What’s your living room’s dirtiest secret? You know what I’m talking about. It’s that thing that makes your living room feel less than perfect, and you’re sure – completely sure – that every one of your guests notices it the moment he or she walks in. It’s that one thing that keeps you from inviting friends over at the last minute. That makes your palms sweat when the in-laws want to come over.
Go on. We’re all safe here. Go ahead and confess.
Feel better now that that’s out in the open? Great. Now, let’s find a way to tackle it. Even if you don’t have the cash to start over, here are a few ways you can get over your living room hang ups and give yourself a living room to be proud of.
Camouflage those Flaws
Find a way to love what makes you uncomfortable. Women know all about this. The cosmetics industry wouldn’t be what it is without teaching women how to downplay close-set eyes or a ruddy complexion. Take the same approach to your most-hated living room object.
If you’ve got a couch you can’t stand, get yourself some slipcovers. Relatively inexpensive, at least when compared to buying or reupholstering a couch, slipcovers can be found online in virtually any size, color, and fabric and create a quick change any time you need it. Use throw pillows in a variety of sizes and shapes to give your re-invigorated couch or chair a pop of color and texture.
If it’s your floor that’s the problem, find a rug that suits both your room’s décor and personality. This is a great trick when new flooring is either out of your budget or just not possible because you rent your place. A cute throw rug can be placed anywhere you feel your floor needs a little help and can do for that surface what throw pillows did for your couch – add texture and a pop of color.
Work Magic with Paint
But what if it’s your walls you can’t stand? Did your place’s previous owner leave you with a wallpaper pattern that was last in vogue during the Nixon administration? Or maybe you’ve been staring at blank walls since you moved in with no idea where to go next?
Happily, paint is both inexpensive and easy to use. Find out what colors make you feel the most at home and head to your local home improvement store. Current trends include bright colors like jade or turquoise and deep accent shades like dark gray or violet. If that’s a little much for your taste, consider painting in a neutral tone like khaki and incorporating bolder hues later with rugs, pillows, and wall hangings.
And speaking of wall hangings, don’t forget to add your favorite art. Nothing makes a room look unfinished like bare walls. You don’t have to be an art whiz; just decide what’s meaningful to you and find a way to frame it. A fun snapshot in black and white or a child’s drawing can both become artful-looking keepsakes in a black, matte frame.
Take Back Control of Chaos
Maybe it’s clutter that’s got you down. If your living room is where the TV or computer lives, chances are good it’s where the whole family ends up. Take control of clutter before it controls you by making it a part of your design.
A pair of bookshelves does wonders for organizing games, DVD’s, photos, and keepsakes. It also instantly creates a neat way to store items so that you can quickly put them where they belong when company comes over. For a fun, sophisticated twist, try organizing your books or DVD’s according to color or size.
If you have kids or pets, take quick control over their toys by stashing them in a stylish antique trunk or inside a coffee table with a hinged lid. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Leave a Light On
Finally, don’t forget lighting. Lighting is what compels us to stay or leave a room. Too little and a room feels dreary, too much and it feels unwelcoming.
To conquer this problem, give yourself a variety of lighting choices from table and floor lamps to overhead lighting. Then, find the right light to suite your mood.
This is another place where you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to achieve a stylish result. A simple dimmer switch on an overhead fixture can provide instant ambiance. And if you’re hesitant about which lamps look right, don’t be afraid to mix and match grandma’s antiques with a slightly more modern piece you found at your favorite home store.