Express Makeover : Lounge Room Edition
May 18, 2015
** Sponsored by Stainmaster Australia **
Gone are the days of the "good room" - a front parlour full of non-touchable knick-knacks, dust-catchers and doilies, reserved only for visitors and out-of-bounds for sticky-fingered children.
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Add New Carpeting or Rugs
If you're like me, you moved into your new home and quickly noticed all the things you missed during the open inspection, including the less-than-immaculate carpet. Removing this ratty specimen and replacing it with plush new flooring can change the whole feel of the room, from general appearance to next level underfoot comfort. Gone is that poor colour choice and the stains their five children left behind (craftily concealed by strategically-placed rugs) and hello new stain-free comfort, personally selected to suit your taste and lifestyle. Obviously, as parents of a toddler, we will definitely be selecting a stain-resistant option from a professional outfit like Stainmaster Australia. They even have a nifty calculator that helps you estimate costs and keep your redecorating budget on track.
Even your pets will appreciate it!
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Bring in New Lighting
Who wants to spend time huddled in a dark and gloomy room? Not me. I like to read in the lounge room (especially in winter in front/on top of the fire) so decent lighting is a must - without the stark bright white feel of an operating theatre. It’s super easy and affordable to improve the appearance of your lounge room with new lighting. Choose from a funky lamp or track lighting to enhance your reading space or add some floor lamps for mood lighting. Change up your existing fixtures by sourcing new shades and trims. Look for polished chrome or stainless steel for minimalist styles, or bring in surveyors lamps for an on-trend nautical look. Perhaps, like me, you are living for rose gold/copper accents right now. There are so many affordable options to choose from that suit all rooms, tastes and budgets.
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Move Your Furniture Around
Sounds obvs but one of the quickest and cheapest ways to revamp your lounge room is simply by rearranging your furniture. Changing the position of a feature piece in the lounge can completely alter the dynamics of the room. Enhance the symmetry by arranging your furnishings or decorations in pairs. Symmetry makes a room comfortable and can help it feel more relaxed, so guests will be encouraged to stay longer. Of course, you might not want certain guests making themselves too comfortable. Keep them in another part of the house!
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Play with Textures and Patterns
A lot of people feel their lounge room should be neutral as it's timeless and classic but it doesn't take much to add a personal touch that can easily change with trends or even seasons. Your lounge room can play host to a range of patterns, whether it be added subtly, through cushions, throws or small rugs, or by making a feature out of a large piece of furniture like your sofa, with changeable covers or upholstery. Embracing bold prints and patterns in the lounge room can bring a range of new colours to your home as well.
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Hang or Display Prints
If you're still looking at that same block-mounted print of a UFO with "I Want To Believe" on it, you might be due for a wall art update. Personalise your lounge room with photos of your family and friends. Hang a canvas print of your favourite holiday photograph or a print by your favourite artist. Bright and colourful canvas prints are readily and cheaply available everywhere; from IKEA to the Reject Shop. Bringing pieces of art into the home also adds a hint of colour, which can be complemented by cushions, vases and other small decorations. Scour op shops and markets for some classic coloured decorations, hit up Pinterest for inspo or check out your local homewares store for the latest trends.
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So, if your lounge room is feeling a bit ho-hum, there are plenty of ways to change it up. These are just a few of the affordable options to make over your lounge room and are easy to get started on. No power tools or paint brushes required.
What are your favourite tips for a quick room makeover?
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This post is sponsored by Stainmaster Australia. Please see my disclosure policy for further information.
6 comments
Good tips! :) I agree with the personalising the room with photos - it's always a nice touch to see lots of family photos in a living room! :)
ReplyDeleteAway From The Blue
Totally agree, I love checking out people's photos - especially at your friends' parents' houses!!
DeleteI need to get myself a good print or two
ReplyDeleteI picked up a couple of really nice ones at the Reject Shop of all places - bold, bright and best of all, cheap!
DeleteI've just replaced the carpet in our lounge and dining rooms. It made such a difference and surprisingly the carpets were cheaper than I thought they'd be!
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like it would be an expensive thing but it's surprisingly affordable! I went along with Mum who recently replaced all their carpets and she was able to go into the "luxe" options with the budget she had in mind which was very pleasing.
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