Designers Share 7 Ways to Refresh and Reorganize Your Living Room for Under $50

A living room refresh doesn’t have to sap your budget. You can bring out new characteristics in a room and modernize it with a handful of new objects and a few layout changes that don’t cost a fortune. Plus, with the right organizational edits, your space will feel tidy, too.

So where do you begin? Three experts gave us the best advice on how to refresh and organize your living room for under $50—including some options that are completely free.

Refresh Your Coffee Table

A great starting point that can shift the aesthetic of your living room is your coffee table. Surprisingly, with just a few new pieces, it’s possible to breathe new life into this space. A change of theme—either through brand-new decor or pieces from other spots in your home—can make a big difference.

“Switch up the old pieces you have, move things around, and add some elegant pieces like tea light holders or candlesticks to give that elevation and height to your coffee tables and dining tables,” says designer Mugdha Girish Uma.

She also suggests adding different materials, like marble, stone, and metal, to create a nice mix of textures.

Rearrange Your Art

A free method of refreshing your living room is revisiting your artwork. Rather than buying completely new pieces, it’s simply about finding them new spots.

“A lot of people rearrange furniture for a fresh perspective, but they don’t consider what is on the walls,” says professional organizer Cate Adams. “Just like rearranging furniture, rearranging art makes your pieces feel new because your eye will notice that something has changed.”

Not only this, but she adds that different lighting or being surrounded by entirely new items of different textures and colors can change the appearance of your art, too.

Upgrade Your Lighting Situation

“Lighting is crucial when it comes to any space we want to look good,” says Uma. “Especially when you have layered different kinds of lighting, be it table lamps, wall scones, or ceiling lights, they add charm to your rooms.”

There are plenty of chic options for lighting fixtures that add ambience and cost less than $50. Uma suggests Target’s mod touch-sensor lamp and ceramic table lamp or Wayfair’s petal lamp, which all add shape and color.

Update Your Throw Pillows

Getting a brand new couch or a large piece of furniture like an accent chair can quickly drain your budget. But you don’t have to go that far to reinvigorate your living room.

“If I only have $50, I’m almost always spending it on pillows,” says designer Alice Moszczynski. “Swapping in new pillow covers, especially with texture or a subtle pattern, instantly refreshes a sofa.”

Embrace Small, Joyful Things

Sure, a coat of paint or a new loveseat has an immediate impact on a room, but to really make your living room feel new yet personal to you, it’s about choosing little things that reflect your tastes and interests.

“It could be something like coasters, a metal ladybug, or even small wooden carved pieces,” Uma says. “Go for those small, little things that make you happy when you see them.”

Need some inspiration? This half-moon marble clock, white horse statue, and ceramic sculpture are Uma’s recommendations to inspire your design refresh.

Choose Select Organizational Items

Sometimes, organizing what you already have in your living room can help eliminate noise and take this space from a dumping ground for clutter to a relaxing haven once more. These don’t need to be pricey changes either.

“I focus on small organizational pieces that double as decor, like baskets, trays, or decorative boxes,” says Moszczynski. “They corral everyday clutter while adding intention, making the space feel calmer and more pulled together.”

If you’re after a bigger option (but one that won’t cost you more than $50), Uma suggests investing in a new unit, like this wooden floating shelf.

Add a Vase

From more minimalist glass vases to colorful, geometric maximalist vessels—all make for gorgeous decor in your living room. The best part is, they can be moved all around your home, so you get ample use out of one item.

Uma says to choose options that are smaller in size, as these can move between side tables, vanities, countertops, and other horizontal surfaces.

“There is no need to have stems or florals in them—sometimes even a pretty-looking vase is enough to add some color,” she says.

Choose based on your color palette and style. Choices like this brown hurricane vase, khaki glass option, and silver candle holder are great starting points Uma recommends.