Is your living room feeling a little outdated? Here are six easy ways to make your room feel like new.
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Add Space
One of the most dramatic ways to remodel your living room is to knock down a wall, creating that open concept plan you’ve always dreamed of. However, knocking out a wall is also one of the most expensive and labor-intensive ways to remodel a room. There are a lot of factors to consider, the most important being whether or not the wall you want to remove is load-bearing. Removing a load-bearing wall will require adding a support beam, and, depending on the complexity, might require hiring an engineer. If you have any doubt about whether a wall is structural, hire a professional for an evaluation.
Change or Fix Flooring
Your floors take a beating, and over time the wear and tear of daily use will start to show. Refinishing hardwood floors is a relatively inexpensive renovation project if you rent the equipment and do the work yourself. If you have tile or laminate flooring, choosing to buy from a discount store and DIY the work will also help save on some of the expenses. If your floor is old and damaged beyond repair, it’s a good idea to replace it entirely. Flooring styles vary significantly, so do your best to choose a flooring that matches the rest of your home.
Update Lighting
While it’s not as dramatic a change as knocking down walls or replacing floors, updating your living room lights can go a long way toward modernizing your home. Recessed lights, commonly referred to as pot lights, high hat lights or can lights, are energy efficient and typically have a longer lifespan than ordinary bulbs. You can also add accent lights like this picture frame light, which can provide ambiance and a focal point to your living room.
Upgrade Decor
Before demoing a room, first consider replacing any old furniture, rugs and artwork. If there’s nothing wrong with the functionality of your current living room, add a pop of color in the form of a painting or a bold-colored couch. If you do decide to change up your style, avoid bad decorating habits that will stick out.
Replace Windows
Old windows stand out, and not in a good way. Window replacements look great and can provide much more effective insulation to your home than old, drafty windows. New windows will help lower your energy costs, which your wallet will appreciate both in the winter and summer months. They also provide a great return on investment for resale value.
Paint
Painting your living room doesn’t have to mean just painting the walls. A fresh coat of paint to your baseboards or ceiling trim will transform a room. Plus, painting trim requires a lot less effort than painting an entire room if you don’t want to spend a lot of time or money.
