Where to Save and Splurge in Your Living Room

Interior design is all about balancing savings and splurges. When it comes to decorating your living room, the cost of furniture, rugs, and accent pillows can quickly add up. Even if you try to save some money and buy an inexpensive couch, you could end up spending more in the long run if it’s uncomfortable and needs to be replaced just a few months later. Determining which living room essentials are okay to buy cheap, and which items you’ll need to splurge on is difficult. However, whether you’re planning a $10,000 remodel or a $100 spruce up, these guidelines will help you figure out how to best spend your design dollars.

Save on

Rugs:

When decorating a room, you don’t have to spend serious money on every piece to give the appearance of luxury. One of the best items to buy cheaply is an area rug. You don’t want to break the bank on something that will eventually get soiled and need to be replaced. In a high traffic part of your home, a natural sisal or flat weave rug is a great option. Both hide the appearance of dirt and are fairly durable.

Pillows and Throws:

Textiles are a great and quick way to switch up a room’s style, and thankfully, they’re also one of the cheapest. A few throw pillows can transform your sofa, and the right blanket can change the entire look of an armchair. You can get beautiful pieces cheaply and conveniently and change the look of your room from season to season. A tip is to look for pillow covers in standard sizes that fit the pillow inserts you already own so you can update your space at the drop of a dime.

Accent Tables:

When you walk into a living room, pieces that immediately catch your eye are the sofa and main coffee table, so those are worthwhile investments. Accent tables demand less attention, so you can get away with spending a little less on them. Accent tables are a great example of less expensive pieces that can fill in the gaps of a well designed room. Keep the shape of your accent tables classic and sophisticated and the pattern and color timeless.

Plants:

Adding greenery to a space can definitely change the feel of the room, but avoid splurging on expensive handmade planters when many of them can be replicated for so much cheaper. Definitely add plants, but save on the planters.

Splurge on

Investment Sofa:

Sofas are always worth the splurge. They are often the most commonly used pieces of furniture, so it’s incredibly important to invest. You’ll want to look for quality, comfort, and a great design. The right sofa will stay with you for years, and the wrong sofa will be impossible to live with.

Lighting:

Beautiful lighting can set the tone for an entire room. It’s worthwhile to invest in pieces to get that high quality and the wow factor that you’ll love for years to come. Cheap lighting is easy to spot and can ruin a very nice home quickly. Make the splurge on timeless light fixtures, and a few statement pieces, and you’ll never regret the extra money spent.

Timeless Pieces:

A living room renovation is an opportunity to express the personality of your house; and while it’s okay to bring in a few trendy items you should do that with things that are relatively inexpensive like lamps, rugs, and throw pillows. Make big investments in classic timeless pieces that you aren’t likely to get tired of and that will likely stay with you for many years and possibly even a lifetime. The key here is taking your time to find the pieces that you really love and will want to spend years living with.

Quality Craftsmanship:

One thing you do not want to save on is construction or installation projects. Cheap renovations will only downgrade the feel of your home and likely won’t be able to stand the test of time. If you are feeling worried about your budget, use some of the tips above to save where you can. Put a smaller percentage of your cash towards the accents in your space and spend a little extra on purchasing high quality products and hiring proven contractors to do your work.