5 easy hacks to transform your living area without making a hole in your pocket

The living area is the heart of any home. It somehow reflects the personality of the owner. Most essentially, it is considered as the primary space to sit and relax with the family members and guests. So, if you are someone who is always on the lookout for making minimal changes in the look and feel of the living room area without disturbing your finances, here are some hacks to spruce up the living room ambience and keep it immaculate. Minal Srivastava, Vice President, Growth, Strategy & Marketing, Shalimar Paints shares some hacks to transform your living room effortlessly.

Cut the mess – Furniture is good, but over accessorising the living room can make it look messier. Filling up that space with excessive furniture such as sofa, chair, table, bookshelf, etc. can make the living area look heavily cluttered. Rather, one should minimise the use of such objects, and let some natural light and air come in. It’s a great way to keep the area bright and airy and definitely involves less cost. Another choice of doing it the right way is to apply lighter or semi-sheer paint shades such as Palladian blue or gentle cream that naturally maximises the light and brightens up the room.

Deck the floor – Use a beautiful rug either matching with the room paint or completely contrasting it. Go with the neutrals when choosing a rug, for instance, taupe, beige or even lighter shades of grey and white. Adding a visual to the floor adorns the living area, and makes it look and feel bigger and bolder. This idea is a perfect match for small living spaces with less furniture. However, one can also go for a larger carpet in case of a spacious room. Therefore, do some research, choose a decent rug, and rev up the living room ambience with a nice-looking rug.

Embrace the smallness – Remember to keep your living area comfy and cosy by smartly utilising the space. Arrange the seating in a compact manner, use a backsplash, and, of course, a rug to fill the remaining void. While doing so, use a combination of shades such as yellow and white or turquoise and marigold. It makes the room look genuinely inviting and comfy both for the guests and the owner. Embracing the smallness of space turns the living room area into a super welcoming and well-functional part of the home.

Turn it into a multipurpose zone – Sometimes, using multipurpose furniture like bed-cum-sofa is a great way to make one’s living space look creative. Or one can also merge the family room and bedroom into one space and thus create a third new area. This is a smart alternative for a separate living room and if one is short of space. One can always make a living room look perfect by using the right interiors, layout, and furniture. Here, add a touch of modern simplicity to the living area by either creating contrast with the ceiling or injecting textured paint treatments. Shape and size won’t matter at all when such sophistications are taken care of.

Make it green – Add freshness to the living room area by placing small pots of ornamental plants, and bright flowers. It is trending, and most essentially, good for health. These plants absorb indoor air toxins while releasing fresh oxygen. They are easy to maintain and can help one to fight depression or loneliness. These plants are a true soul soother and mood rejuvenator. If you are thinking of placing plants in the living room, make sure to paint the space with natural colours. Colours such as earthy browns and Kelly green are appropriate as it resonates with the ambience.

These are some of the perfect hacks to keep the ambience at home tidy and creative. One can also do a lot of other creative things to bring charm to the living space, and creative pieces from the thrift shops are often a perfect fit to do so.