10 Living Room Decorating Tips

To give your living room some drama, learn about 10 living room decorating tips. Decorating doesn't have to be a big production. It's not necessary to redo everything, but knowing a few living room decorating tips can jazz up your space without breaking the bank. The main living area where we spend time watching television, working on the computer, or just hanging out with family and friends often shows the most wear and tear. Use these 10 living room decorating tips to refresh your space.

1. Paint the walls. A fresh coat of paint is probably the cheapest way to make the biggest impact in a room. Consider the color of your sofa and chairs and find a neutral paint color is complementary. Even one of the almost white shades that lean toward brown or salmon can refresh and brighten a dull room.
2. Clean the floors. Whether you have carpeting or hard floors, move everything and clean the floors. Get in the corners and remove dust bunnies and spider webs. Having a clean space to work with is a great way to start your decorating project.
3. Rearrange the furniture. If you have a fireplace or other focal point, show it off. Set the sofa and chairs across from each other next to the fireplace. Hide the television if you can to make your living room look more cozy and inviting. If you have room, make a second seating area with two or three chairs and a table. This will be a great extra area for when you're entertaining.
4. Address the windows. First, take down the existing drapes and blinds or shades and clean everything. Wash the windows and the window sills. This will let more light in the room and reduce allergy-causing dust. If you have them, wash or dust the blinds or shades and re-hang them. Get the drapes cleaned or wash them if you can. If needed, buy or make new drapes. Use flat sheets for an inexpensive alternative to buying expensive drapes.
5. Pop with pillows. For an instant decorating tip, add some throw pillows to make the living room pop. A dash of color in pillows will add interest to the room without overdoing it. And when you are tired of them, you can re-cover or replace them for a new look.
6. Get an ottoman that has storage. Any piece of furniture that can be used as seating and storage is a good one. Store extra blankets or photo albums or DVDs in the ottoman to make good use of the space.
7. Declutter the stuff. Too many knick-knacks and pictures on the wall can make any room look cluttered and smaller. Get a box or two and sort these things. You can sell, put away, or give away some of the nonessentials in the room. Rotate items out every few months if you want. This is a great way to highlight collections to make them seem more special.
8. Set up a bar. If you have a side table or chest, use the top to display glass decanters of liquor or the original bottles themselves. Buy an ice bucket and some matching bar glasses. Use the bottom of the table or chest to store extra liquor and glasses as well as other bar items that don't need to be displayed.
9. Buy or make one striking piece of art. Artwork on a large wall can make the room. Buy a large blank canvas and use tape and paint to make your own masterpiece. Have a party and let guests help create art for your wall. Use one striking color and keep the rest of the colors in the art in tune with your living room's look.
10. Show off your collection. If you have a signed piece of sports memorabilia or other prized possession, get it out and enjoy it. Frame it and hang it on the living room wall. Group more sports or related items like it to create a montage. When decorating, group items in odd numbers such as three or five.