Budget living room ideas to give your lounge an update
We all love giving our living rooms a refresh, especially when a new season comes around – whether that’s through a fresh lick of paint or some new accessories here and there. There’s nothing quite like the rush a touch of newness provides – but that doesn’t mean we can afford or are willing to splurge on a big redecor. That’s where our budget living room ideas come in.
These simple living room ideas prove that you don’t have to break the bank in order to create a stylish lounge that reflects your style and personality. On the contrary, when budget is restricted it often brings out more creativity in us and we end up making our interiors more individualistic and personable. And what could be better than that?
Budget living room ideas
‘It’s all about harnessing your creativity to repurpose and rejuvenate your existing decor,’ says Sam Sutherland, Flitch interior stylist. ‘Use what you’ve got to craft new decor pieces.’
If you want to save money or find ways to redecorate for free, turning to the pieces and materials you already own and can put a new spin on is always your best bet.
1. Give a tired piece of furniture a new look
(Image credit: Future PLC/Caroline Mardon)
One of the best paint ideas is upcycling a piece of furniture you already own and giving it a new lease of life with a fresh coat and/or a new pop of colour that you’ll love.
‘Consider refurbishing old furniture to add a fresh flair without the expense of buying new,’ says Alex Stubbs, Flitch interior stylist.
Victoria Foster, interior stylist at ScS, agrees that an easy DIY project like painting your side table or a sideboard is the perfect way to give your living space a refresh. ‘DIY projects such as repurposing furniture are budget-friendly ways to transform the space.’
2. Incorporate luxe metallic accents
(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)
Just because something is budget-friendly doesn’t mean it can’t look expensive. In fact, that should always be the goal – look for affordable pieces that look high-end. Metallic features and accessories are the perfect example of this – and with chrome details like chrome lamps being right on trend this year, it’s the perfect thing to incorporate into your lounge, no matter how small that accent might be.
‘Crafting a high-end ambiance on a budget requires focusing on key elements that draw the eye – like a statement light fixture or a standout coffee table. Accentuate these with luxurious textures and reflective surfaces for a touch of opulence that doesn’t cost a fortune,’ Alex at Flitch says.
Victoria at ScS adds, ‘Layering textures, adding statement lighting, and incorporating metallic accents can elevate the space. Choose high-quality-looking fabrics like velvet and linen and mix vintage or second-hand finds with modern pieces for a curated feel.’
It’s hard to believe this lamp is not designer – that’s how chic it looks! And yet, it’s only £35.
Habitat Ronan Chair & Footstool
We know that £200 might not be the most ‘budget’ option when buying a chair – but it does come with a matching footstool. We tried this design at the Habitat spring/summer 2025 press showcase and it’s super comfy. But you can also consider this more of an inspiration.
John Lewis Indoor Stainless Steel Planter & Stand
We love this chrome planter from John Lewis made with stainless steel. But since you might not have £60 lying around for a plant pot, you could also DIY this using galvanised smooth steel sheets.
3. Restyle shelves
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Often, the easiest budget living room ideas is by taking items you already own and restyling them around your home. One place we love to repeat this is on built-in shelves as living room wall art inspiration, as a quick reposition can leave your space feeling brand new.
If you’re struggling for inspiration or want to avoid buying any new decorative accessories, take a look around your home for any books, magazines, or catalogues that could make a clever design feature. Whether you choose to stack them or position them outwards in a gallery-inspired fashion, they can add an artistic element to a living room that also serves as reading material for an afternoon coffee break.
4. Opt for an ottoman
(Image credit: Future PLC)
If your ideal living room update involves creating a new space to sit or rest your feet, then an ottoman could be your answer. But the best sofas are investment purchases, which likely don’t align with a smaller budget. Instead, you can add to an existing seating arrangement with an ottoman or stool in either a matching tone or contrasting print – depending on your style M.O.
‘Not only do they add a splash of personality to a room, but they’re also a multi-purpose piece of furniture,’ adds Kelly Collins, head of creative at furniture brand Swyft. ‘You can sit on them, use them as a footrest, or even use them as a coffee table.’
Multi-purpose is the way to go when searching for budget living room ideas. Sometimes it isn’t about initial low cost, but how much use you will get out of an item over time, and an ottoman will easily become a daily feet-up essential.
Dunelm Beatrice Woven Stripe Footstool
DUSK Soho Ottoman Storage Pouffe
Since striped upholstery is on-trend this year, we couldn’t help but include two striped ottomans. But it’s also because they always look great in pretty much any lounge, no matter the style. And this DUSK number even comes with extra hidden storage.
We think Swyft is one of the best places where to buy a sofa. But, of course, a Swyft sofa (like most) can be quite pricey. So if you’d like to inject some of the brand’s richly coloured velvet upholstery into your living room, you can opt for an ottoman like this one instead.
5. Go antique hunting
(Image credit: Future PLC)
When it comes to decorating your home on a budget, it might be worth searching through a vintage emporium to achieve a mid-century living room look. The thrill of the chase makes your furniture finds that little bit more exciting and gives you plenty of bragging rights to family and friends.
There are a plethora of dedicated marketplaces for shopping second-hand, such as eBay and Vinterior, so you can decide whether to go searching in person or browse from the comfort of your sofa. This is also the simplest way to create a unique living space that is specific to your taste and feels well-curated. Plus, vintage furniture is known for standing the test of time meaning you won’t need to spend on your living room in the near future.
6. Relish in rattan
(Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles Photography)
It’s safe to say that rattan is having a serious moment in our interiors, with many affordable furnishings available to instantly update your living room on a budget. Not only is rattan all over the high street, but it’s also easy to buy second-hand on sites such as eBay and is known for its durability.
‘Rattan’s versatility allows it to tie into existing décor while maintaining its unique character seamlessly,’ explains Cleo Allen, design account director at Andrew Henry Interiors. ‘Rattan furniture stylish and an excellent investment that will last through the years – with proper care and cleaning, it can retain its natural lustre far longer than other materials.’
So if you’re looking for a trend-infused vintage living room idea that meets your budget and will wear well, consider adding rattan to your space.
7. Max out on colour
(Image credit: Future PLC/Holly Jolliffe)
If minimalist modern living room ideas aren’t your thing, you might be searching for a bold colour injection to update your interior. Continuing your wall colour throughout the entire room, onto skirting boards, doors and built-in furniture, is the latest trend in making a living space look expertly-designed.
And even better – you can easily achieve this as part of budget living room ideas by using up any leftover paint, costing almost nothing but providing a huge impact.
8. Be style-savvy with a luxe wallpaper
(Image credit: Future PLC/Katie Lee)
Wallpaper is an easy way of making a plain living room feel more plush, but opting for living room wallpaper ideas wall-to-wall can work out pricey. Using just a small amount of a pricier design is a canny trick that creates the impression of a rich, allover pattern, but for the price of just a roll or two.
Reserve a patterned wallpaper for a feature area, such as a chimney breast wall or in the alcoves either side. Colour-matching the wall colour to the wallpaper is a trick that stylists often use, that creates a tonal, complementary scheme. Just match your paint to the background colour of the wallpaper design and then try to work in extra accents of this colour around the room.
9. Double up with rugs
(Image credit: Future PLC/Jo Henderson)
Large, open expanses of floor can make a living room feel chilly over winter months, but covering up with an extra-large area rug can work out costly. Try doubling up, by using a combination of different smaller-sized rugs to make your living room feel extra warm and cosy.
Opt for two rugs in complementary colours and textures for a warm tonal, look or make a statement by choosing two contrast colours or patterns. Circular rugs are great for small spaces and can help soften the lines of boxy furniture.
10. Fake a fitted look
(Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young)
Built-in living room shelving ideas can solve a whole host of storage issues, but can be a big expense if you opt for a bespoke build. Buying off-the-peg floating shelves can work out a lot less-pricey and can be stacked one above the other to make full use of the height of living room walls.
If you have a large expanse of wall area to cover, consider buying extra-long floating shelves to span across, or try joining up several shelves to create a longline, linear effect. Butt the shelf ends together to give a neat, streamlined look.
11. Make your own wall art
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Instead of splashing out on original wall art, cut costs by creating your own bespoke gallery as part of your budget living room ideas. Create a colour grid by framing pieces of coloured card or paper, colour-matched to complement your living room decor. You could even use tester pots of paints and paint your own papers or try framing remnants of fabrics in different colours or contrast patterns for a bolder look.
Use simple square-shaped picture frames – try Ikea for inexpensive click frames – or opt for front-loading album frames like these. Arrange the layout in a square or rectangular grid format, above your sofa or a living room sideboard.
12. Cover-up the sofa with faux furs
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
A shabby or tired-looking sofa can ruin the vibe in any living room, but can be easily remedied on the cheap. Investing in a few new sofa throws or fleeces is a less costly option than replacing a sofa or buying new loose covers, and if you take the time to style the sofa properly it can look a million dollars.
Just chucking on a single, extra-large throw is a definite ‘no no’ that’ll do your living room no favours. For a more polished look, consider layering up the sofa with a combination of throws and different cushions in toning colours and patterns that complement your sofa’s colour.
Start with your main throw positioned centrally or just off-centre, taking time to fold it into a neat size, smoothing it down and tucking behind the sofa to secure it. Then layer on cushions and a couple of extra throws draped casually over the arms or the back cushion. These extra touches are also a perfect way to work a cosy living room idea over the winter months.
13. Get classy with continuous colour
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
Give inexpensive off-the-peg storage a built-in look by painting it to match the wall colour. Painting walls and fixtures the same shade throughout will create a seamless, unified look that feels bespoke, rather than flat-pack.
A dark background is a clever way to hide a TV so that it isn’t the centre of attention in a living room. A black TV screen will blend in with a dark wall colour and not look so prominent. Likewise, dark colours can also make a striking backdrop for display pieces, with bright colours and bold shapes ‘popping’ against a dark background.
14. Use ledges for a changeable display
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)
Switching around artwork season by season is an easy way of brightening up a living room if it’s feeling a little drab or lacklustre. Instead of putting pictures up in a fixed position on walls, using narrow picture ledges offers more flexibility allowing for an interchangeable display, with living room wall art ideas easily shifted around or added to from time to time.
Opt for a single longline ledge behind a sofa with artwork propped against the wall and small ornaments dotted along and in-between to add extra colour. Alternatively, fill the wall space with an arrangement of shorter shelves, positioned at staggered heights.
15. Refurb budget basics
(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)
Transforming a standard IKEA flat pack buy into a one-off piece offers huge creative satisfaction and is a great way of saving some cash too. There are plenty of IKEA hacks to be found, some fairly straightforward and others requiring a bit more know-how and ingenuity, but they are a great way of changing a fairly ordinary piece into something more unique and exciting.
Upgrade a set of basic pine storage units by painting them a matt black colour and adding leather tab handles to give a smart new look. Line-up several cabinets in a row (or mount on the wall) to create a longline bank of storage that will come in super handy in a living room or dining area.
16. Boost basic lighting
(Image credit: Future PLC/Bee Holmes)
A single light pendant can lose its impact in too-large a living room, but doubling up or hanging several standard pendants in a cluster is a great way of adding wow without costing a fortune. When planning living room lighting ideas, try mixing different size and shape pendants – woven pendants or coloured glass always look great together – and hang at staggered heights to create more visual impact.
17. Use plants to decorate
(Image credit: Future PLC/Joanna Henderson)
Plants are a lovely, and inexpensive way to add life to your living room, and they are proven to be good for our mental health and wellbeing too. Arrange them in corners, next to the sofa, on the sideboard, on shelves. Mix faux with real ones and add to them whenever you have some extra cash, or better still take cuttings and grow your own, or ask friends for cuttings of their plants that you particularly like.
18. Rearrange the furniture for free
(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)
For a no-cost update try rethinking how to arrange living room furniture. It’ amazing the difference simply moving the furniture around can make on the feel of your living space. Better still, get someone else to do it for you, so you can step back and act as the curator. A fresh eye on your space could give you a completely different perspective.
‘To refresh your space without financial outlay, consider rearranging your existing furnishings to alter the dynamics of your environment. Swapping decorative items between rooms can offer a new perspective, while a thorough declutter can revitalise and open up a room dramatically,’ Alex at Flitch says
19. Paint the walls
(Image credit: Future PLC/Katie Lee)
‘Keep it simple and smart when revamping your living room on a budget. A fresh coat of paint can do wonders,’ Sam at Flitch says.
Whether you go for the trendy colour drenching method – covering all surfaces in the same shade – or opt for another styling living room paint idea, the fact that there will be a fresh new colour on the walls alone will make it a DIY job worth taking on.
20. Welcome a wall mural
(Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles)
Go for the wow factor and paper one wall with a mural – a great way of decorating the wall behind the sofa. Choose a big design like this, to really make an impact, then pick out the colours from the wall for cushions and other accessories in the room.
21. Introduce warm wood
(Image credit: Future PLC/Caroline Mardon)
Wall panelling ideas and rustic wooden walls are big news in interiors right now, but they can be expensive. However, there is an alternative budget living room idea – sustainable, real wood wall coverings for the perfect quick-fix design update.
‘Choosing small areas to focus on can brilliantly transform the feel of a home,’ says Olivia Crosher, lead interior designer of Naturewall. ‘Your walls are the main feature of any room, by refreshing these you’ll instantly impact the look and feel.’
‘Accent walls are great for emphasising the atmosphere. Use them to zone a space or create contrast, give them a dual purpose and you’ll immediately breathe new life into your room. For an even better budget option, self-adhesive planks have to be the way to go.’
22. Update with throws and cushions
(Image credit: Future PLC/Joanna Henderson)
‘An economical refresh of your living room might start with updating the textiles – curtains, cushions, and throws can transform the room’s ambiance,’ Alex at Flitch says.
Yep, this is one of the simplest ways – new cushions and throws can really change the look of a room, and again you don’t have to spend a fortune. Or maybe think about adding embellishments to cushions you already have?
There are groups online who sell inexpensive trims, tassels etc. to add a personal design touch to your cushions or think about adding a bobble trim to a throw in a contrasting colour.
23. Create a cost-effective gallery
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
If you would love a library corner but are worried about the cost, you can do it yourself by cleverly using the classic MOSSLANDA picture ledges from IKEA. For IKEA picture ledge ideas, the 55cm wide MOSSLANDA version is only £5 so it won’t break the bank. Stack them on a blank corner, and paint them the same colour as the walls so they blend in. Then fill with your favourite books, prints and small mementos that can be easily updated or changed around when you want to give it a refresh.
FAQs
How can I decorate my living room on a low budget?
‘If you’re looking for a way to transform your living room on a budget, introducing a feature wall by using eye-catching, patterned wallpaper is a good option,’ says Susie Spence, trend expert and head of interiors at B&Q.
‘Another effective way to update your living room on a budget is to embrace the biophilic trend and bring more indoor plants to your space. From air purifying peace lilies to prickly cacti, B&Q has a large range of houseplants to choose from that will bring a whole new meaning to the term “living” room.’
We also swear by using home furnishing discount codes to find savings on all the top brands. And don’t forget local charities, The British Heart Foundation have shops that sell second hand furniture across the country. Also Sue Ryder is another charity with an online shop that sells new items at reasonable prices.
How do I make my living room cosy on a budget?
‘Create a cosy home that is both aesthetically pleasing and liveable in equal measures,’ says Annica Wallin, executive creative director at Desenio. ‘By using expressive paintings and illustrations in creamy beiges and warm colour tones then add family photographs to form a cosy and inviting space for friends, family and pets.’
We hope this brings you some inspiration for your next home project. Which one was your favourite? And did we miss any?
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