Budget renovation of the living room: inspiration ideas (40 photos)

Let's consider an option that is not so often discussed on interior and design forums - a budget renovation of your living room. Not often, because people with a limited budget most often have no time for design - especially, they do not dare to turn to a specialist. However, the situation in which there is a budget of one million rubles for everything is quite common in the regions of Russia. For everything - this means for materials, furniture, plumbing, and wages for workers. It happens that people do not have any special requests, but there are other cases: impetuous and creative enthusiasts who dream of the perfect design and hang out on renovation sites for days. What should they do on a shoestring budget? Let's try to outline the correct course of action.

The living room is assembled from furniture that is different in style

The best is the enemy of the good

Let's say you have the same case when you have a full-length two-room apartment with a standard layout at your disposal. There’s no point in trying to make a three-ruble note out of it. Leave everything as it is - it’s better to try to improve the layout with proper arrangement of furniture, and spend the money that could have been spent on new partitions, for example, on a kitchen set or more expensive bathroom fixtures.

The living room should have a bright accent, for example, a red armchair and a wall panel

Planning the repair process

The design of a given room begins by identifying the functional areas of the room. The drawings indicate functional areas:

• area for receiving guests;
• sitting area in front of the TV;
• functional area intended for games, etc.

An example of an estimate for finishing rooms:

Estimate: living room, 15 sq.m.

Estimate: hall, 22 sq.m.

Estimate: bedroom, 12 sq.m.

Cost of finishing by floor

Each activity requires a special organization of space. It is necessary to correctly set the lighting, choose the right finishing materials, optimally place furniture structures, and think about where it is most convenient to place switches and sockets.

Next, you need to choose a style solution for the living room, the main color scheme, and materials for cladding.

The final stage of planning is the selection of decorative elements, such as paintings, dishes, carpeting, curtains.

Furniture: time to retire or start a new life?

Think about the list of furniture items: what are you ready to take into your new home from the old interior. Don't get rid of everything at once. It happens that a very slightly repaired and repainted chair lives for a very long time, and the owners themselves no longer understand why, in fact, they wanted to take it to a landfill.

Modern furniture in the living room interior

What is modern style

An interior decorated in a modern style is characterized by straight lines, a minimum of accessories and restrained decor. Such a room is not overloaded with bright colors or frilly objects; there is a lot of free space, air and light.

Style branches

Modern style is a combination of different trends that can be used together or separately. There are no strict rules or laws here; extraordinary but functional solutions are welcome. This style always leaves many opportunities for creativity and self-realization.

Loft

Loft style - brutal modern interior. It is characterized by the use of brick, stone, and iron in design. The name of this style translates as “attic”. The main features of this direction:

• rough finish (which can be organically combined with textile sofas and crystal chandeliers);
• open metal structures (pipelines, ventilation);
• lots of open space, large windows;
• brick walls;
• minimum furniture;
• open cabinets and shelves.

Scandinavian

In contrast to the previous direction, the Scandinavian style is characterized by lightness and grace with minimal decor. Features of this style:

• natural materials;
• calm colors in the design;
• light (usually white) interiors;
• wooden floors;
• simple forms.

Minimalism

From the name of this style it becomes clear that there is nothing superfluous in such an interior. Minimalism is characterized by the following features:

• rejection of unnecessary decor;
• geometric shapes;
• lots of open space;
• closed storage systems;
• absence of complex structures and intricate shapes.

Neoclassical

This style combines elements of luxury and conciseness. Neoclassical interiors have the following features:

• expensive furniture and interior items;
• decorations in the form of antique statues and paintings in gilded frames;
• delicate colors;
• suitable for large spaces.

Neoclassicism looks good in a room with high ceilings

High tech

This design direction combines minimalism with modern technology. There is no pretentiousness here, only “cold pragmatism.” High-tech is characterized by the following features:

• predominance of metal, glass, plastic structures;
• smart technological solutions;
• sharp lines;
• shiny surfaces.

Color spectrum

Color is key to design. When decorating a living room in a modern style, neutral colors are most often used - beige, brown, gray, sea green, olive and their shades. Bright splashes are added with the help of accessories (pillows, poufs, posters) that can be changed.

Popular white colors expand the space, visually enlarging it and making it lighter. This interior is “pleasant to the eye” and won’t get boring for a long time.

Monochrome interiors combine different halftones of the same tone. Here the emphasis shifts to shapes and textures.

My own interior designer

Replace the shade or lampshades in an old chandelier - and now it’s a completely different thing. Don’t let stereotypes deceive you and approach the revision of interior items with maximum flexibility: you shouldn’t discard a thing right away just because you’ve been living with it for 5, 7 or 10 years. There are many video tutorials on the Internet on updating old things. Evaluate furniture, lamps, and accessories according to several parameters: design, functionality, good condition.

The living room is combined with the bedroom and is fenced with a radius partition

Colors and prints

The color options for the living room can be very different, but a prerequisite for their use is a clear choice: which elements will become the main ones and which will be background inclusions. It is not advisable to make accent zones that are too large or create them in significant quantities. It is recommended to decorate the ceilings in light colors; this will help increase the apparent volume of the room.

• Gray tones are unreasonably considered to look dull and create boredom, but in fact, if the combination is chosen correctly, it fits perfectly into any color combinations.
• Green painting is recommended if the windows are facing north, otherwise lilac shades should be used.
• When a red tone is actively used in the design of a room, furniture in other colors will help to dilute its excessive saturation.

Don’t rush to immediately apply the most fashionable color of the current season; after that, you often regret the ill-conceived decision. See what fits into the environment and what doesn't.

Timeless materials

If you have a Stalin-era floor, critically evaluate the condition of the parquet - as a rule, it is cheaper to restore it (sometimes it is enough to just scrape it off). Even if it looks a little older, it will only work to your advantage, because wood is one of those materials that ages gracefully. Herringbone parquet is a godsend; it will suit any interior, even if you have minimalism in mind.

The walls can be painted and decorated with framed photographs.

Hang the mirrors

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A mirror is a decorator’s best friend: it visually expands the space, improves illumination and adds completeness to the interior. A large mirror can simply be placed on the floor. A small one will look luxurious as part of a wall gallery. Or, instead of one large one, hang several medium-sized mirrors: they will reflect the light beautifully.

Video tip for those who want to add a mirror to their wall decor:

What to buy

• Triangular mirror with shelf from Asos Supply, 2,190 rubles →
• Round decorative mirror from Umbra with a diameter of 60 cm, 10,800 rubles →
• Small octagonal mirror on a chain from Stradivarius, 1,799 rubles →

Cutting the budget into pieces

When starting repairs, pay attention to windows and radiators: they may require replacement. In this case, set aside some money for this important matter.

Living room in beige color

Now let's break the remaining budget into three parts: materials, labor and furniture. A modest interior with smooth wall lines and clear tile seams is quite capable of making a good impression - especially since we are initially talking about non-standard moves and bold decisions. But a modest interior with crooked seams and waves on the ceiling will look depressing - no matter how interesting your idea is. Therefore, choose a specialist carefully.

You can place bright upholstered furniture against the background of bright walls.

More actively involve multidisciplinary specialists who work alone and charge much less money for their work than organized teams. If you have recommendations, you will lose only in time - usually such craftsmen work well, but not quickly, but with feeling, with sense, with arrangement.

The walls and ceiling can be left in their original form with the effect of wear and antiquity

Is it possible to update an old furniture wall?

Restoration of an old wall

Often, owners do not want to part with old furniture, which for some reason is dear to them as a memory. Even if there are cracks, creases, or chips on the wall, it can be restored. For restoration work that does not take a lot of time, you will need the following steps:

• Cleaning the surface with rinsing and subsequent thorough drying.
• Filling the surface with melted wax to get rid of scratches.
• Applying strokes of the wall color to the wax using a felt-tip pen.
• Run a clean rag over the hardened wax - this will help to slightly lubricate the lines.
• Applying varnish to the surface.

If there are abrasions, varnish of a suitable shade is applied to the facade from a spray can. You can remove cracks and delaminated parts using regular PVA glue. Melted wax will eliminate a large number of chips. Before applying it, the edges of the chip are leveled with a spatula, followed by filling with wax, sanding with a rag, and varnishing.

Transforming a wall with furniture varnish

You will need a standard set of tools with which you need to perform the following operations:

1. Take pictures of the wall so that after restoration work you can quickly assemble it to its original position.
2. Dismantling the slide, removing doors and fittings.
3. Washing the structure with soapy water.
4. Use a toothbrush to remove dust and foreign particles from the corners.
5. Check the serviceability of the facades, the surface of which is varnished if there are defects.
6. If the facades are in poor condition, where there are a large number of scratches and chips, it is necessary to completely remove the old coating. For this, modern compounds designed for effective nail polish removal or a standard spatula are used.
7. Carrying out the restoration stage using melted wax, as described earlier.
8. Sand the surface with fine sandpaper and remove dust.
9. The facade of the furniture wall is coated with a special varnish in 3-4 layers. Avoid applying a thick layer, which may lead to smudges.
10. After the composition has completely dried, you can begin to assemble the structure to its original state. It is recommended to completely replace the old fittings with new ones.

Furniture must be varnished according to certain rules. The restoration procedures carried out will help maintain the attractive appearance of the wall for several years. This will save you money by not having to buy new furniture.

Application of self-adhesive wallpaper

The correct algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. As with the previous method, the structure must be completely disassembled with the removal of fittings.
2. The facades are thoroughly cleaned, washed with soapy water, and the surfaces are treated with white spirit, which helps remove all particles of fat.
3. While the facades are drying, you can start cutting materials, and the sheets are made larger than the original ones by 1 cm on all sides. This will help avoid gaps in the finish.
4. Before wallpapering, the surface is moistened. The film is applied to the top edge. Carefully peel off a small strip of the protective layer. It is necessary to paste the film gradually, moving slowly downwards.
5. After complete gluing, the material should be leveled using a soft rag towards the edges from the center.
6. Using a heated iron, iron the surface through the fabric to ensure tighter contact of the surface with the film.
7. The fittings, doors, and edge strips are placed in their original position.

The entire old wall or part of it can be covered with special self-adhesive wallpaper.

It is not necessary to select the color of the film to match the wood. A harmonious combination of several different shades will transform the old slide beyond recognition.

Restoration using staining

Such restoration is very simple and does not take much time if you follow simple rules:

1. Complete dismantling of the structure with removal of fittings.
2. Complete removal of the old coating followed by treatment of defects with melted wax.
3. After drying, the surface is sanded with a soft rag or sandpaper.
4. Painting must be done in several thin layers to avoid the formation of sagging.
5. After the paint has completely dried, the system is assembled to its original state.
6. If you still cannot avoid the appearance of a smudge, it can be removed by sanding it with sandpaper and reapplying paint.

To avoid mistakes, before starting work, you can also watch video tutorials for beginners who decide to update the furniture themselves.

You can give an old wall a new life by painting it. Furniture walls are rightly considered to be the most important components of the interior, helping to decorate the home. Their practicality and functionality become accessible thanks to their compactness, which allows you to save free space while at the same time being able to store many things in order.

Modern models are a stylish addition to a cozy home environment, and the use of high-quality materials during assembly will ensure a long service life of a hand-made product.

Savings should be done with taste

Now let's talk about materials. You're very lucky if you actually managed to save something old - and it's great if it's parquet.

All communications in the room can be left visible - this is an ultra-modern solution

What remains are the rough materials, which will take approximately half of the allocated amount. The workers will tell you how much and what you will need. With the remaining money you need to buy paint for the ceiling, wallpaper for the walls and much more.

You can place completely different furniture in one living room

Stage No. 4. Finishing

Finishing work begins from the ceiling. If the surface has already been puttied, sanded and primed, then you can proceed directly to finishing. If sheets of plasterboard were used to level the surface of the ceiling, then the seams between them must be sealed so that the surface is completely flat and suitable for finishing.

The ceiling can be painted in any color, whitewashed, or decorative plaster can be used for finishing. The simplest option is gluing polystyrene boards ; you can also use wallpaper for the ceiling .

If the design project involves the use of multi-level suspended structures , the use of a slatted or suspended ceiling, then installation is carried out after finishing the walls and floor, since a lot of dirt will not form.

As for wall decoration , you can easily handle the installation of the vast majority of coatings with your own hands. You can use wallpaper , and don’t rush to call them a banal and boring option, because today’s assortment allows you to create absolutely any mood in the living room and even visually correct some of the shortcomings of the premises, and all thanks to the variety of colors and patterns. Eco-friendly and easy-to-hang non-woven wallpaper is perfect for the living room; textile wallpaper will bring the necessary comfort; cork wallpaper is one of the most natural options for wall decoration. Metallic wallpaper can give your living room a modern, luxurious look, and photo wallpaper can work wonders: it not only sets the atmosphere in the room, but also solves the problem of lack of space.

An all-time option for decorating the walls in the living room is painting and decorative plaster . Such walls will become a wonderful neutral background for furniture and accessories, and with the help of an accent wall of a different color you can get an interesting interior solution. Part of the walls in the living room can be decorated with decorative stone , for example, the area near the sofa, fireplace, TV or dining table. Alternatively, you can use lining, MDF panels or laminate, and an even more interesting look can be achieved through the use of soft wall panels, ceramic tiles, mirror tiles, fabric and other materials that most closely match the chosen style and preferences of the living room owners.

As for the flooring , it is important to find a balance between attractiveness and good performance, because guests, friends and family members will often be here. On the other hand, the flooring should be easy to maintain, so for the living room we can recommend using laminate and linoleum . Solid boards and block parquet are very expensive and capricious materials, but with proper care they will last a long time. An option that compromises on price is parquet boards . Carpet is not used as often in living rooms, although if the room is intended primarily for family gatherings, then it is an excellent option. To decorate the dining area in the living room, if provided, you can use stone or tiles . The most modern solution for living rooms is self- leveling flooring ; it is durable, practical, wear-resistant, and can imitate any material.

When the floor and ceiling coverings are installed, proceed to the installation of floor and ceiling plinths. After this, you can begin to complete the electrical installation work : install sockets, switches, lighting fixtures, and mount the indoor air conditioner unit.

We buy expensive things first, then cheap ones.

There is a great way to shop for interiors. In accordance with it, we begin creating the environment with the most expensive pieces of furniture: sofa, wall, armchairs, ottomans and in descending order.

Living room in eclectic style

Pay special attention to your capabilities. For example, a wall can be quite functional and have upper shelves instead of cabinets - their absence will significantly reduce the cost.

Blue sofa with velvet upholstery

A sofa can replace a full bed. There are transformer models on sale that can turn from an ordinary large soft sofa into an ottoman, coffee table, or bed.

Don't clutter the living room with unnecessary items

Choosing a floor covering

The floor is the surface that bears the heaviest load, including heavy furniture and, of course, constant walking. The choice of material depends on whether you plan to receive many guests, or whether you want to turn the living room into a cozy island for privacy and relaxation. To finish the floor in the hall use the following:

• Laminate is a beautiful, high-quality and fairly inexpensive finishing material. The surface of this material can imitate natural wood of any species. There are panels painted in more exotic colors;

• Parquet is a natural and environmentally friendly material made from various types of wood. Using parquet boards laid out in one pattern or another, you can decorate any room. Parquet is quite expensive, so it is used very rarely in ordinary apartments;

• Cork floors are an excellent natural material based on the bark of the cork oak tree. This floor has good noise and heat insulation qualities. The material is hypoallergenic and not hazardous to health. Cork can be used as a stand-alone covering or as a backing for laminate flooring;

• Linoleum is one of the most popular materials used in living room renovations. Why? It is very easy to install; even a beginner can handle this floor. The surface of linoleum can imitate natural materials from wood to granite and marble;

• Self-leveling flooring is expensive, but it is perfectly smooth and a very beautiful option. The coating with a 3D pattern looks most impressive;

• Ceramic tiles are not the most suitable option for the living room. It is better to leave it for the kitchen area if the room is combined.

When thinking about renovating your living room with your own hands, choose natural wood, cork or laminate for the floor. If desired, you can also install a heated floor system.

By correctly arranging the texture of materials and their colors, you will create a harmonious and beautiful interior in the room. Renovating a living room with your own hands is not that difficult, the most important thing is to decide on it.

Repair is creativity for adults

It must be said that the more creativity and imagination you are willing to show in your approach to budget renovation, the more unexpectedly interesting the result can be. Believe me, you can do a lot with your own hands - the main thing is to carefully read the procedure for observing the work and become familiar with the technology. For example, almost anyone can paint walls: instead of wallpaper, try using a non-standard painting technique or even making a drawing.

You can completely abandon wall decoration

How to make a furniture wall with your own hands

Preparatory work

Selecting a wall style

The main compositional task is to make the interior harmonious by arranging individual elements in the same style in the available space. The material can be purchased or homemade - in this case, you need to be able to have a good understanding of wood species, among which experts recommend choosing hard varieties (oak, larch, maple and others).

To make your own wall, carefully select materials. Such solutions for the hall are quite expensive, but with skillful processing they will decorate any home for many years. And for the health of the household there will be only advantages.

It is better to give preference to natural wood.

Drawing selection

First, a drawing is created and calculations are made to calculate the volume of costs relative to materials. How accurately the work is done, the quicker it will be possible to assemble and install the finished set. A DIY furniture wall will turn out to be of high quality if you calculate not only the dimensions of the niches, width, height, number of furniture elements, but also the thickness of the material.

An example of a drawing for making a furniture wall yourself. Experts do not advise blindly copying drawings and diagrams from the Internet, but many of them can become an excellent teaching aid, the basis for your individual design work.

Selection of tools and materials

To carry out assembly work you will need the following tools:

1. Measuring accessories - tape measures, rulers, levels, plumb lines, squares.
2. Bolts, screws, nuts, sealing elements.
3. Tools for installation operations - screwdriver, drill, hammer drill, polyurethane foam, jigsaw.
4. Cleaning operations - sandpaper, sanders, spatulas, epoxy glue, primer.

In order to make a wall with your own hands, of course you will need a set of certain tools. The main materials for the manufacture of modern furniture walls are solid wood, MDF boards, laminated chipboard and chipboard. The components of the complex may be glass or have an aluminum frame, which will make the project more expensive.

Build process

Initially, after finishing work on the drawings, a frame is made - the supporting structure and the main support of the future set. Guides made of timber are attached to the walls - shelves are attached to them. Then the structure is sheathed with decorative panels from the selected material. Wide, glued boards are better suited for assembling tubes. It is more convenient to cut fiberboard elements with a jigsaw.

Before final assembly, all elements are carefully polished. The next stage is finishing the product, which is carefully polished, irregularities are removed, which allows the formation of continuous smooth transitions. An experienced craftsman can make decorative carvings of patterns on wood, and make unique carved doors for cabinets, which also make it possible to hide seams and joints. Black and red wood is ideal for noble decor.

If desired, the furniture can be decorated with a variety of patterns.

For a slide in a classic style, a restrained style of fittings made in strict tones is more suitable. For Provence style, light colors look good. An important emphasis is placed on the application of paint, before which the surface is sanded and primed.

Final stages

After completing the horizontal work, the modules are lifted, followed by arrangement according to the sketch and leveling. If the legs are non-adjustable, you can use special spacers.

Assembly and installation of the wall occurs when all parts are completely ready. Safety will ensure good stability of the structure. This is ensured by precise installation work relative to the horizontal and vertical planes, eliminating the risk of the wall tipping over in the future.

Following completion of the installation of the main structure, decorative fittings are installed in their places: linings, handles, glass stickers. Many today prefer to use slides with smoothly opening drawers and doors - this is achieved by installing mortise closers, bumpers, and door hinges with a spring mechanism.

For decoration, you can use all kinds of accessories and decorative stickers.

Make way for experiments

Paint the ceiling: the price of white and colored paint is comparable, but the effect is incomparable! Surely such a ceiling in the room will become a distinctive feature of your interior.

Small living room with original IKEA lamp

Newspapers or magazines instead of wallpaper? This technique has not yet been canceled. If the best decorators in the world still use it, why shouldn’t you?

For a small living room, you can choose a glass coffee table

In the case of furniture, it is also important to think outside the box. There are many examples of the use in interiors of such improvised and inexpensive products as cargo pallets (pallets), vegetable boxes, car tires or building bricks (as in this photo). Try non-standard materials in action! At worst, you will be considered eccentric.

Stage No. 1. Project development

Before even starting dismantling work, you need to know clearly and down to the smallest detail what the living room should ultimately look like. It is important to think over an interior solution, choose a style, decide what furniture and what size will be used, where the TV, air conditioning and other equipment will be placed . You also need to decide what finishing materials will be used, whether windows and doors need to be replaced, or a heated floor system needs to be installed.

It is especially important to think about the location of lighting fixtures, sockets and switches , and this can only be done after you have decided where the main functional areas and pieces of furniture will be located. It is better to express your vision of the future bedroom interior in a visual project . To do this, you do not need to have any education or experience as a designer. Today there are a lot of programs for computers and mobile gadgets, which are not difficult to master, but in the end you can get a three-dimensional model of your future living room.

Owners of small living rooms should be extremely careful, since literally every centimeter counts, and the space needs to be organized competently, carefully measuring each piece of furniture. If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better, of course, to resort to the help of designers, having discussed all your preferences with a specialist.

Budget renovation in the living room: photos of interiors