Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room
Our living rooms are places we retreat to after a long day — havens to relax and unwind in, watch box sets and maybe eat dinner. So it makes sense we want them to feel as special and comfy as possible.
However, if, like many of us, you’re on a budget, you’ll want to know where to put your hard-earned cash and where to be thrifty. We quizzed three interior design experts on what makes a living room sing without denting your bank balance too much — and where you really shouldn’t cut corners.
Spend on: Quality Sofas
For most of us, a sofa is our key living room purchase and not worth scrimping on, the experts say.
“A sturdy, well-made sofa will last you years and, when you do get bored of it, you can always re-cover it,” says Natasha Burton of NB Interiors. “Cheap furniture is a false economy as you’ll be replacing it before you know it.”
And don’t forget your sofa’s main purpose. “Most importantly, you want your sofa to be comfortable,” says Caroline Nicholls of Slightly Quirky. “Plus, you want it to be hardwearing and easy to clean, especially if you have kids and/or pets.”
More expensive sofas often have jointed hardwood frames, built to withstand heavy loads. Cheaper sofas may have plastic or softer pine frames. Pricier sofas will also have coil springs or serpentine (zig-zag) springs, for that “sitting on air” feeling.
It really isn’t worth saving money if a too small, too big or awkwardly shaped sofa ruins those cozy evenings spent curled up.
Save on: A Chic Coffee Table
This is a living room staple for many of us, but it’s somewhere you can easily save cash, says Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors.
“A cheaper coffee table can be styled well with books, plants and ornaments, and there are lots of reasonably priced, good-looking ones out there,” Berger says. “There are also some really good replicas of designer ones around.”
Nicholls agrees. “You can buy a cheaper coffee table and dress it really nicely. Plus, a coffee table often doesn’t get as much wear and tear as a sofa, dining table or rug.”
Spend on: Beautiful Flooring
Flooring has one of the biggest impacts on your living room’s look, Nicholls says, so it’s worth investing in getting it right. “Flooring is often a big expense, and can be a big area to cover, plus it can be inconvenient moving furniture, so you don’t want to be changing flooring frequently,” she says.
Whether you go for a classic hardwood floor or carpet, “Choose flooring that’s good quality, easy to clean, won’t get damaged easily and will stand the test of time,” Nicholls adds.
If you have original floorboards, the same rules apply: spend on having them sanded, repaired and varnished or oiled by a professional, if you can afford it, for a finish you truly love.
Save on: Rugs
Once good rugs were investment buys that cost a fortune — and anything other than pure wool was regarded as synthetic and nasty.
Today, it’s far easier to find stylish designs that look more expensive than they are. “I’ve found some amazing cheap rugs,” Berger says. “In my experience, there’s a real range of well-priced rugs out there and they come in really large sizes.”
Plus, as she points out, “Rugs are also often covered with sofas or coffee tables.” So maybe you don’t need that pricey handmade kilim after all.
Spend on: Quality Lighting
It’s well worth investing in a lovely centerpiece pendant light, especially if you have a high ceiling, Berger says.
“Lights are real standout features in a living room. If lighting looks expensive, it makes you feel the other items in the room are as well,” she says. “And lighting is an area where I think you can tell — low-cost lighting can really show.”
Spend money on the basics as well as the fixtures — ask an electrician to build in wall lights to avoid trailing wires. And plan a living room design that creates soft pools of light for a more relaxing evening ambience.
Save on: Cushions and Throws
Cushions and throws swiftly turn a plain room into a stylish, comfy retreat, but you don’t need to spend a fortune nowadays, Burton says.
“Keeping it purse-friendly also means you can change things easily and cheaply — for example, if you refresh your color scheme, or even by season.”
Spend on: Statement Piece
Living rooms are where we relax, but they’re also the places where we typically express our personality. “Spend on something you love rather than wasting money on something you can easily replace,” Nicholls says. “Buy an investment piece that has longevity.”
A unique piece can add color and verve and stop things from feeling bland. It could be a fantastic vintage chandelier, a stained-glass window, a velvet armchair or an unusual antique.
Save on: Eye-Catching Art
You don’t need to break the bank buying pricey limited editions or original paintings, Berger says.
“You’ll find lots of abstract prints on [makers’ marketplace] websites that don’t cost much and, once box-framed, these can look great,” she says. “There are also many places offering photographic prints, which come in a range of sizes. At a large scale, these can look like a real statement piece without costing too much.”
Tell us: What have you spent and saved on in your living room? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.