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According to a recent report, the average homeowner will redecorate their living room every 25 months – whether this is to keep up with the latest trends or simply because they fancy a change.

This could mean that you are long overdue for a living room makeover!

While redecorating can be a lot of fun, there’s also no denying that it can be a challenging experience. For example, you may be worried about the costs associated with this task or struggle to bring your vision to life. However, having a clear plan to follow can take a lot of the stress out of the redecorating process, as it gives you a framework to follow moving forward.

With that in mind, here’s a step-by-step guide you can use to transform your living room!

1. Put together a budget.

Despite common misconceptions, it’s entirely possible to create a stylish living room on a budget. For example, you can save a lot of money by shopping second-hand or brushing up on your DIY skills. However, in order to ensure this project remains as budget-friendly as possible, you need to figure out precisely what your budget is ahead of time!

Once you’ve determined how much you can spend in total, try to split these funds between the different tasks you’ll be carrying out. For example, you may have to pay for:

• Paint and wallpaper
• Furniture
• Lighting
• Handymen/Decorators
• Electricians

During this time, you may also want to choose a particular theme for your living room, as this will make many of your future decisions easier. For example, it can make it easier to find and source new furniture or to choose a colour scheme as you’ll have a clearer vision in mind to work with.

2. Declutter.

Before you can kickstart the decorating process, you’ll need to remove all of your furniture and belongings from your living room. Whether you’re investing in a storage unit – or just deciding to live among boxes during the decorating process, a bit of decluttering here will not go amis!

For example, you should think carefully about whether or not these items are being used – or if they’ll match the aesthetic of your new living room design. If the answer to both of these questions is no, it’s time to consider getting rid of them. If they’re in good condition, you could resell these items – which also means you increase your decorating budget. Alternatively, you can donate these items to local charities, who are always on the lookout for furniture and decor items.

3. Repaint the walls.

One of the easiest ways to transform your living room is to apply a fresh coat of paint. If you’re going to DIY this task, remember to take your time. Rushing the process could mean that you aren’t as neat or precise as you should be. Furthermore, be sure to choose your paint carefully!

For example, your walls often set the tone for the rest of your room, especially if you’re opting for a specific colour scheme – for example, you may want to create a plain backdrop for your furniture to stand out against or use your walls to inject some colour into the space.

If you’re looking to make your living room a little more relaxing, you may want to opt for cool, pastel tones. This is because our brain automatically associates these colours with feelings of peace and serenity, meaning we’ll naturally start to relax when surrounded by them! Remember, your choice of paint should also complement any furniture you buy, as this will ensure the room comes together nicely.

4. Create a feature wall.

Having a feature wall within your living room is a great way to turn an otherwise simplistic space into one that is bright, bold and eye-catching. Furthermore, there are many different (and simplistic) ways to create a feature wall without needing to hire an interior designer to do it for you.

For example, hanging wallpaper on a singular wall and painting the others is a particularly low-effort yet effective option. If you live in a rented property where you are unable to make permanent changes to the home, you could use peel-and-stick wallpaper to the same effect, which can easily be removed at the end of your tenancy. For people with a bigger budget, incorporating a tv media wall into your design can be a practical and stylish solution.

Alternatively, creating an interesting collage from your favourite family photographs can turn an otherwise plain wall into something straight out of an art gallery. If exploring this route, try to use a wide range of mediums, such as canvases, prints and framed photographs, as this makes your wall look less uniformal and, as a result, more eye-catching! You could also mix this up by adding the odd piece of artwork to the mix or hanging important documents such as degrees and certificates too!

5. Invest in high-quality furniture.

When it comes to Sofas shopping (or buying other items such as chairs and coffee tables), don’t be afraid to spend a little extra in order to source high-quality items. Not only will this enable you to bring a touch of luxury and comfort into the space, but they’re also much more likely to stand the test of time. This means that you won’t be in the market for a new sofa within a couple of months, as you’ll have found one you can use for years to come.

Furthermore, by pulling back spending on other tasks, such as doing the painting and wallpapering yourself, you can afford to treat yourself a little. This is especially true if you’re visiting a Furniture store in Dallas, TX or elsewhere and choosing a statement piece of furniture that will capture your attention as soon as you enter the room.

6. Think about the layout.

Once you’ve bought new furniture or shown your old items a bit of love, it’s time to think about where you’d like to place them in your living room. To save yourself some heavy lifting and a lot of frustration, it’s best to decide upon a layout ahead of time instead of constantly moving furniture back and too.

Draw out a floor plan of your living room and figure out the best place to put each item. For example, you may want to ensure that your sofas and chairs are placed at an angle where they’d get a good view of the TV (making your living room the perfect spot for a movie night). Alternatively, you may think about which spaces you’d like to get the most natural light and so on!

7. Think about lighting.

The right lighting can ensure your home always looks its best while also helping you to create your desired atmosphere. For example, if you want your living room to look warm and inviting, you can choose lighting that reflects this, such as by installing warm-toned bulbs. Alternatively, if you want to brighten up the space a little, you could use white bulbs and use natural light to your advantage.

Lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers, can also be used to add a touch of class or sophistication to your home, which is great for those whose personal tastes are a little more luxurious – though there are designs available to suit every style and aesthetic.

8. Focus on the little details.

Once you’ve followed the above steps, your living room should be coming together quite nicely – which means the only things missing are those finishing touches. However, as the little details can often have the most significant impact on how a space looks, it’s essential you think carefully about how you’d like to accessorise your living room.

Your choices for finishing touches should largely be dependent upon your theme. For example, if you’ve opted for a more cosy aesthetic, you can reflect this in your accessories by adding plenty of throws and pillows to your sofas or investing in a thick-cosy rug! Bookshelves packed with your favourite titles can also go a long way to supporting this aesthetic.

Alternatively, if your style is a little more contemporary and minimalist, you’ll need to be a little more selective when it comes to decor – but this doesn’t mean you have to avoid it altogether. For example, you could purchase some artwork for your walls, dried flowers or a coffee table book!

Final Thoughts.

The above step-by-step guide is a great starting point for those looking to redecorate their living room, whether you’re planning on remodelling the space from top to bottom or making a few minor changes.

However, throughout the process, it’s important to remember that this is your living room – which means you can decorate it however you see fit! For example, while your favourite colour might not be en-vogue, there’s no reason it cannot feature prominently in your living room, as the space is yours and yours alone!

Simply put, you can have a lot of fun during the design process by throwing caution to the wind and focusing on your own likes and dislikes instead of trying to turn your living room into something you’ve seen in an interior design magazine!

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