10 Tips For a More Modern Living Room

1. Paint

We say it so much because it's true: nothing transforms a room easier, more completely, and more affordably than a fresh new paint color. In a small space, use an airy modern color like Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore. See more hot paint colors here.

2. Swap out those accessories

A simple update of a few knickknacks around the room can breathe new life into a space. It's also a good place to try out new trends, since accessories tend to be some of the least expensive items in your space and are easy to move around - and move out when you tire of them.

3. Go seasonal

It's easy to keep your home up to date all year long by going with seasonal décor. In your living room, introduce some beach chic for summer with a bowl full of shells and a sand-colored rug or a unique DIY vignette.

In the fall, bring in autumnal colors with candles and throw pillows; for winter, a ruddy throw and some holiday-inspired décor can grace your mantle. In the spring, citrus colors reign.

4. Don't sweep it under the rug

Whether your rug is dingy and dirty, super outdated, or just plain blah, a new one can liven up a space with little effort and little cost.

For as little as $100-200 (try IKEA, Target, World Market, or Costco), you can transform the look of the room, introduce a new color, and take a boring room and make it more colorful and interesting.

5. Ditch the dusty frames

If your sofa table looks like a picture frame display at a home goods store, it's time to pare it down. Pick a few key faves or create a gallery wall to free up space on flat surfaces for more updated arrangements of cherished treasures, accessories, and fresh flowers.

6. Paper it

It wasn't all that long ago that we were covering every surface in wallpaper (we still have nightmares of a velvet flocked hallway!). Over the last few years, it's seen an insurgence, and today's patterns and textures offer a great opportunity to make an impact. If you're afraid of taking the leap, do one key wall or a small space.

Still timid? Try a product like Target's Devine Wallpaper, which is repositional, so when you're over it, you just peel it off and toss it.

7. Hang some drapes

Not only will they inject some style into the room, but they'll also help diffuse light and keep a room cooler depending on the material you choose.

8. Throw a pillow at it

Pillows are the other easy fix we like to harp on. They're easy to find and easy on the budget, they allow you to layer multiple colors, patterns, and textures, and you can change them out on a whim. Plus, the right pillows can help a nice couch like nicer or deflect attention away from a tired one (we're lookin' at you, big brown sectional in a certain living room).

9. Light it up

A dim room can be romantic, yes, but for those times when you actually want to see, good lighting is key. If you already have an overhead fixture, you can bounce light around the room with table lamps and wall sconces.

Not keen to deal with wiring to hang something on the wall? Try a battery-operated sconce like this LED version from Home Depot.

10. Rearrange it

Sometimes, freshening up your space is as easy as moving stuff around. You may be surprised how much better your room can look with a new furniture arrangement. The keys are creating balance in the space and setting up areas for conversation. Get some more tips here.

source: Realty Times