5 easy ways to freshen up your living room

Happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend! Looking for a project? Here’s five easy ways to freshen up your living room.

1. Fresh flowers. No room is finished until it has some flowers in it and boy, do they make a difference. They don’t have to cost a lot either. I buy most of mine from Woolies or my local fruit shop. Mix it up and display them in different vessels: jam jars, chemistry flasks (helps having a future brother in law who is a scientist!), tins (if they’re waterproof), bottles, jugs, whatever. Open your cupboards and think about what might look cute with a few blooms in it (The Renovators host Robyn Holt agrees).

2. Style up your coffee table. No, not just for cups of tea and the odd mag, think of it as a mini display of things you love. Add a stack of books (you could go as far as colour coordinating your spines, you could just pick the prettiest looking ones or the ones you like flicking through he most). Add a candle, perhaps some fresh flowers (watch your vase isn’t too tall and could get knocked over) or a potted succulent and perhaps a tray. My own coffee table currently has a gorgeous hunk of amethyst on it but its contents change by the week (no, really). It’s a bit of fun and a nice focus for your space that says a bit about you.

3. Change up your accessories. You know what I mean: all those trinkets, photo frames, aforementioned vases, pretty things, ornaments and stacks of books. Take them all off where they live now and put them on the floor  or on a table (have a good dust while you’re at it) then start afresh. Try putting them in different places, or swapping them with things from other rooms. You never know what you might create with what you’ve already got! This one was inspired by Naomi Findlay of SILK Home Staging & Styling.

4. Wash your cushion covers and throws and give the rugs a good beating! They may not look dirty but think about how many people have leant against those cushions or put them on their laps, how many shoes and feet have walked over that rug. You wouldn’t put up with it on your bed would you? It’s a good idea to freshen up your soft furnishings every couple of months.

 5. Add one new texture. Now I’m encouraging you to go out and shop and treat yourself to one new item for your living room (yes, you can blame me). It has to add a bit of texture though. Maybe a new cushion (you can never have too many) or a nice throw.

Still want more? Light a scented candle, open the windows (and clean them while you’re at it, it makes a huge difference!) Enjoy your fresh new space!