Simple designs for easy living room makeovers

French country living room in pretty pastels

Freshen up a plain living room with a soft pastel blue colour scheme. Start with a wallpaper with a soft brushstroke finish to give the effect of a subtle wash of colour. Worried that blue might feel too chilly in a living room? Use a warm shade that contains hints of red teamed with warm wood furniture and extra accents of pink on soft furnishings and accessories.

Smart grey living room with yellow accents

Give a traditional living room a surprise new element with an eye-popping paint colour. The pale grey and off-white colour scheme lacked punch before, but painting the fire surround in a bold shade of yellow helps to create an eye-catching focal point. Carry the colour through on one or two key pieces, such as an accent side table, cushion and patterned rug.

Botanical blue and green living room

Update a neutral country living room with a fresh botanical scheme. Use a fern-print fabric as your starting point, teamed with leafy fabrics and accessories for a cohesive look. Keep your colour palette relaxed and rustic, in shades of fern green, duck-egg blue and warm beige, teamed with mismatched furniture in warm, weathered woods. Paint the walls in a tonal duck-egg shade, adding a row of foliage-inspired pictures above the sofa as a finishing touch.

Colourful country living room

Stuck in a rut with your neutral living room? Then be bold with a boho-inspired colour treatment, guaranteed to lift the spirits. Begin by building your look around your key neutral elements, such as pale walls, a cream sofa and neutral wooden flooring. Start small with a boldly-patterned rug and a row of cushions in mix-and-match colours. Then add to your scheme bit by bit with contrasting colours and patterns — a lamp here, a couple of pictures there — until you're happy with the effect.

Modern white living room with colour pops

Refresh a tired living room with a cheery new colour treatment. Go for a bright contrast that will energise the space, such as this turquoise and yellow combination, or experiment with pairing colours like orange and grey, or pink and cobalt blue. Use large blocks of colour to give the scheme more impact, such as on a sofa and armchair, against a backdrop of a plain white wall to stop the colour overwhelming the room. Finally, create a mini gallery of wall art with picture frames painted in co-ordinated shades.

Source: housetohome