This is a collaborative post sharing some ways to revitalise your living room that we hope is helpful. DIY doesn’t have to be too stressful, we promise.
Is it time to revitalise your living room? The walls may be looking a bit tired, the cornice might have seen better days and the plush carpet that you thought was such a good idea at the time is now a little flat. When we think about home renovations, our minds immediately think about our kitchens and bathrooms. After all, these are supposed to be the rooms that sell houses. However, you shouldn’t neglect the room where your kids spend most of their time, where you enjoy movie night together as a family and where you put your feet up and enjoy some rest and relaxation. There are some easy ways that you can inject a bit of life into your living room and make it the hub of your home yet again.
Before You Begin
Beginning any renovation project can be daunting, and it can be hard to know where to start. Before you do anything, you’ll need to clear the space. This can be especially tricky when you have a vintage leather sofa, a recliner, and two large bookcases, not to mention your 72-inch flatscreen TV, Scandinavian coffee table and giant beanbag. Where on Earth are you going to put it all? The most convenient solution is to head down to a self-storage firm like Safestore and hire your own little storage unit that you can lock up safe in the knowledge that your items are secure. There are a range of sizes available, so even if you have a ridiculous amount of stuff, you’ll be able to keep it all in one place. Only once your living room is clear can you really begin to appreciate the space you’re working with.
Lighting
If your house is blessed with luscious amounts of natural light, then you won’t have to consider your lighting quite so carefully. On the other hand, if your living room isn’t south facing you’ll need to bring the outdoors in by utilizing some nifty little techniques to brighten up your room. The most effective way to create the illusion of natural light is to use lots of sources of subtle lighting rather than one large source of light. Fluorescent strips or central chandeliers can look stark and clinical whereas lower wattage spotlights and lamps can be more muted and natural.
An easy way to revitalise your living room is to use mirrors. Reflect the light by putting up a couple of mirrors. This will help your room look larger and bounce the light that you have at your disposal across the room. Having a brighter room lifts your mood and can allow you to have a little more freedom to choose richer and darker tones when considering the colour of your walls.
Paint Or Wallpaper?
Some people cannot bear wallpaper because of its finicky nature and cost. However, a feature wall can lift a room and see it morph from normal to extraordinary. The standard white or cream walls are commonplace in living rooms up and down the country so it might be wise to add a touch of individuality and flair by choosing a retro geometric patterned or a textured flock wallpaper. You can then pick up on the tones and hues within the wallpaper and reflect these colours within your accessories such as rugs, cushions, and curtains.
Don’t use too many shades of paint within one room – two is plenty. You don’t want every wall to be a different shade of purple or blue as you will create a chaotic and confusing space. To develop a living room with the identity it needs to be cohesive and feel homely at the same time.
Flooring
While lush carpet underfoot can feel luxurious and cosy, it can also be impractical especially if you have young kids. Imagine the heartbreak if you have just laid your thick deep pile carpet, only for your little darling to spill their blackcurrant squash and inadvertently tread biscuit crumbs throughout the plush fabric.
You may wish to consider a more hard-wearing flooring that can be just as luxurious. You could venture to a local reclamation yard and hunt for some 1960s parquet or some Edwardian oak floorboards to add a touch of antique chic to your gorgeous new living space. If a more modern look is your thing, any of the high-quality laminated flooring styles available on the high street will result in a long-lasting and practical solution for your household.
The next time you’re planning on doing some renovations to your humble abode, don’t forget to revitalise your living room. With a quick lick of paint, new flooring, and some clever lighting, you can give your lounge the much-needed facelift it deserves.