6 Living Room Upgrades That Will Make Your Home Look Instantly Great, Designers Say

You don't have to invest a lot of time and money to make your living room look more modern and fresh. Here, three interior designers share six of their favorite ways to revitalize a living space with just a few simple steps. Within just a few hours, your living room will shine in a completely new and improved ambience.

Bring some plants and flowers

Don't underestimate the power that plants and flowers have to enhance your living room. When it comes to plants, Kim Liptak particularly enjoys weaving a fiddleleaf fig tree into the living rooms she designs.

“They're elegant and really fill a room,” says Liptak.

However, she's in favor of going down the wrong path if you don't have a great green thumb – Liptak has learned over time that it can be difficult to properly care for this type of plant.

Flowers, whether real or artificial, will also make a big statement in any living room, explains the designer. Also complement your flowers with some branches – just buy these from your garden if you can.

“It’s free and makes a big statement,” she says.

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Swap out your pillows

Designers say adding some new throw pillows can take your living room from drab to beautiful. Liptak likes to source these at affordable prices, noting that big box stores often have great options that make an impact without breaking the bank.

Experience the art of color impregnation

If you want to repaint your living room, why not treat yourself to a colorful moment? Kelly Collier-Clark, the founder of House of Clark Interiors, advocates this approach, which is extremely popular among designers today.

The walls, ceiling and paneling of a room are painted in a single color.

This, Collier-Clark explains, “creates the illusion of expanded space and emphasizes cohesion.”

Reposition your furniture

This living room upgrade is completely free, but can make a big difference in how you feel in your living space. That's right – repositioning your furniture and trying a new configuration can have a big impact, says designer Natalie Howe. ”

Some of the best design changes don't require spending a dime,” says the founder of Natalie Howe Design. “Relocate a chair, move your rug, or reimagine your focal point and see your space come back to life.”

This way, you may also discover ways to display certain accessories or hang pieces of art that you have been storing. Continue shopping your home as you connect your newly designed space.

Update your artwork

Speaking of artwork, Howe also recommends redoing the pieces on the wall to breathe new life into the living room.

“You don't necessarily need new pieces—just rearranging what you have can make the space feel completely different,” she says.

If you're handy, you might even want to tackle a DIY project and create your very own hanging summary or collage.

And don't be afraid to think a little outside the box, she advises, pointing out that you don't have to stick to literally framed prints or canvases.

“Try mixing in something unexpected, like a sculpture, a small antique, or even a textured object to add depth and personality,” says Howe. “It's an easy way to energize your space.”

Skip the matching furniture set

Designers keep telling us how tired they are of seeing matching furniture sets in modern homes. Collier-Clark encourages people looking to refresh their living room to ditch their matching furniture and create some variety instead.

For example, your accent chairs don't have to be from the same collection as your sofa, she explains. The goal here is to create a “thoughtful, curated aesthetic,” she says.