7 Cheap and Easy Living Room Updates for Rental Apartments

It’s natural to want to change your surroundings from time to time, no matter if you’re renting the home of your dreams or an apartment that could use a few upgrades. But, between work, family, friends, maintenance, and all of the errands we run to keep up in our busy lives, we often avoid revamping our living spaces—especially when considering the spending that comes with it.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to shake things up and upgrade your living room with minimal resources. Here are seven upgrades you can make on the cheap and in a flash:

Rearrange the room

The easiest way to revamp your living room is also the cheapest because it’s free: rearranging your furniture and decorations to make the room feel like you’ve just moved in. Test a few layouts to find one that feels both spacious and cozy—the two characteristics everyone should aim for when designing a living room.

Revamp wall artwork

If you don’t have a photo or art arrangement on your wall, now’s the time to get creative. You don’t need a lot of money to design one; a few frames will suffice, and you can use them to display anything from book pages to dried flowers. If you already have a few, try mixing them up or repainting the frames in one or several new colors.

Repaint furniture

Whether your furniture is starting to look a little dingy or you want to change the color tone of the room, you can easily make it look different and brand new by painting over it. There are plenty of online DIY guides that can help you choose the method and materials to work with; you only need to purchase paint and a few tools to turn it around.

Create an accent wall

Just because your landlord won’t allow you to repaint the walls doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of flair to your living room. Nowadays, you can get inexpensive and easily removable wallpaper in any shape, color, and size. Use it to add a bit of color to an otherwise muted color palette, or go for a neutral tone to give the space a different feel without it becoming overpowering.

Get thrift store chandeliers

If you winced at the idea of a massive chandelier in your apartment living room, fret not. Chandeliers are very versatile. They can make a room more stylish if you’re looking for an elegant touch or add to a quirky space’s bohemian flair. You can even get one on the cheap from your neighborhood thrift store and install it yourself with the right video tutorial.

Declutter

You’d be surprised at how big of an influence decluttering can make on a place. Areas that were once tight and cramped will open up, and your living room will look brighter and cleaner. This one is quick, free, and allows you to change the entire feel of a space in less than a day.

Green it up with houseplants

Finally, houseplants are a welcome addition to any living room. They brighten up the space, make the apartment look livelier, and purify the air around them. Start with a few that are easy to care for, and expand your garden when you’re feeling more in charge. But, keep in mind that some plants are toxic to pets, so if you’ve got a furry friend around, make sure you only bring in safe greenery.

If you’re looking for an apartment with the perfect living room for relaxing and entertaining, check out thousands of listings for apartments near you.