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Low effort (and low budget!) luxury is easier than you'd expect.
Your living room can be a challenging place to decorate. It's likely the spot where your family gathers every day, so everything needs to be durable to manage the chaos of pets, kids, and messy adults—but it's also where you gather with guests, so you want your living room to look fab, too.
But you don't have to do the whole room over to give it a high-end look. With a few smart tweaks (and perhaps, a fresh coat of paint), you can refresh your living room with a little touch of luxe. Try these smart strategies and fresh trends to make your living room feel more like a luxury resort.
Meet Our Expert
- Malka Helft, founder of Think Chic Interiors
- Liz Goldberg, interior designer and founder and creative director of CarolynLeona
Choose luxe—but durable—materials
You may think of things like silk and cashmere when you're thinking high-end, but you can opt for heavier duty materials that are built to last—and handle the occasional spill. "We love durable, family-friendly materials in living rooms, as they're easy to maintain and won't stain over time," says interior designer Liz Goldberg. "Not worrying is the biggest luxury of all!" Among her fabric recommendations are velvet or boucle, which can be found on even more affordable couches—especially if they're rated for outdoor use.
Natural materials are also in vogue right now—and they give your space a more luxe vibe. Designer Malka Helft recommends using bamboo, jute, ceramic, or concrete for furnishings and accessories to lend your room a more high-end polish.
Repaint in a high-end hue
A gallon of paint and a weekend can give your living room a dramatic new look, Goldberg says. "You can lighten the space if it's feeling too dark with a warm paint color. Or if you want a moody space, find a paint with a dusty undertone to the color and color-drench the space by painting the walls, trim, and ceiling all the same color."
Moody colors and jewel tones—such as dark greens or even burnt orange—have also been trending, and can give your room a posh vibe, Helft says.
Keep clutter contained
If you look at any high-end living room, you'll notice one thing—a carefully curated set of items, and plenty of clean, clear surfaces. Elegant-looking baskets, boxes, and containers are your key to keeping away the toys or other mess so you get that less-messy vibe. "Baskets to store magazines or kids' toys are a game changer," Goldberg says. "Having a place to tuck away clutter makes a room feel much more polished." She also recommends choosing an elegant box for the coffee table to keep remotes, pens, or other small items you keep there under wraps.
Curate your collections
Another way to ensure you get those clear surfaces? Cut back on your collections. Whether you're a plant parent or collect little knickknacks from your travels, look for ways to pare down what you have. "Plants is always a big one—one planter is great, but four planters is too much," Helft says. "Curated is really the way to go—less is more." She suggests choosing items of different heights, and in odd numbers, to give your decor a designer touch.
You don't have to necessarily toss the items that aren't on display—instead, swap them out every few months so you refresh your space for the seasons.
Update your accessories
You don't have to slip cover your sofa or buy all new furniture to make a significant upgrade to your seating. "Updating your throw pillows can add to the aesthetic you are going for, and a stack of coffee table books with a found object on top, like a pretty shell or little vase, can go a long way," Goldberg says.
Tips
You don't have to buy all your accessories new—look at used book shops, Buy Nothing groups, or thrift stores for vintage finds that'll enhance your living room.
Window treatments are an often overlooked opportunity to upgrade on a budget, Helft says. While custom treatments can be a big splurge, you can find premade curtains that'll give you a similar look at a much lower price point. To get that luxury vibe, Helft recommends looking for curtains with a French pleat, pinch pleat, or ripple fold, and materials with texture, such as linen or a textured silk.
Helft is also a big fan of luxury candles as an upgrade. "High-end candles are cheaper than any other high-end accessory, and there's a huge difference between a lower quality and a high-end candle. The high-end candles really smell luxurious." (But don't just put the candle on display—you need to burn it and enjoy the scent, too!)
Pay attention to the details
Little things can make a big difference in your space—like hiding cords or swapping out lampshades or even outlet or switch covers for something a little more luxe. "You can buy plates that match the hardware in your room," Helft suggests, or even choose ones that can be painted or wrapped in the same wallpaper so they're more hidden away.
Make it personal
There's no one right way to give your living room a luxurious makeover—so choose items and materials that say luxury to you—whether it's a cozy throw or a bouquet of your favorite flowers. "It's fun to find objects when you travel and add them to built-ins and coffee tables, as these pieces are best when they represent you and your family," Goldberg says.
Read the original article on Real Simple
