Decorating your Lounge on a Budget
If you're moving into a new home or fancy changing things up in your living space, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. Check out these simple and affordable ways that you can enhance your lounge space on a budget.
- Add a Side Table
- Add Aesthetic Storage
- Set The Mood With Lighting
- Make Your Space Cosy With Soft Furnishings
- Be Chic With Coffee Table Decor
- Add Wall Decor
- Create Space With Mirrors
- Add Decorative Shelves
- Add a Fragrance With Candles & Diffusers
- Add Greenery With Plants
- Brighten Space With Flowers
- Add Decorative Vases
Whether you’re moving into your new home or fancy freshening up your living space, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why I’ve compiled an abundance of simple and affordable ways that you can enhance your lounge space on a budget.
Add a Side Table
Adding a side table is a subtle way to level up your space. Not only is it a lovely accent to your sofa, but it offers the opportunity to accessories with layered pieces. Whether that’s a table lamp, a decorative vase, or simply a place to put your warm mug of tea, it’s a great addition to your space. Check out the following affordable side tables below:
- Home Essentials Oak Side Table, £9 from B&M
- Simply Marble Side Table, £10 from B&M
- Michigan Round Side Table, £10 from B&M
- Olsen Tray Side Table, £10 from B&M
- Lack White Stained Oak Side Table, £10 from Ikea
- Knarrevik Table, £12 from Ikea
Add Aesthetic Storage
We tend to spend a lot of time in our lounges and if you’re anything like me, you might have a few bits and pieces lying around in case you want or need them. Whether it’s colouring books, kindles, chargers, or even those pesky TV remotes, they can often make your room look cluttered or messy. That's why storage is a fab option to neatly store all your living room essentials, especially when it looks good. Don't miss the following options:
- Velvet Tapered Basket, £3.50 from Dunelm
- Seagrass Tapered Basket, £5 from Dunelm
- Trummis Rattan Basket, £7 from Ikea
- Tjabbig Natural Basket, £7.50 from Ikea
- Kvarnik Storage Box with Lid, £8.50 from Ikea
- Lurpassa Box with Lid, £11 from Ikea
- Faux Linen Cube Ottoman, £12 from Dunelm
- Purity Small Trunk, £15 from Dunelm
- Faux Linen Rectangular Ottoman, £20 from Dunelm
Set The Mood With Lighting
Achieving that professionally-styled look is all about the little things, and even your lights can be a way to add a different feel to your living room. Different types of lights can set the mood for your space and make your space feel expensive and luxurious.
Table lamps are the perfect way to set the mood with lighting. On light evenings when you don’t need your main lights on, pop on a side lamp and give your room that soft, warm glow. Moreover, make sure your table lamp looks good when out of use because they act as an accessory in the daytime too:
- Barlast Table Lamp, £4 from Ikea
- Cream Ayla Table Lamp, £8.99 from Wilko
- Grey Ceramic Dash Table Lamp, £9.99 from Wilko
- Burgundy Plum Table Lamp, £9.99 from Wilko
- Isabelle White Table Lamp, £11.99 from Wilko
- Ezra Arch Table Lamp, £12.99 from Wilko
- Leela Novelty Table Lamp, £13.99 from Wayfair
Even your overhead lighting can be used to help your lounge feel more you. Whether you love a statement piece hanging from your ceiling or something more understated and plain, it’s definitely worth checking out your options:
- Regolit Pendant Lamp Shade in White, £2 from Ikea
- Melodi Pendant Lamp in white, £5 from Ikea
- Bundt Tin Pendant, £6.99 from Wilko
- Manhattan Black Ceiling Light, £9.99 from Wilko
- Brunsta Pendant Lamp Shade, £10 from Ikea
Make Your Space Cosy With Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings are my personal favourite way to decorate a room. There’s nothing better than pieces of decor that look great and help your lounge feel warm, soft and cosy too.
If your home feels a little bare, one easy way to fix this is to add a rug. Rugs are great, especially if your living room has hard flooring, because they can add a softness to your space, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of a fluffy rug under your tired feet, especially if they're affordable:
- Vintage Polyester Geo Print Rug, £3.85 from Shein
- Minimalistic Polyester Plush Rug, £5.78 from Shein
- Vintage Burgundy Distressed Rug, £9.95 from B&Q
- Vintage Red Floral Fireside Rug, £9.95 from B&Q
- Super Soft White Shaggy Rug, £10.70 from B&Q
- Grey Shaggy Rug, £14.99 from B&Q
- Lila Shaggy Rug, £17.50 from Dunelm
In most rooms, your sofa is the main event, which means your eyes are naturally drawn there first. If your sofa is looking a bit bare, sometimes it can feel underwhelming. An easy way around this is to add a few cushions, whether you fancy adding a few complementary patterns, or you’d rather go simple, it’s always worth doing it. What’s more, with those higher-quality feather down inserts, you’ll be able to achieve that karate-chop style that makes any cushion look super expensive.
Don't miss the following options:
- Ebbatilda Simple Cushion Cover, £2.50 from Ikea
- Gurli Cushion Cover, £3 from Ikea
- Printed Jungle Cushion Cover, £5 from Dunelm
- Timeless Floral Print Cushion Cover, £5 from Dunelm
- Boho Tassel Tufted Cushion Covers, £8.79 from Etsy
You can never have too many blankets. Whatever the weather, blankets can be used to cosy up at night in front of your favourite show, or simply as a throw to decorate your sofa or wicker baskets. For some inexpensive, high-quality options, check out the following:
- Simply Everyday Super Soft Throw, £5 from B&M
- Pack of 2 Simply Sage & Gingham Polar Fleece Throw, £7 from B&M
- Large Cream Fleece Throw, £10 from B&M
- Simply Everyday Check Sherpa Throw, £10 from B&M
- Teddy Bear Throw, £10 from Dunelm
- Herringbone Throw, £12 from Dunelm
- Hanson Striped Throw, £12 from Dunelm
- Countryman Check Throw, £12 from Dunelm
Be Chic With Coffee Table Decor
Level up your coffee table game with some seriously trendy coffee table decor. Whether you prefer the more understated look with a few books, or you’re all about large statement vases and pampas leaves, adding a little something to your coffee table will help transform it into the perfect centerpiece for your space.
The key when styling your coffee table books is to stack them, with the largest book on the bottom and the smallest book on the top. Take a look at some of the following budget-friendly options to find something that works for you:
- Decorative Books by Colour, £1.99+ from Etsy
- Little Book of Louis Vuitton, £11 from Amazon
- Little Book of Chanel, £11 from Amazon
- The Art of Simple Living, £14 from Fab Home
- Home Decorative Statement Table Book, £14.99 from Amazon
- Linen Decorative Coffee Table Book, £14.74 from Amazon
A great tip for decorating your coffee table is to play around with height. With your books stacked and your display dish down low to the table, adding a jug helps create balance and prevents the eye from getting bored.
Some lovely options include:
- Small Clear Bouquet Glass Vase, £3 from Dunelm
- Speckled White Sand Ceramic Vase, £3 from Dunelm
- Black Abstract Vase, £3 from Dunelm
- Concave Ceramic Vase, £3.50 from Dunelm
- Concave Vase in Cream, £5 from Dunelm
- Black Silhouette Ceramic Vase, £10 from Next
- Natural Irregular Pleat Textured Vase, £10 from Next
Add Wall Decor
Don’t let decorating rented property, or Decorating on a Student Budget stop you from hanging shelves or photos - be sure to use command strips so you can enjoy your decorated space without knocking a single nail into your walls.
Even if you love that minimalist look, wall decor can change the feel and look of your space and help make it appear homely and lavish. Here are a few affordable options that will help elevate the look of your space, without breaking the bank:
- Hanging Frame Pressed Flowers, £3 from B&M
- Set of 3 Modern Art Botanical Prints, £5.52+ from Etsy
- Dried Flowers in Wooden Frame, £6 from B&M
- Abstract Watercolour Nature Prints, £7.12+ from Etsy
- Watercolour Flowers Set of 3, £7.50 from Etsy
- Flower Market Prints, £7.80 from Etsy
- Set of 3 Potted Plant Prints, £8 from Etsy
- Textured Lines Framed Print, £9.99 from Wilko
Create Space With Mirrors
Whether you like checking yourself out before you cosy up on your sofa or not, mirrors can be one of the best ways to decorate your living room. Not only can the right mirror make your space look luxurious and expensive, but mirrors also give the illusion of more space than you have. The cost of purchasing mirrors can add up so don't miss these affordable options:
- Hanging Chain Diamond Wall Mirror, £6 from Dunelm
- White Ridge Arch Mirror, £6.99 from Wilko
- Gold Hexagon Hanging Mirror, £6.99 from Wilko
- Black Ridged Pebble Mirror, £7.69 from Wilko
- Melton Round Beaded Wall Mirror, £8.99 from Wilko
- Luna Silver Framed Dressing Mirror, £9.99 from Wilko
- Hanging Chain Round Mirror Wall, £10 from Dunelm
- Arch Metal Overmantel Wall Mirror, £15 from Dunelm
Add Decorative Shelves
Shelves are ideal if you prefer layering ornaments to decorate your lounge. The best thing about shelves is that you can put all sorts of things on them, from ornaments and candles to clocks, plants and photos, making them a super handy way to accessorise. Take a look at the following for inexpensive ways to maximise on your wall space:
- Burhult White Shelf, £3 from Ikea
- Mosslanda Picture Ledge, £4 from Ikea
- Lokken Corner Shelf, £6 from B&M
- Levla Wall Organiser, £7 from Ikea
- Lokken Picture Shelf, £10 from B&M
Add a Fragrance With Candles & Diffusers
You can never have too many candles, and whether you light them or not, they can be a lovely addition to your shelves and your space. In the evenings they can help add a relaxing aura to your home, casting shadows and silhouettes on the walls, and they'll make your space smell great too. Don't miss the following:
- 20 Pack of Unscented Tealights, £1 from B&M
- Ribbed 2 in 1 Candle Holder, £1.25 from Dunelm
- Karina Bailey Tealight Holder, £2 from B&M
- Small Tealight Holder in black, £2.50 from B&M
- Homestead Ceramic Candle, £2.50 from B&M
- Ceramic Oil Burner in Cream, £3 from B&M
- Orange Blossom Reed Diffuser Set, £7 from B&M
- Yellow White Jasmine Scented Candle, £7 from Next
Add Greenery With Plants
If you’re looking around at your space full of ornaments, shelves, and rugs, but it still doesn’t feel quite there, then plants might be what you need. Whether you’re looking for flowers, artificial leaves, or colourful vases, or you’re after some of the Cheapest Houseplants That Look Nice All Year Round, we’ve got you covered.
For those who want greenery without the hassle, check out the following affordable, artificial plants:
- Artificial Lavender Bouquet, £1 from Shein
- Fejka Artificial Succulent, £1 from Ikea
- Fejka Artifical String Hanging Plant, £1 from Ikea
- Artificial Leaves with Frost, £1.50 from Shein
- Fejka Artificial Hanging Eucalyptus, £4 from Ikea
- Fejka Artificial Potted Monstera, £5 from Ikea
Brighten Space With Flowers
If you’re not afraid of colour, flowers might just be what you need. Real flowers are always a lovely idea that always helps brighten and freshen up a room, but unless you know how to cut costs on flowers, they're not ideal if you're on a budget.
Save yourself some time and money with fake flowers or dried flowers instead. Not only are they half the hassle, but with a light dusting every now and then, they’ll look great all year round:
- Faux Pampas Grass, £1 from Shein
- Smycka Artificial White Peony, £1.25 from Ikea
- Smycka Artificial White Ranunculus, £1.50 from Ikea
- Artifical Rose Flowers with Stems, £2.40 from Shein
- Mini Dried Flower Bunch in Pink, £3 from B&M
- Mini Dried Flower Bunch in Pink, £4 from B&M
- Natural Pampas Stem, £4 from B&M
- Dried Natural Bouquet Mixed with Thistle, £10 from Dunelm
Add Decorative Vases
Just like with potted plants and decorative plant pots, play around with different vases for your flowers too. Whether you love that ceramic look like we mentioned above, or glass vases are your absolute favourite, we’ve got you covered:
- Pådrag Glass Vase, £1.50 from Ikea
- Minimalist Plastic Flower Vase, £1.50 from Shein
- Clear Textured Glass Flower Vase, £3 from Shein
- Polyresin Flower Vase, £4.20 from Shein
- Pack of 3 Mini Vases, £4.30 from Hobbycraft
I’m Layla, the home and garden editor, and I started working at MyVoucherCodes in November 2022. I have always loved to write, especially after getting my degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and since getting my own place, I’ve gotten stuck into all things home and garden.
When I’m not writing about saving money on homely purchases, I’m either sitting with my head in a new book, painting a piece of art for my walls, or binge-watching an interior design programme on Netflix. I love to get inspiration and transform my space, usually with the help of a few Pinterest boards and a couple of tins of paint.
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