Redecorating your living room for less

A little money and a great deal of imagination is all you need to turn your living room into a one-of-a-kind space.

Every single room in the house has its own role to play. A living room is a place which holds more significance than the rest. This is not only the room which makes the first impression when guests enter your house but it also serves a number of purposes.

Whether it be family discussions, relaxation time or celebrations, your living room is usually central, so keeping this particular room trendy and stylish is definitely a smart move. With inflation and the economic crisis, the idea of giving your lounge a fresh look might sound ambitious. You may want to spend your hard-earned cash on something else, but you need not be worth a million to have a beautiful family room!

To get started, learn the art of thinking outside the box. Emphasise on appealing yet small items that you can purchase for less and figure out ways of using them differently. “When it comes to decoration, I put myself in an artist’s shoes and look at every space in the room as a canvas. This gives me a chance to do whatever I like,” says interior designer Aliya Imran.

Flooring

Throw rugs are one of the easiest ways of jazzing up that lifeless front room of yours. This will not only save the cost of new floors but will also help you add vibrancy and colour. The choices are unlimited as you can have any type or size of rug to complement your walls. Hit the Sunday bazaar and you will find a unlimited variety at a great cost.

Walls

Stuck with finding appropriate artwork for those bare yet beautifully painted walls? Give that artistic bent of yours a chance to come up with your own creation, or if you prefer, look for low-priced pieces of art, such as student art. You could also visit the closest 99-rupee shop to buy cheap frames and mirrors.

Going green

How about taking some inspiration from nature? Have you considered using plants in your classy living room? If you haven’t already, now would be the right time. Plants and/or fresh flowers are great at creating ambience. “I usually prefer potted plants as they make my room homey and bring me closer to nature,” says Farah Iqbal, a housewife.

Furniture

Showy slipcovers are probably the most versatile tools for enhancing chairs, couches and gao takye. You can go for crisp white ones with a navy trim or the ones featuring colourful fuchsia and pink hues. Get yours now from Zainab Market or Gul Ahmed outlets for under Rs500.

Last but not the least, instead of replacing furniture, rearrange for a change. Move past the idea of placing sofas directly against the wall; get creative and leave a little distance between the two. You can spruce up the left out space with a unique lamp.

A little money and a great deal of imagination (free of charge) is really all you need to turn your living room into a space, which you will never want to leave unoccupied. Just remember that your room need not match perfectly to look its best — all you have to do is choose the options which catch the eye of both your taste and wallet. Follow all these suggestions and a one-of-a-kind living room is guaranteed!

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2010.