So you’ve little or no money spare but your living room is so depressing and needs a major upgrade. Spend a little time working out what it is you need to change most and then work out a to-do list.
Here are some tried and tested ideas to give a room an uplift on a budget.
1. Declutter the room first. Throw away junk or take it to the charity shops. Tidy it into the loft if you can’t bear to part with it right away, but CLEAR THE ROOM OF CLUTTER.
2. Re-decorate the room: Paintwork. If your door is damaged or ill-fitting or just decrepit it will be worth investing in a new one. Prepare the doors and door surround for painting carefully. A good finish looks classy. A lumpy finish leads to on going reminders of failure.
3. Re-decorate the room: Emulsion the walls in a stylish colour. Magenta is probably too much for a small room, but you don’t have to stick with magnolia. The lightest of sunny yellows can lift a dark room with little natural light.
4. Refresh the furniture: Make sure the carpet and furniture are thoroughly cleaned (hire a machine if you can afford it). If they still look grolly then check your budget for a nice large rug and throw for sofas and chairs. You can even make them yourself if you have a sewing machine or better still, a friend with one.