The living room or lounge is one of the most important rooms in your home, especially from a social perspective. After all, this is likely where you will spend the most time together as a family, whether you’re watching a movie or catching up at the end of the day. It’s also the space where you’ll spend time with any guests or visitors. 

As a result, it's important that this space gets the TLC it deserves. However, this is easier said than done if you’re working within a tight budget, especially in the current climate. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways in which you can transform your living room without harming your bank account.

Here are some top tips to get you started! 

Make the most of natural light. Finding ways to bring more natural light into your home is a great way to transform your living room without spending any money whatsoever. This is because natural lighting will make the room appear much bigger and more spacious than it actually is. Furthemore, allowing natural light into your living room can also boost your mood, due to the fact it increases your body’s production of serotonin (a happiness hormone). Luckily, letting more natural light into your home can be as simple as making sure you always open the curtains and blinds during the day. 

Rendering a wall is an easy and cost-effective way to quickly upgrade the look of your living room. Rendering is the process of applying one or more coats of specialized materials, such as stucco, cement, or mortar to walls in order to make them look more polished and aesthetically pleasing. It also serves to insulate walls against moisture and temperature change. 

Rendering a wall can be done by either doing it yourself or hiring a professional. Doing the rendering yourself requires minimal tools and supplies, as well as some basic knowledge of how to mix the material correctly for optimal results. However, if you're not confident in your ability to do the job properly, then hiring a professional company such as Sydney Rendering Pros is generally recommended. Whichever option you choose, rendering your wall can be a great way to quickly and easily upgrade the look of your living room.

Add a fresh coat of paint. Adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls is another simple, yet effective way to transform your living room, especially if you use it to introduce a ‘pop’ of colour into an otherwise plain space. Furthermore, you can easily carry out this task yourself - though be sure to cover up or move any furniture out of the way beforehand to ensure it does not get damaged (or covered in paint). If you’re wanting to create a space that stands out, try painting one wall a different colour from the other free, using it as a focal space for the rest of the room. 

If you’re wanting to create a space that stands out, try painting one wall a different colour from the other free, using it as a focal space for the rest of the room. If you are worried about the cost, you may book a budget-friendly house painting service with Sidepost. Give them a call to get sample quotations.

Try your hand at DIY. Brushing up on some basic DIY skills is a great way to ensure your living room renovation project remains budget-friendly, especially when it comes to sourcing new furniture. For example, instead of forking out thousands for a new wooden coffee table, you could make your own using Reclaimed scaffold boards. Not only is this much more budget-conscious, but woodwork can also prove to be a great creative outlet - and it means that your furniture is totally unique. 

Make smart investments. While keeping spending to the minimum is key when it comes to upgrading your living room on a budget, it's also important to note that some expenses are long-term investments. For example, installing laminate or wooden flooring can be costly, but these flooring options are often much more durable and long-lasting than carpet. They’re also easy to clean, which is important for those raising children who may be on the messy (or clumsy side). 

Reupholster furniture and rugs. If you feel as though it's time you bought some new furniture, consider first if these items could be reupholstered. This is often less expensive than buying something new outright, but also gives you the chance to update your most beloved items of furniture so that you can use them for much longer. For example, consider reupholstering your worn leather couch with boucle fabric. Boucle's distinctive looped design gives a soft and cozy feel and comes in a variety of colors and patterns to match your decor. It is also durable, low-maintenance, and useful for households with children or pets. Reupholstering with a boucle can give your old couch a fresh new look and save you from buying a new one.

Again, this is a task that you could even do yourself, as there are plenty of guides online that take you through the reupholstering process step by step.

Look for second-hand sofas/chairs. There are many benefits of buying used furniture. Firstly, pre-loved items are often sold for much cheaper than their traditional asking price, despite being high-quality. It's also better for the environment, as you’re steering items away from landfill sites and towards a new home. Sofas, chairs, and other living room furnishings are some of the most commonly sold second-hand items, perhaps due to how often people chose to renovate their living room. This means that you could buy a sofa that is only a few years old (it’s recommended that you buy a new one every eight years) for a really good price. To find these deals, keep an eye out on online selling groups, such as the Facebook marketplace, or visit local charity shops. 

Introducing some house plants. House plants are another way to brighten up your living space and do not necessarily have to cost too much. Not only do they look great, but they also come with a range of health-boosting benefits. For starters, they help purify the air in your home, which is great news for those with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma. Furthemore, various studies have found that caring for houseplants promotes wellness, by reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. This could also be a great way to teach your children to be more responsible. If you aren’t much of a natural green thumb, focus on low-maintenance plants such as snake plants. 

Get rid of clutter.  It is easy for clutter to build up in your living room; whether your kids are leaving toys on the side or you’ve noticed a pile of books and magazines gathering on the coffee table. And while this may seem like nothing more than an annoyance, clutter does not only negatively impact how a room looks, it could also be increasing your stress levels without you even realising it. As a result, removing clutter from your living room could totally transform how the space looks and feels. Ideally, you should be a little ruthless when decluttering, disposing of anything you no longer need or use. You should also invest in smart storage options to reduce the chances of clutter accumulating once again, such as shelving units. 

Keep it clean. In the same way in which removing clutter will help transform your living room, so will keeping it clean and organised. Again, this may sound difficult for those with young children whose sole mission seems to be leaving a mess wherever they go. To combat this, try to spend a few minutes each evening re-organizing your living room, and carry out simple cleaning tasks such as hoovering and dusting. This way, things never get out of hand. You should also put together some kind of cleaning schedule, and allocate some tasks to your children so that you aren’t doing all of the hard work yourself. Again, this can help them to become more responsible as they get older. 

Create a photo wall. If you find that the walls in your living room are looking a little dull, why not create a photo or gallery wall? This is the simplest way to brighten them up, without having to spend a lot of money! In fact, you may already have the photos or prints lying around your house. When putting together a gallery wall, the best piece of advice to follow is to be creative! Find photos that compliment each other or tell a story - such as holiday pics, or use this as an opportunity to show off some of your fondest memories, such as wedding or graduation photographs. You should also try to blend a mixture of different colours through the images themselves or through frames - as this will help you to create a dynamic photo wall. For the same effect, you should also use a range of canvas prints and traditional frames, as this helps you make the most of different textures too! 

Go crazy with pillows and throws. Sometimes, the difference between a dull living room and a stunning one is in the little details. As a result, you should pay attention to the finishing touches when redecorating your living room. For example, pillows and throws can go a long way toward making your living room appear cosy and welcoming. They can also be a great way to introduce new patterns or colours into the space. Finally, you can use different pillow covers and different throws each season, meaning that your space will never feel outdated or out of season. For example, during September and October, you could introduce autumn shades such as oranges, golds, and browns into the space, before moving into red during winter and Christmas. 

Hang some wall art. Hanging some wall art is another great way to make a statement, and it is less time-consuming than putting together a gallery wall. However, many people chose not to feature art in their homes as they think it's too expensive, despite the fact that there are plenty of ways to shop for quality art on a budget. For example, you could visit local fares and craft stores, where independent artists often have their work on sale for fair and reasonable prices. You can also shop for artwork online, which can be a great way not only to save money but also to support small businesses. Alternatively, you could even put your creativity to the test, buy a canvas and some paints and see what magic you can create! This is a great way to decorate your home in a unique fashion. 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.