5 things to consider before redecorating your living room

As the main living space in your home, your living room is often the showpiece, and you will want to develop a theme that can be followed throughout the property. If your living room is in need of a refresh, or you just feel like changing the colour scheme of the house, then you will want to come up with a few design ideas before getting started. You don’t have to hire an interior designer to manage the process for you, why not design your sitting room yourself? Setting a budget is important so that you are not spending over the odds on paint or new furniture, then you will want to think about how you can maximise the space you have to end up with a final product that you love. Allow us to explain further how you can get the most out of a living room refurbishment.

Budget
Before getting started, it is important to set a budget for the decorating your living room. This will depend on whether you want to carry out all the work yourself or hire painters and decorators to carry out any plastering and painting for you. Once you have decided this, you will have an idea of how much to spend on paint and any new furniture you may have your eye on. Expensive items such as velvet sofas or creating a gallery wall can take a large portion of your budget, so it is important to plan accordingly.

Colour Scheme
You will want to decide on a colour scheme that runs throughout your living room, so that the room does not feel out of place compared to others in your home. Whether you are just giving your living room a repaint, or completely redecorating, your living room furniture should fit in with the walls and any pieces of art you may be displaying. Furniture such as coffee tables, sofas and tables lamps will all be main features of your living room, so matching these with other touches such as area rugs or flooring will help to tie everything together. For example, a white living room scheme could benefit from small touches of timber and wooden beams to give it a more rustic feel.

Lighting
When decorating a room, the style of lighting can make a real difference to the feel of the living space. Depending on how much natural light is coming into the room, as well as the size and style of your windows, this can determine whether you will want a bright, dominant light feature or something more understated. Light features can illuminate the small spaces in your living room and make it feel much bigger, particularly if the room is dark at the times of day when it is used most. You will want your lighting to fit in well with the other furniture and walls, so once you have decided this, the rest of the room can start to take shape.

Furniture
When planning your living room design, furniture will play a big part in the final result, to create a consistent theme with the rest of your home décor, and as the main living space in your home the importance of furniture cannot be understated. If you have decided on a particular colour scheme such as a grey living room, it will be easier to match neutral coloured or wooden furniture for the finishing touches. Regardless of your budget, even the most subtle furniture like small tables and cabinets can make the room feel homely and go a long way to transforming the space you have.

Making the most of your space
Even if you are struggling for space in your sitting room, there are numerous ways to make the room feel larger and you will be amazed at the difference you will notice. Furniture such as fold away side tables and footrests that can be stowed under other furniture when not in use can open up the space you have and create more room if you are having guests over.