideas at the center of at least one room. For many, a home doesn’t feel cozy without books, so bookshelves that are interesting are an essential part of an interior design plan.

'We added the original oil painting in a gold gilt frame to the bookshelf to add dimension and a touch of luxury,' says Jessica Davis, founder and principal designer of JL Design . 'Mix modern day and antique books for a library that feels elevated and decorative but still functional. The layers of art, literature, rich velvet and gold gilt frames were able to revive this living room.'

7. Use the top of a sideboard to create a display area 

(Image credit: Kellie Burke Interiors/Ron Blunt)

The issue of how to style a console table is an important one, it’s often a prominent piece of living room furniture. Leaving its surface empty is a missed opportunity to create a wonderful vignette.

'I love to mix and match thrifted vases at varying heights and texture across a modern console table,' says Kellie Burke, founder and principal designer of Kellie Burke Interiors . 'Symmetry is not always the best option. The play on heights and undulating diameters offsets the clean, modern lines of the console and softens the look.' 

'Add in some unconstructed soft, natural garden flowers with oversized botanical leaves to punctuate the look with dimensional softness and heights. Focus on blending hi-low accessories as well: vintage vases with new Crate and Barrel decor really does the trick for a unique collected feel. We don't want to make it feel too staged, more on-the-fly whimsical.'

8. Simple updates like new drapes work a treat

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

If you’re looking for living room curtain ideas that thrill from top to toe, then consider sourcing affordable drapes for your windows.

'For this living room, we chose Soane’s ‘Tendril Vine’ for the curtains to introduce a vibrancy and subtle movement to the room,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove .  'These curtains are bright and refreshing with a calming organic print which envelopes the room and pairs beautifully with the more muted tones within the scheme.'

9. Invest in a great value couch

(Image credit: Ikea )

Asked to name their most indispensable piece of living room furniture, most people would opt for the sofa,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living.

'As a living room sofa is such a key piece in a budget living room makeover a new design can instantly change the look of the scheme. Yes, they are an investment – but you can find designs in Ikea that will do the trick, like this 'classic with a twist' style,' 

10. Check out thrift stores and flea markets

(Image credit: Salvesen Graham)

Interior transformations and living room makeovers don’t always have to be grand affairs. Instead, they can be slowly curated through small updates. 

'We like to use antiques in unexpected ways, such as framed antique textiles or antique ceramics repurposed as planters and vases,' says Nicole Salvesen of Salvesen Graham .  'We often put plates on walls, especially in bathrooms or living rooms as here, as they offer a wonderful yet inexpensive way to create impact.'

 

How can I makeover my living room on a budget?

The easiest way to makeover a living room on a budget is with beautiful living room paint ideas. 

Adding color with paint is a quick and easy way to add style and personality to a 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. 

If you’re not confident in choosing a scheme, go with a pre-selected paint ideas palette already picked out by the paint brand you’re using.

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.

we help create the perfect interior — INMYROOM

Interior Decor

In our new series of posts with Haier, we determine which interior style is ideal for your home and tell you how to create the most stylish and comfortable seating area

How to create a living room where comfortable and pleasant to relax, receive guests, spend time with your family? We give three practical and stylish "recipes" that will bring you as close as possible to the ideal interior.

1. Living room in Scandinavian style

Scandinavian motifs at the peak of popularity: elegant simplicity, natural colors, natural materials and cozy textiles - everything you need for a comfortable life.

How to arrange a living room in this style? Bet on natural materials and finishes in light colors, organize multi-level lighting, place a comfortable sofa, add one or more armchairs. Lay a carpet with a simple pattern. Do not forget about decorative trifles: pillows, paintings, posters, indoor plants will make the atmosphere more individual and habitable.

InMyRoom tip: large-sized furniture, air conditioners and hanging shelves are best matched to the color of the walls - this way they visually dissolve in the interior and do not clutter up the space.

2. Modern style living room

Modern style is characterized by neutral colors, moderate decor, attention to textures and functionality. It has echoes of minimalism and features of eclecticism, eco-motives and neoclassical elements.

How to create a modern living room interior? Focus on soothing colors, add depth and expressiveness to the environment with the help of shades and textured, tactile materials. Modern style suggests a sufficient amount of free space, so the room should not be overloaded with furniture and decor.

InMyRoom tip: think about practicality. Focus on ergonomics, install an air conditioner to regulate the microclimate of the room, do not forget to think over various artificial lighting scenarios.

3. Loft-style living room

Loft is another popular style, deservedly loved by many for its spectacular minimalism and deliberate simplicity.

When designing a recreation area in the style of a loft , pay close attention to the choice of materials. Suitable concrete, brick, wood, metal, leather chairs and sofas will perfectly fit into the interior. It is important to focus on practicality: give preference to the most necessary furniture and functional decor. Expand your space with mirrors. Live plants, a soft carpet, the texture of natural wood will help to give a laconic atmosphere of comfort.

InMyRoom tip: remember the light. A loft-style living room should be well lit both during the day and in the evening. And also bet on manufacturability: equipment in metallic shades will look organic in the loft style.

Expert tip: How to increase the comfort level in the living room?

When the layout of the living room is thought out, the style is determined, and the furniture is selected, it's time to take care of a healthy microclimate in the room. How to do it correctly, Haier experts tell.

Haier is one of the world leaders in the development of innovative solutions in the field of household appliances, climate control equipment and consumer electronics.

The living room is a place where the whole family traditionally gathers, where we receive guests and spend a lot of time. This specificity of the room dictates its own conditions for placing climate equipment in it.

The main requirement is healthy air distribution throughout the living room. Therefore, during the installation of equipment, care must be taken to ensure that the flow of cold air does not fall directly on sofas and armchairs, otherwise there is a risk of catching a cold for guests and family members.

One of the advantages of the Lightera air conditioner is that it senses where people are in the room and automatically directs the air flow in the other direction. It also has a special sensor that reads the number of people in the room: if there are a lot of them, it automatically lowers the temperature, and if there are fewer people, it returns to the previous settings.

Collages: Ekaterina Kabakchi

Nightmare alteration of the living room from the “dacha answer”

From /

"Dachny otvet" and "Housing problem" - they often make a high-quality alteration, which has been pleasing participants and viewers for many years. But sometimes releases appear on the screen that simply defy logical explanation. And okay, we viewers - looked and forgot. I'm more concerned about how the heroes of the program live in this chaos.

By chaos I mean the project "cats from the east", which will be presented below. In the meantime, I’ll start with the fact that a large family of 6 people (husband, wife and four children) turned to the program “Country Answer”. The heroes wanted to redo the living room. Nobody had any special wishes. In this regard, the designer Diana Balashova got complete freedom of action and created a project for her very specific taste. The designer explained that she wants to mix modern style with oriental. But, to be honest, she interfered ... On the Internet, users are already joking - "if Diana Balashova took up the project, expect trouble."

Now let's get down to business. Here is the living room before the makeover. Quite spacious, bright and comfortable. That is, there were a million variations for the alteration, but the designer decided to jump above her head.

Now I present to your attention the photos after the alteration!

Well, what can I say:

I wanted to give a separate paragraph to the sofa. He became the main detail in the interior. In honor of him, the project was named "cats from the east."

To be honest, I did not immediately realize that the backs of the sofa are cats. In my opinion, cats look like crumpled pillows or even huge wads of cotton wool! Okay, God bless them, with these cats. The sofa is made to order and upholstered in snow-white fur. In the family, in addition to older children, there are also two small children. Whatever one may say, the upholstery will be dirty all the time! And cleaning the sofa will be the main problem of the heroes.

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