7 Great Living Room Hacks

By Ashley Paskill on July 27, 2020

Living in your own space for the first time is exciting, but decorating your living room can be tricky. This is especially true if your living room space is a bit on the smaller side and you are decorating on a student budget. However, there are hacks you can do to not only make the most of your space and money but make your living room more colorful.

Buy furniture from thrift stores and yard sales

Buying furniture is one of the most expensive parts of getting your own space. However, if you go to thrift stores and yard sales, you can get great quality furniture at an even better price. Just make sure you measure your space since you will be unable to return your pieces to yard sales and most thrift stores. Also, make sure you have an idea of how you want your space to look so you can get what you actually want and need for your space. Only buy what you need so that you do not overwhelm your limited space.

Add color

Adding color may be difficult, especially if you are unable to paint your walls in an apartment setting. If you are allowed to paint your walls, do so. Another option is removable wallpaper, where you can take the wallpaper down once you move out. If neither are these are an option, try adding pops of color using other elements of décor. Use throw pillows and blankets on your couches and chairs. You can buy colorful furniture, but it is better to use accessories to add color so you do not overwhelm the space. Again, you can bring in plants, both real and artificial, to add a pop of color.

Image: Stanislav Kondratiev via https://unsplash.com/photos/pymZE52p734

Functional furniture

Student living spaces are notoriously small, so it is crucial that you use your furniture in order to maximize space. A free-standing, backless bookshelf can be used in a studio apartment to partition your room into sections. There are tables and ottomans that can double as storage units. You can even use space under your coffee table to store items. When buying furniture, be mindful to buy pieces that may be used for something else. Being creative with your furniture can help you maximize your space while making your place look good and organized.

Fashionable storage

Besides the above furniture storage ideas, there are other types of storage units that look good. There are bins you can get that come in a large variety of colors and patterns, so you will be able to find some that fit your décor theme. If possible, label your bins so you what is in them and can place the appropriate items back after use. These bins can be used for things like cords, remotes, and chargers that are used frequently in your living room. Be sure to keep only what is needed in the living room in these bins so you know where to look for items you need.

Feng shui all day

How you arrange your furniture can make a huge difference in your living room. If you are planning on having guests over, keep this in mind when you are buying furniture so you know how much seating is needed so that no one is without a place to sit. Make sure you arrange your seating in a way that allows you to interact with your guests. For those times when you have guests over to watch sports or TV programming, make sure your seating is arranged in a way that all can easily see and hear the TV.

Accessorize moderately

As hinted above, accessorizing your space with things like rugs, pillows, and blankets can help add color to your living room, especially if you are unable to paint your walls. Even adding a few little décor items in addition to books on your bookshelves can help add flair to your space.

If you are into the aesthetic of plants, adding a few around your living room can really spice up your space. Succulents take the least amount of work, so you’ll only have to water them a few times a week. For those more experienced or adventurous with plant care, adding other types of plants can make your space look great. Artificial plants work just as well as real ones when it comes to décor, especially if you are not as comfortable putting in work to care for live plants on a busy schedule.

When accessorizing, make sure you do so moderately so that your space does not get overly crowded.

Miscellaneous tips

Make sure you use a variety of lighting, from lamps to natural light through windows, to help your space seem bigger. Having a mirror can also help your living room appear to be bigger than it is. Keep your living room space as organized and decluttered as possible so that you can clean easily and not feel claustrophobic about not having the space you need.

Your living room is likely a focal point in your space, so it is important to treat it as such and make sure it is a space you are proud to spend a lot of time in.

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