44 Easy and Affordable DIY Projects to Refresh Your Living Room
Want to breathe new life into your living room without splurging? Explore these 48 inspiring DIY decorating ideas that are perfect for budget-savvy designers.
From easy projects like crate coffee tables and pastel throw pillows to more ambitious ones like faux fireplaces and wood paneling, there's something for everyone.
Dive into these creative ideas and give your living room the stylish update it deserves.
Mod Farmhouse Mirrored Table
A mirrored top on a farmhouse-style coffee table adds a touch of elegance.
Choosing a mirror with a larger frame provides ample attachment space, ensuring stability.
This project requires careful planning to avoid shattering, but the stunning result is worth the effort.
Country TV Trays for $10
Crafting country TV trays for just $10 each can add a rustic charm to your living room.
Using reclaimed wood gives them a vintage feel, while a distressed finish adds character.
Personalize each tray with hand-painted designs or stencils to fit your decor.
Striped Canvas Carpet Knockoff
Designer knockoff striped canvas carpet adds a bold, graphic element to your floor.
The black and white stripes create high contrast, pairing well with colorful accents.
Protecting it with a sealant ensures it stays vibrant in high-traffic areas.
Furry Faux Throw Blanket
A furry faux hedgeapple throw blanket is all about comfort and style.
The plush texture offers a cozy feel, while the unique hedgeapple design adds a quirky touch.
Drape it over your sofa for a blend of luxury and whimsy.
Custom Drop Cloth Drapes
Custom drapes from drop cloths provide an affordable and stylish window treatment.
The canvas-like material drapes elegantly, adding a rustic charm.
Drapery clips make them easy to adjust, allowing light to filter through beautifully.
Pompom Trimmed Throw Pillows
Pompom trimmed preppy throw pillows add playful energy to any seating area.
The fluffy pom-poms create texture and movement, while the solid color keeps it versatile.
Pairing with brightly patterned pillows balances color and texture for a lively decor.
Sentimental Baluster Leg Lamp
A baluster leg lamp infuses sentimentality and elegance into your decor.
Refinishing the wood and adding a custom lampshade, perhaps with a meaningful quote, personalizes it beautifully.
This lamp brings warmth and a touch of history to your space.
Shabby Chic Pom Pom Throw Pillow
Combining a humble drop cloth pillow with intricate pom-poms creates a balanced shabby chic throw pillow.
This project involves a sewing machine for straight-line stitches, making it simple yet elegant.
Choosing a satiny finish like brocade or silk can add a regal touch, while the drop cloth keeps it rustic and cozy.
Industrial Style Sign Letters
Wooden letters with horizontal planks add character to your decor.
Choose any letter and font for a personalized touch.
Embellish with buffalo plaid for a farmhouse vibe or seashells for a beachy look.
These letters offer a versatile way to add visual interest to your living room.
Pastel Fish Scale Throw Pillows
This fish scale throw pillow project adds a whimsical accent to your living room.
Using felt in various colors, you can match the pillow to your decor.
Experiment with sequins or embroidery for a fancier look.
The soothing color scheme evokes a serene aquatic vibe.
Create Abstract Art
Creating your own abstract art can be a fun and expressive way to decorate.
Using a minimalist color palette and bold textures can make a striking statement.
This piece can serve as a focal point, adding depth and personality to your room.
Jar with Raw Cotton and Jute Twine
Repurposing an old jar with sticky adhesive can create a rustic vase wrapped in jute twine.
The adhesive helps secure the twine, making it a perfect base for seasonal floral displays.
This vase can be a beautiful addition to your living room, bringing a touch of nature inside.
Flea Market Frame Turned Tray
Transforming a flea market frame into a tasteful tray is both practical and stylish.
A fresh coat of paint and a decorative insert can elevate its appearance.
Adding felt pads ensures it won't scratch your furniture, making it a perfect accent piece.
DIY Art Gallery Wall
Mixing DIY art with thrift store finds creates a gallery wall that reflects your personality.
Build around a theme like family or a motif such as sunflowers to showcase personal style.
This example uses a chic black and gold palette, but customization options are endless.
Stacked Crate Bookshelf
Stacked crates create a versatile bookshelf that can be customized to fit your decor.
Paint the crates in different colors for a Bohemian look or keep them white for a Parisian theme.
This bookshelf is perfect for displaying oversized books and eclectic decor.
Easy DIY Fireplace Mantel
A DIY fireplace mantel can become a striking feature in your living room.
This sleek, rectangular design offers a modern take on a classic element.
Choose a bold finish like black or metallic for added drama and elegance.
Crate Coffee Table with Planter
Crafted from four wooden crates, this coffee table and planter combo combines functionality and natural beauty.
The soft gray finish complements rustic decor, while the central planter offers a touch of greenery.
Silk plants with glass marbles can replace real succulents for an easy-care option.
Persian-Inspired Painted Votive Holders
Hand-painted votive holders inspired by Persian designs bring exotic flair to your living room.
Use wine glasses, vases, or jars to create colorful tie-dye effects or sophisticated solid colors.
Puffy paint and henna patterns complete the Persian ambiance.
Custom Wall Plank Sign
Uneven boards give this pallet wall art an organic vibe that welcomes nature into your living room.
Choose any motif that resonates with your decor.
The quote at the bottom can hold special meaning, and stencils can help with painting if freehand is not your style.
Black and White Photo Lampshade
Finding unique ways to display photos can be challenging, especially with limited space.
This lampshade doubles as a photo frame, allowing easy photo changes with taped-on vellum paper.
Use family snapshots, vacation photos, or scenic landscapes to add a personal touch.
Wall-to-Wall Sofa Table
Wall-to-wall sofa table adds both functionality and style to your living room.
This DIY project creates a sleek surface behind your sofa, perfect for displaying decor or keeping essentials like books and lamps within reach.
The extended length of the table maximizes space usage and enhances the room’s overall aesthetic, making it a practical and attractive addition to your living area.
Darkroom Drying Rack Photo Display
Monochromatic darkroom drying rack photo displays offer a unique way to showcase black and white photos.
Metal clips make it easy to switch out pictures, keeping your display fresh.
This setup blends beautifully with warm-toned wood for a cohesive aesthetic.
DIY Shelving Ideas
Old doors make perfect floating shelves that can run the entire length of your sofa.
These DIY shelves provide unique display space for meaningful items.
Customize the height and finish to ensure they fit seamlessly into your decor.
Rustic Leather-Wrapped Letters
Faux leather wraps elegantly around a monogram letter, creating a chic accent piece.
Pairing it with antique books adds a classic library feel, while shaggy faux fur and natural stones bring rugged charm.
Modern touches like black or white faux leather offer a contemporary twist.
Fairy Garden with Succulents
A copper planter with cacti and succulents introduces natural beauty into your living room.
This easy-to-assemble piece is perfect for those who prefer low-maintenance plants.
Artificial succulents offer an alternative for those lacking a green thumb, ensuring a vibrant display year-round.
Wire Basket Side Table
Combining wooden spool ends and upturned laundry baskets creates a unique wire basket side table.
Glue and jute string secure the components, while black acrylic paint and faux-stamped lettering personalize the piece.
This rustic table brings a touch of homemade charm to any space.
DIY Ladder Decor Ideas
Assembling a rustic blanket ladder requires only a hammer and nails.
Choosing nails with varied finishes enhances the antique feel.
This functional decor piece keeps blankets accessible and integrates them into your living room's aesthetic.
Honeycomb Hanging Shelf
Roughhewn honeycomb hanging shelves are both functional and decorative.
Crafted from natural wood, these shelves bring an organic feel to your space.
The hexagonal shape offers a modern twist, perfect for displaying small plants or trinkets.
Geometric Straw Plate Wall Art
Geometric straw plate wall art brings texture and visual interest to your space.
Spray paint rattan plates in bold or neutral hues for a modern twist.
Arranging them in a symmetrical pattern creates a cohesive look that enhances any wall.
Ombre Rope Blanket Basket
Transforming a rope basket with an ombre effect elevates its elegance.
Using felt and an inexpensive round laundry basket for structure, this project creates a stylish storage solution.
Crafting multiple baskets for different seasons adds a dynamic touch to your decor.
Twine-Wrapped Bottle Vases
Nautical twine-wrapped bottle bud vases bring a touch of the sea to your decor.
Wrapping bottles in light-colored twine and adding a patterned paper napkin creates a coastal feel.
These vases are perfect for showcasing seasonal flowers or greenery.
Tufted Farmhouse Coffee Table
A French provincial tufted farmhouse coffee table combines elegance and rustic charm.
The diamond tufted pattern adds a regal touch, while the farmhouse frame offers cozy appeal.
Choose fabrics like velvet for a luxurious feel or neutral tones for a more natural look.
Upcycled Retro Pastel Ceramics
Upcycling dollar store ceramics with an enamel coating inside brings retro charm to any living room.
This technique allows for vibrant colors that elevate simple vases to centerpiece status.
Mixing colors to match your space, these glossy ceramics can be uniform or varied in style and height.
10-Minute Corner Shelf
A 10-minute amateur friendly corner shelf project is ideal for filling awkward spaces.
These floating shelves provide a sturdy spot for displaying your favorite items.
Choosing a finish that complements your decor can tie the whole room together.
Wood Pallet Wall Paneling
An accent wall made from pallets brings texture and color to your living room.
The natural wood beauty adds a rustic touch, while a gray stain gives an aged effect.
This DIY project showcases creativity and adds a unique focal point to your space.
Leaded Glass Wall Mirror
The leaded look rectangular wall mirror adds symmetry and sophistication.
Small rosettes at each wood intersection enhance its charm.
Beveled mirrors add dimension, making it a perfect piece to create a sense of calm and balance in any room.
Farmhouse Floor Mirror
A full-length farmhouse floor mirror is a fantastic option for renters.
The distressed white paint adds rustic charm, perfect for farmhouse aesthetics.
Customize with bold colors or embellishments for a maximalist look.
Add seashells or rope for a nautical theme.
Over-the-Arm Coffee Tray
Over-the-arm coffee tray provides a convenient solution for small spaces.
This easy-to-make tray fits snugly over the arm of your sofa, offering a stable surface for drinks, snacks, or remote controls.
Crafted from sturdy materials and customizable in various finishes, it adds a touch of practicality and elegance to your living room decor.
Pebble Vanity Accessories
Rock on pebbled vanity accessories add a natural, textured element to your bathroom.
Using polished pebbles creates a sophisticated look.
Uniform stones can bring a more refined appearance, perfect for showcasing your rock collection in a stylish way.
Rustic Tree Stump Decor
Incorporating a stump into your decor brings an authentic rustic vibe.
The natural texture and unique shape add character, while a clear sealant preserves its beauty.
Use it as a side table or a decorative element to enhance your living room.
Striped Armchair Coffee Caddy
A sturdy hickory drink perch adds practicality and charm to your living room.
Eliminating the need for end tables, this caddy holds drinks securely with playful stripe detailing.
Infusing it with personal touches ensures it becomes a beloved piece in your decor.
Faux Fireplace for Cozy Vibes
A faux fireplace setup can fulfill your decorating dreams without the need for a real fireplace.
A vintage grate and silvery birch logs add authenticity.
This setup enhances decor and provides a cozy focal point for your living room.
Upcycled Hardwood Door Mirror
Upcycled hardwood door corner mirrors bring character and function to your living space.
Using picket fence lumber for the frame adds a rustic touch.
Rough cuts and natural knots enhance the texture, making each piece unique and charming.
Dollar Store Candle Pillar
A quick candle holder upgrade involves hot glue and sisal rope for a playful, textured finish.
This fast project transforms plain candle holders into unique decor pieces.
Adding ribbons, small embellishments, or seashells tailors the design to your personal style.
