Five Cost-Effective Ways to Spruce Up Your Living Room!

I’m not sure about you, but the stretch between January to March always seems to mark the longest months of the entire year. The shorter and darker days, lots of time indoors, bitter temps, and windy nights all seem to contribute to what feels like three endless months. By the middle of February, I’m itching for a new season of sunshine, open windows, and new life!

Back in January, we shared a few tips for warming up your home during the winter months, and while I love the coziness warmth in a home creates, I can’t help but desire to bring more vibrancy into my inside spaces as I wait for the arrival of spring. Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite, budget-friendly ways to spruce up your living room in time for the new season. In addition, I’ll also be linking to some of my favorite “pin-speration” (that’s our phrase for "Pinterest Inspiration") ideas for each tip, because what good is Pinterest board-following if you don’t actually share and take action, right?

1) Share Your Memories with the World

In the age of digital, it’s become easy to forget the simple beauty found in printed memories. Candid photographs of your family, loved ones, pets, and favorite vacation moments added to your living room can instantly create a spark of life. Just walking into a room and seeing your favorite people and memories displayed makes all the difference on a dreary winter day. Plus, once you have the frames and photos arranged in a way you like, it’s easy to exchange photos throughout the year for fresh looks.

2) Give Me All of the House Plants

Indoor houseplants have made a comeback in the world of decor over the past year and it’s certainly a trend I can get behind! Some of my favorite indoor plants include Peace Lillies, Succulents (Ripple Jades and Anacampseros Sunrise are my favorite types), Snake Plants, and Fiddle Leaf Trees. Not only does the addition of live plants to your living room add life (literally!), but plants also improve your overall indoor air quality - making these long days indoors even more durable!

3) Add an Accent Wall

The return to wallpaper in homes has been a slow and steady climb, but it seems to be one that will stick around for a while. I love the idea of using a peel and stick version to create an accent wall in a living room. It doesn’t lock you into the permanent decision of true wallpaper (thank goodness for that! Have you ever battled a wallpaper steamer? Not a fun way to spend the weekend!), and it adds a surprise element to a room that could otherwise be considered dull. 

4) Rearrange Shelves:

I find myself rearranging my shelves every few months or so, and have discovered that sometimes a change as simple as this can be enough to ease the itch for a new season. I’ve learned to use a consistent color pallet to create a simple, streamlined look and really like implementing a variety of mixed materials like books, art, photos, and knick-knacks. I like to “shop” in my own home, exploring forgotten drawers, closets, and rooms for things to add to a shelf redesign. While I consider myself a minimalist in many ways, I’m always surprised when I stumble upon a painted bowl, a pretty candle, or a beautifully bound book — even the most simple of items in your home can truly make a shelf pop!

5) More Pillows!

We’re obviously big pillow fans around here, and we couldn’t finish off this post without at least mentioning one of our favorite things in the world of decor and homemaking! The addition of a few new pillows or recovering your current pillows can revamp a room completely. A few months ago, I exchanged all of our couch and armchair pillows for neutral, textured ones and it transformed the room instantly - I was honestly taken back by how quickly the entire air of the room seemed to change with a handful of pillows! One tip I have is to combine sizes, shapes, and fills — this alone creates such beautiful texture and layering, and I love the finished look.

There you have it: a few quick, inexpensive, and simple ways to add life to your living room as we wait for the arrival of spring! For more inspiration, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.