Affordable Living Room Ideas for Budget-Friendly Design

Hiring an interior designer is expensive. Even decorating a home on your own can feel completely out of your financial means. But with some careful planning and hands-on work, you can bring almost any home decor living room ideas on a budget to life.

Every room deserves a makeover now and again. In many homes, though, the living room is the star of the show. From relaxing to entertaining, the living room has to look great and meet the needs of the entire household. Doing this on a budget is an even greater challenge.

Below you’ll find inspiration, tips, and tricks for achieving some of the top living room decorating ideas while saving a bit of hard-earned money along the way.

1. Apartment Living Room Ideas on a Budget

Whether you rent or own, apartment living is an experience all its own. But if you’re one of the millions of renters trying to make your lease feel like a home, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on interior design. Especially when, more often than not, you’ll need to tear everything down once you move.

Many of today’s landlords allow tenants to paint, even if just with a few pre-approved living room colors. If this is the case for you, consider putting up an accent wall behind a focal point like the sofa or media center. Or, if you need something less permanent, removable wall decals have never been of better quality or more affordable.

Of course, one of the biggest challenges in any small apartment is figuring out how to differentiate each room. Laying down a large area rug can add visual appeal while also highlighting your living room as its own distinct space.

If you want to overhaul your living room’s aesthetic but don’t have a huge budget, there’s a good chance you don’t want to invest in new furniture. Slipcovers are an excellent option for upholstered furniture. And you’ll be amazed what a coat of spray paint and varnish can do to your existing coffee table or bookshelf.

Bright room with a bed, plants, and a rug; sunlight streaming through large windows and a door to a balcony — mademoiselle_nobs/Instagram

Cozy room with a white sofa, plants, a round mirror, and a bookshelf decorated with warm lighting, a fur throw, and cushions — mycityapartment/Instagram

Minimalist living room with white couch, two framed prints on the wall, and round wooden coffee tables — noplacelikehomeinteriors and dinabroadhurst/Instagram

Stylish living room with a gray tufted sofa, round mirror, and minimalist decor — sammypattersonathome/Instagram

Cozy living room with a telescope by the window, a patterned rug, bookshelves, and a gray sofa

Modern living room with brown leather seating, a minimalist fireplace, wall art, and a swing-arm lamp

2. Creative Decor Ideas

Nailing down your home decor is all about the little things. For many, however, buying tons of small decor items just isn’t an option. Instead, you’ll need to get creative about how you add those finishing touches to your living room decor.

No matter the decor style, houseplants will always look great. You can adorn shelves with small succulents, liven up a corner with a fig tree, or hang a pothos from the ceiling for a modern jungle aesthetic. If you suffer from a black thumb, look for dried bouquets and grasses to take the place of live plants.

Large art prints feel expensive, but that doesn’t need to be the actual case. If you’re willing to do a bit of DIY, many artists sell digital copies of their work for just a few dollars. Just order a print from your local copy shop and use a cheap frame to create your own living room wall decor.

Throw pillows and blankets help the living room feel complete and don’t need to cost more than a few dollars. If you or someone you know is handy with a needle, sewing up a few pillow shams is a quick, easy, and affordable project.

Cozy living room with a beige sofa, patterned rug, wooden armchair, and round coffee table with books and flowers — housemadelovely/Instagram

Cozy living room with a gray sofa, wooden coffee table, and patterned rug; wall art and potted plants add decor — inside_110_timney/Instagram

Cozy living room with a pink sofa, large plants, a glass coffee table, and sunlight streaming through windows — jess.at_.home_/Instagram

Cozy living room with a beige sofa, TV, wicker accents, and a rustic dining table under a woven light fixture — soodecoo/Instagram

Modern living room with gray sofas, geometric wall art, black-and-white rug, and stylish lighting fixtures

3. Achieving Elegance Without Spending a Fortune

Despite what you might believe, budget-friendly decor can also be elegant. Creating an elegant living space is all about how you coordinate your furniture and decor, not about how much you spend on it.

By and large, designing an elegant living room is all about the color scheme. Pair neutral colors with one or two bright shades or stick with a monochromatic look. Metallic finishes can also add a touch of elegance without the high cost.

Multiple light sources aren’t just convenient. They can also instantly make a room feel more luxurious. Utilize floor, table, and wall-mounted lamps wherever possible around your furniture arrangement. Tall window treatments can give the illusion of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Fresh flowers are a hallmark of high-end home design, but few people can afford to buy a new bouquet every week. Silk flowers provide all of the color and beauty of real ones, minus the remarkably short lifespan.

Modern living room with gray sofa, nested black tables, plant decor, and nature-themed wall art — klemstua/Instagram

Elegant living room with a cream sofa, decorative pillows, a mirrored wall, and a chandelier — my_interiorhome_/Instagram

Cozy living room with a pink sofa, plant, coffee table, and wall art, featuring a vase of pink flowers — sarchetrit/Instagram

4. Creative Budget Friendly Ideas

In most American households, the living room also doubles as a family room. This is a space centered around your family’s interests, and that lets you all gather at the end of the day. For those with children, the family room might also serve as a play space.

Family rooms need lots of seating. While a sectional sofa is one of the most popular furniture pieces for such a space, it’s not in everyone’s budget. Mixing and matching furniture, such as a sofa and armchairs, can help save money.

Whether your furniture matches or not, cozy blankets and pillows can help bring the look together. When selecting accent pillows and throws, prioritize items that are both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

Since the family room gets used for so many different things, and by so many different people, storage is a must. Large decorative baskets make excellent storage bins, and you can find them for a reasonable price at most stores.

Cozy living room with sofas, wooden furniture, a rustic coffee table, and a highland cow wall art — earlyedition76/Instagram

Modern living room with a gray sofa, patterned rug, wooden coffee table, and plants, featuring a large window — inside_110_timney/Instagram

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5. Glamour Meets Affordability

For a decadent living space that feels like a million bucks, bold colors, and textures are your best friends. You could have the cheapest piece of furniture in existence, but in reality, it just needs to look great to be glamorous!

Velvet is a big trend in upholstery and decor right now—excellent news for those on a budget. While in the past, you might have only found this fabric on high-end items, you can get a hold of velvet furniture and accessories at any price range today. If you’re not looking to replace any furniture right now, invest in smaller items like velvet throw pillows or curtains.

One of the tenets of glamorous home design is comfort for the sake of comfort. Floor poufs are super trendy right now and can make any room look fancier than it started. Or, for something more structured, choose a velvet ottoman that fits your space.

Whatever furniture you opt for, use a rich color palette. Dark jewel tones work perfectly in this context. For a maximalist take on glamor, don’t be afraid to use several different colors in your living room design.

A cozy living room with a beige sectional sofa, colorful pillows, glass coffee table, and framed artwork on the wall — annelouisefisher/Instagram

Modern living room with a blue rug, gray sectional sofa, a gallery wall, and plants in the corner — drfaraizzati/Instagram

Cozy living room with a brown sofa, plants, a stone table, and wicker chairs; wall art and bookshelves complete the decor — mettes_life_in_color/Instagram

Cozy living room with a green sofa, colorful cushions, wall art, plants, and warm string lights — vraro/Instagram

6. Contemporary Living

Despite its name, modern design actually refers to a vintage decor trend from the 20th century. This style focuses on clean lines and neutral colors, with an emphasis on functionality. Many popular home trends fall into this category, including mid-century modern and some types of industrial design.

Choose pieces with a clean-cut shape. Forget about ornate carvings or tufted cushions—modern furniture is all about just getting the job done. If you’d like to include some mid-century elements, look for furniture featuring unique angles or cut-outs.

Because modern design’s roots run deep in the soil of functionality, everything decorative in your living room should also serve a purpose. In other words, unique light fixtures are practically a must.

Modern design can sometimes feel cold and sterile, so incorporate potted plants and artwork as needed. Geometric mirrors are also a great addition, with the added bonus of making the room feel bigger.

Living room with a beige sectional sofa, white coffee table, potted plant, and shelf unit under a staircase — crisfulness/Instagram

Modern living room with gray sofas, decorative pillows, mirrored wall art, and a table lamp on wood flooring — emmersonhome/Instagram

Elegant living room with a beige sofa, coffee table, large window, and a wicker pendant light fixture

Cozy living room with a sofa, pillows, two chairs, round mirrors, a rug, and a round coffee table with decor

Chic living room with dark walls, art, a fireplace, cozy chair, and glass coffee table on a plush rug

Modern living room with dark sofa, geometric shelves, large lamp, and a small round table with a cup

Cozy living room with a gray sectional sofa, a laptop, framed posters, and dim lighting

7. Simplicity and Savings

Simple decor does not need to be boring. In fact, stripping down your living room design to the bare minimum is a great way to let one or two standout features shine. And since simple spaces, by nature, have fewer items inside, they’re also cheaper to decorate.

While not a requirement, simplistic home design works best when centered around a singular focal point. Depending on your space, this could be almost anything—a fireplace, quirky piece of furniture, chandelier, or art piece.

To incorporate smaller wall art, go with a gallery wall layout rather than hanging them throughout the entire room. By treating all of your smaller items as one large unit, you can get away with displaying far more without losing the room’s simplistic feel.

Organic textures can bring character to an otherwise simple living room idea. From wood grain to stone, let these materials take center stage in the form of a coffee table, side table, or hanging shelf. Natural wood is also an excellent way to invite a bit of Scandinavian charm into your decor.

Bright living room with a gray sectional sofa, geometric rug, and a round coffee table under a large window — arthouse_visionboard/Instagram

A cozy living room with a white sofa, patterned rug, fireplace, and wall art featuring botanical prints — househappening/Instagram

A fluffy cat sleeps on a gray sectional sofa with pillows in a modern living room with plants and artwork — justlivingathome/Instagram

A cozy living room with a gray couch, matching pillows, a glass coffee table, and a window with blinds — meandmrhughes/Instagram

Cozy living room with a brown leather sofa, wooden coffee table, and brick wall. A rug and lamp create a warm ambiance — parkslopeloft/Instagram

Modern living room with dark gray sofa, striped rug, metal coffee table, and animal skull wall decor

Loft-style room with a blue couch, motorcycle, TV, and geometric decor on hardwood floors; exposed brick walls

Cozy living room with a large window, bookshelves, armchairs, a sofa, and a round coffee table

Modern living room with a white sofa, wooden table, and a poster against a dark wall

Cozy living room with a gray sofa, wooden chair, framed wall art, and a vintage bicycle against a dark wall

8. Maximizing Small Spaces

It should go without saying that knocking out a wall isn’t a great idea for those redecorating on a budget. You can still make a big difference in how large your small living room feels with just a few (affordable) changes, though.

One of the best ways to save on space without impacting your living room’s functionality is by switching to a smaller coffee table. For maximum floor space, you might even consider doing away with a center table altogether. Many ottomans also offer hidden storage inside and can, more or less, take the place of a traditional coffee table.

With limited square footage, you’ll need to think vertically. Wall mounted decor is a given—experiment with placement to make your walls feel as tall as possible. Shelves are also an excellent way to add usable surfaces without cutting into your limited floor space.

When choosing additional decor, such as potted plants or a floor lamp, go for items that are tall rather than broad. Not only will these items take up less physical space, but they can also create an optical illusion that makes your ceilings seem higher.

Cozy living room with a dark sofa, floral decor, white coffee table, and soft lighting — _ourhopyardhome/Instagram

Cozy living room with a gray sofa, colorful cushions, a small white coffee table with flowers, and framed wall art — behindherfrontdoor/Instagram

Cozy living room with a gray sofa, pillows, fluffy rug, side table with flowers, and modern decor accents — kara_mood_/Instagram

Cozy living room with brown sectional sofa, decorative pillows, wall art, and a rustic coffee table — littleflatat34/Instagram

Bright living room with a gray sofa, hanging chair, pampas grass decor, and large mirror beside a window — thatsmrsirvinstyle/Instagram

Cozy living room with sofas, a wooden coffee table, chandeliers, and a snowy view through the windows

Cozy living room with a gray sofa, pillows, wall-mounted bicycle, and a window letting in natural light

Modern living room with large windows, a gray sofa, two orange chairs, and a wooden coffee table on a rug

Modern living room with brown furniture, a horse painting, and a black ottoman, along with shelving and lamps decorating the space

FAQs

How can I update my living room on a budget?

Updating your living room on a budget is possible with a few creative ideas. Consider rearranging the furniture to give the space a fresh look. Adding new throw pillows or swapping out curtains can also bring a new color palette to the room.

DIY projects like creating wall art or refurbishing old furniture can add a personalized touch without breaking the bank. Shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, or online marketplaces can help you find affordable decor items. Lastly, a fresh coat of paint can dramatically transform the room’s ambiance without a hefty cost.

What are some inexpensive ways to add more lighting to the living room?

Increasing the lighting in your living room doesn’t have to be expensive. Start by strategically placing mirrors to reflect natural light and make the room feel brighter. Consider adding floor or table lamps, which can often be found at budget-friendly prices, to provide both illumination and a decorative element.

String lights or LED strips are economical options to create ambient lighting. Repurposing old glass jars or containers into candle holders can also add a cozy and inexpensive lighting solution.

What are some budget-friendly ways to add personality to my living room?

Injecting personality into your living room on a budget can be achieved through various means. Create a gallery wall using affordable frames and display your favorite photos or prints. Craft DIY decor items like decorative trays, wall hangings, or painted plant pots. Utilize your hobbies or interests as a theme and incorporate related items – for example, books, travel souvenirs, or musical instruments. Rearrange your furniture in a way that aligns with your personal style and creates a unique layout.