Tips for Decorating a Family Room on the Cheap

Decorating a family room can be easy, fun and relatively inexpensive. With a little planning, a cluttered, old-fashioned space becomes the innovative new feature of your apartment. From storage and wall-units, to different furniture options, a family room doesn’t have to be boring.

In fact, you can save a lot of money by updating what you already have. A fresh coat of paint and new slip covers go a long way. Plenty of other options exist to help you update this central area of your apartment. Let’s explore some ideas for decorating your family room.

Choose a Look

Decide what style you want to express before making any changes. For instance, choose from a country, modern, vintage or rustic décor. Then, begin the process of gathering items and materials.

Create a Focal Point

Display a piece of furniture to act as a focal point for the room. A flea market armoire with a distressed surface makes for a signature piece in your family room. So do bookcases, china cabinets, chests or wall units with drawers for storage.

Look for inexpensive tables, chairs, bookcases, television stands, chests and baskets. Such items are easy to find at flea markets and tag sales. This way, you can neatly tuck away toys, video games, DVD’s, magazines and other items in these affordable pieces.

Recover Furniture

To refresh your room on the cheap, recover old furniture. Give sofas, loveseats and chairs an easy upgrade with new slip covers or fabrics. For a sofa, buy a pre-made slip cover (on sale) to accommodate its size and shape. The textures for slip covers are varied, from stretch fabrics to linens and plush velvets. In addition, you will find many styles to choose from like solids, florals and stripes.

Utilize Space Correctly

Another aspect of decorating a family room includes maximizing space. Avoid clutter at all costs when working within a small space. You may easily contain clutter by using appealing storage to hold household gadgets.

Choose furniture that does not take up too much space either. A huge sectional does not make sense for a small family room or apartment. In fact, creating seating options for a number of people is possible even in a studio. Use your sofa, loveseat and chairs to create a gathering area in the room. Likewise, a comfy ottoman doubles as a foot rest and place to hold food trays or remote controls. Place the ottoman next to a loveseat to offer another alternative to a huge sectional.

Is Modern Your Style?

If you want a more contemporary look, focus your attention on clean lines and selecting the right hardware. IKEA bookshelves and wall units are ideal for setting up a contemporary living room within a tight budget. Metal or lacquered shelving units offer modern appeal over wood or plastic configurations.

Then, select round chairs, contemporary rugs and cylindrical lamp shades to create an up-to-date living space. Lastly, setup overhead lights to create a minimalist decor style over using table and floor lamps.

Hang Wall Art

Cluster a serious of family photos on one wall to show off a new and interesting feature of the room. Be sure and select frames and wall art that tie-in with the style of your furniture.