How to Decorate Your New Living Room After a Move

Moving house can be one of the most stressful things you ever do but once you’re handed those keys and you walk through the doors, it all feels worthwhile. And once you’re in, the fun really begins, as you start to make your own mark on the house, working out what to decorate first, what furniture will go where and any changes you might want to make.

There will be some rooms you’ll want to get started on straight away – perhaps they need the most work, or maybe it’s a room that you know you’ll be spending a lot of time in and want to make sure it’s to your taste.

Your lounge tends to be one of those rooms – it’s a room where you all can sit together, unwind after a long day and socialise with friends. If your living room interior is on your to-do list, here are some ideas on how to decorate your new living room after a move.

Choosing Your Style

The first decision you need to make when choosing your living room design is what style you want to go for, as that will dictate living room wall decor, furniture and accessories. Taking the character and period of the house into consideration, you may look at numerous different concepts – if you’re house is relatively new, then a modern living room or minimalist living room may be worth considering.

With a contemporary living room, it’s very much about less is more, making the space work for you just as much as your living room furniture does. Think clean lines, bold shapes, with splashes of colour to really stand out.

If your house is slightly older and you live in a more rural area, your living room décor might not suit a contemporary style – instead, you may veer towards a more rustic living room or even a farmhouse living room. This would see a warmer palette, using lots of natural textures, wood and perhaps some reclaimed furniture.

Painting Your Room

The easiest and most affordable way to give your living room a new look is by painting the walls. Whereas some DIY room décor can be a little daunting, painting a room is relatively straightforward and can have a big impact on the aesthetic.

When considering the colour palette for your living room interior, think about the kind of look and feel you want to create. Do you want a fresh, modern feel or a warmer, rustic vibe? Before making your decision, it’s also worth spending some time working out what colours would go with your living room furniture, if you’re planning to use the furniture from your last house.

Alternatively, if you’re planning on bringing some new furniture into the equation, such as an armchair or maybe an occasional chair, this gives you the flexibility to choose a colour scheme to suit, and you can then match the furniture accordingly.

Furnishing Your Living Space

How you furnish your living space will make a big difference to the room’s overall aesthetic. You may have furniture that you already own that you can style to fit in with your new interiors. For example, a leather chair like the Sandhurst can be styled to suit several different types of décor – whether you’re going for contemporary or farmhouse look – the right accessories will ensure it complements your overall look.

If you’re looking to completely overhaul your furniture, this will give you a lot more creative freedom – you can choose living room chairs, coffee table décor and accessories to match your new design.

Don’t be afraid to make some bold choices, whether it’s a new colour or configuration – have confidence in your ideas! Before making any final decisions, try pulling it all together on somewhere like Pinterest to see if it all works and if you’re still not sure, you can order sofa swatches which can sometimes help when looking at complementing your wall colour.

DIY Decor

Does the phrase ‘do it yourself’ bring you out in a cold sweat or fill you with excitement? DIY isn’t for everyone, but some jobs can be undertaken which aren’t too difficult and can make a real change to your living space.

Painting is one such job but there are other DIY wall décor options, including wallpapering or panelling. Before doing anything, it’s best to watch some tutorials to see how do-able you think these tasks are!

Panelling can make a real difference and can help to create a mid-century modern living room or a rustic space – depending on the type of panelling and the colour you go for.

As well as living room wall décor, you can also make some changes to your floor. Hiring a sander to spruce up your wooden floor can transform your room – and different coloured stains and varnishes can help you to create the desired effect.

Decorating on a Budget

With legal fees, stamp duty and the general cost of moving, it can be difficult to actually put aside a decent budget for decorating! If you’re not in a position to make any big changes in the early stages of your move, here a few living room ideas on a budget:

1.   Furniture Accessories

If your living room furniture isn’t quite right but you can’t make any major changes straight away, then think accessories. Sofa cushions, lampshades, rugs and picture frames, which are all relatively inexpensive, can provide a nod to your intended décor, and help you take that first step towards your new design.

2.   Be Inspired with Colour

Even if you can’t change your living room furniture in the early days of your move, you can change the colour of your walls without it costing the earth and it can make a real difference to the look and feel of your living space. A lick of paint can be the first step towards your new interior and can sometimes inspire other ideas you didn’t even know were there!

3.   Sofa Throws

If you’re really not happy with your sofa and are counting down the days until you can change it, a throw is a budget-friendly way of giving your furniture a quick and simple makeover until you’re in a position to bring home the sofa of your dreams!

When you move, you may want to get started on redesigning your living room immediately. But sometimes it can be helpful to live in the space for a few weeks or months, to make sure you know all its nuances – from how the light falls during the day, to how you use the space, before making any big changes.

Gather inspiration from as many sources as possible to make sure you’re happy with the look you’ve chosen, and if you decided to undertake any DIY – good luck, you’ve got this!