A living room is one of the most used spaces in your home. You spend a lot of your time there with your family and friends. This is where you and your guests sit when they come to your house. So you should make it look as best as possible, and show your personal preference through the decor you chose.

Large or small, your living room can look stylish without you having a big-spending budget. A few good DIY ideas can help freshen up that space and turn it into the cozy living room of your dreams.

Source: Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

Wall Art and Mirrors

One of the first things that people walking into your living room will notice is the wall art. No one feels very cozy next to a blank wall. So the right choice of art pieces will not only make the room more comfortable but also showcase your personal preferences. Having decor on your walls also helps with sound absorption.

Photographs are a great idea for an art wall, whether you choose a photo from an artist you like or family and friends photos that mean a lot to you. Perhaps you can frame a beautiful transferred photo to puzzles that you put together with your family over a wonderful weekend spent together. You can also frame postcards as mementos from your travels. Even if you can’t afford to buy original artwork, there are so many prints for you to choose from, that’ll surely be to your taste.

And mirrors can be a great idea too, especially when combined with the artwork, few mirrors here and there, even better if they have beautiful frames. Or you can go big and choose a tall mirror, hanging on a wall, or, one of those trends that are recently popular – a leaning mirror. It’s in style nowadays to lean your art and mirrors instead of hanging them. You can put them on a floor, table, or dresser and lean them against the wall. Not only does the mirror make your room brighter, bouncing the light around, but also adds a feeling of extra space.

Lights

Good choice in lighting can create a very relaxing and cozy atmosphere. If you have only one light hanging from the ceiling that won’t exactly create that desired effect. You should have more luminous sources placed around the living room.

You have a vast choice of chandeliers, lamps, lanterns, even candles that go together with the style of your choice. You can even make them yourself. One of the most popular DIY choices for lighting are small LED lights that you can put directly on a wall, or in a jar or a vase, and move around the room to fit your current decor mood.

A very important choice is the type of light bulbs you’re using. There are warmer and cooler ones, and there is a huge difference in the atmosphere they’re creating. You should choose warmer tones for your home because they make you feel loosened up and cozy. Cooler tones are usually used in hospitals, workplaces, schools, etc., and help in maintaining focus and encouraging productivity.

Source: Photo by Terje Sollie from Pexels

Pillows, Throws, and Rugs

Pillows and throws can go over any old or ugly piece of sitting furniture and make it look fantastic. You don’t need to buy a new sofa or an armchair even if they started looking shabby. Have several throws from different materials and various colors that go well with your interior, and it’ll be like having different furniture every time.

Pillows can change the entire impression of your sitting area. Choose different sizes of pillows (2 or 3), and colors (3 or 4), mix different patterns and textures, but always keep in mind the color scheme you chose for your living room and style them accordingly. Don’t throw a bunch of strong, dominant colors and patterns together, because it will be overwhelming for the eyes, and it won’t bring out a cohesive look.

Rugs will cover any type of flooring and, if chosen wisely, will tie the room together. If you have an old parquet that’s in dire need of sanding, put a rug over it, and no one will know. Cold tiles, stone, or concrete don’t make a very cozy flooring, but a soft rug over them will keep your feet toasty. Whatever type of rug you choose, stick to the pattern/color theme of your living room.

Plants and Vases

Plants and flowers have that special way of breathing life into our space. They connect us with nature, lift our spirits, and make any room they’re in feel fresh and airy. You can choose potted plants and flowers, or the ones in vases, or both. No matter what type you decide on, the look of the flower pot, bowl, or vase they’re in should go well with the rest of your room design.

You can make or decorate your own flower pots and vases, and keep the same color scheme as other accessories in the living room. Or you can bend the rules a bit and have a statement piece, like one large plant – a tree, or a (vertical) garden wall. Faux plants are not bad either if you’d rather not deal with the needs of the real ones. They can look like real plants but are more durable.

With or without flowers vases can look stunning. You can paint them on your own, using clear glass vases and colors of your choice, or add other ornaments to them. Put a candle inside or a little LED light to create a mellow ambiance. You can even use them to create little terrariums inside for succulents or bonsai.

Final thoughts

No matter what details you choose for your living room, as long as you’ve done this intentionally, you could hardly go wrong. After all, this is your space and it should reflect your preferences and style, you’re the one that’s going to live there. So whatever makes you feel good and you enjoy it is the right decision. These few ideas are just to give you a nudge in the right direction.

Just keep in mind not to go overboard with color and patterns, you don’t want your room to look chaotic. Because the living room is that place in your home where you spend most of the time with family during the day, go and surround yourself with whatever is making you feel comfortable and at ease.