Revamp your living room

Private Quarters: Get decor ideas from some of our favorite family spaces in metro Atlanta,

Living rooms have been getting a lot of use lately. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, your living room may have become more than just a place to gather and lounge at the end of the day. Recently, perhaps it’s now also your home office or a child’s makeshift classroom.

If you’re getting a bit sick of your surroundings after spending so much time in your living room, there are some easy ways to bring new life to the space.

Just like every week, we’ve dug through the Private Quarters archives to round up some of the coziest and chicest living rooms we’ve featured throughout the years. And if you’re ready to spruce up your living space, here are some quick (and cheap) ways to do so.

Consider re-arranging your furniture

Have you ever thought about what your living room might look like inverse? Now is your shot to rearrange the whole thing, what do you have to lose? At no cost, you can give your space a new feel.

One thing to keep in mind when arranging furniture is the space you have to play with. Whether the room is big or small, Better Homes & Gardens recommends leaving adequate space between pieces.

“One of the secrets to learning how to arrange furniture is making sure you leave enough space between pieces,” Better Homes & Gardens notes. “Allow 30 inches between furniture you need to be able to walk around and 14 to 18 inches between a coffee table and sofa, so drinks are within reaching distance.”

Finally paint that accent wall

An accent wall can liven up any space. Just choose your color carefully. When deciding, it’s important to consider the rest of the space, according to the home improvement website the Spruce.

“Don’t shy away from using a bold color for your accent wall. As long as you have the right accents around the room to coordinate with your new color, you can choose whatever color makes you happy,” the Spruce notes.

Build a gallery wall

If you have miscellaneous decorations or family photos, it can be a good chance to put together a gallery wall in your house. Interior designer Cortney Bishop told CNN that pulling together different pieces can be an easy way to spark joy in your space.

“Try pieces here, try pieces there: a new mix-up might surprise you and showcase your art in a whole new light. Fill or replace photos in frames — switch it up with new snaps that remind you of happy times and simple joys.”

Improve your lighting options

Lighting can make all the difference in a space. Especially if you’re also working from home, this can be a good time to invest in proper lighting.

Curbed notes that replacing bulbs or simply cleaning your lampshades can make all the difference.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. The bold and colorful decor of Paola and Jeff Roder’s home is inspired by the Pop Art movement. Paola, who is a designer and interior stylist, drew from the era’s affinity for primary colors and daring patterns for the living room decor, including the bright yellow chair from Ikea and the parrot painting above the mantel by Natalie Flor Negron. Their coffee table is topped with hand-painted tiles from Israel, and it was passed down from Jeff’s mother.

REYNOLDS ROGERS. TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY The living room of Cathy Ehrler and Donald Thurman’s converted warehouse home is light and open, with high ceilings and windows lining the walls. The couple bought the warehouse space in 2003 and worked with Joel Kelly Design to renovate, creating a home that fits their lifestyle and design preferences.

CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO PHOTOGRAPHY/AJC FILE The wood table in the living room was an 18th-century English kitchen prep table and was purchased at Green Front Furniture in Farmville, Virginia. They cut down the legs and use it as their coffee table.

TEXT BY SHANNON ADAMS AND LORI JOHNSTON/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO /AJC FILE A sofa by Florence Knoll centers the modern downstairs living room in Grant Henry’s Sager Lofts home. Henry collects pieces from Knoll and Herman Miller, two of his favorite modern furniture companies.

TEXT BY MEGAN WAHN/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. For the gallery wall in the living room, two pieces of art are by Ali Leja and another created by homeowner Mimi Tin features moss. Tin tried to maintain whimsy throughout the house.