How to Give Your Living Room a Lil’ Spring Refresh

We’re all spending lots of time indoors these days, so creating a space that’s functional and beautiful has become more important than ever. We teamed up with Designer Looks at American Signature Furniture to share expert tips for giving your living room a spring makeover—no renovation necessary. The centerpiece of this refresh? A comfy sectional from Designer Looks at American Signature Furniture the whole family will want to curl up on (psst: It’s from the Westport Collection).

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After a long, dreary winter, you might be looking for ways to make yourself feel fresh and invigorated again. You could give yourself bangs using a YouTube tutorial (always a gamble) or plant colorful flowers in your window boxes, but might I suggest giving your decor a refresh, too?

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be expensive or even time-consuming to update your home’s decor—and if you’re only going to do one room, I recommend picking the one where you spend the majority of your time. For most of us, that’s the living room. Luckily, there are a few simple tricks you can use to give your living space a fun new look just in time for spring.

1. Rearrange Your Furniture

If your furniture has been in the same layout since you brought it home, one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to make your space feel new again is to rearrange. (My mother is a pro at this.) Moving furniture can bring new life to your living space, allowing you to literally see things from a fresh angle.

Not sure where to start? The best plan of attack is to begin by repositioning the largest pieces, such as your sectional (this Westport Collection Sectional from Designer Looks at American Signature Furniture is spacious and super-comfy), and arranging other items around it. Try putting things at unexpected angles or on different sides of the room. You never know what will strike a chord, and if you end up hating the new layout, you can always move everything back. No harm done.

2. Introduce Bright, Cheery Colors

Most people (myself included) gravitate toward more subdued colors in the winter, but once the snow starts to melt, it’s time to pack away those grays and browns to make room for a brighter palette.

In the living room, the easiest way to incorporate new colors is generally through accents like throw pillows and blankets. Shades of salmon, yellow, and even green can make the space feel fresh and spring-y, but you can choose any hues that will vibe with your existing decor. (Pro tip: When buying major pieces of furniture, neutral colors will serve as a versatile backdrop for this type of seasonal decor change; you’ll never have to worry about things clashing.)

3. Bring Home a New Plant Baby

Flowers and new plant growth are some of the quintessential signs that spring has officially arrived, and what better way to shake off the winter chill than with a new plant (or five)? Once the world outside starts to thaw, your local nursery will likely start stocking up on new houseplants just waiting to be adopted. If you’re new to plant parenting, I’d recommend taking home a low-maintenance option, such as a peace lily, spider plant, or ZZ plant—all of which are nearly impossible to kill.

Oh, and don’t forget to grab a planter for your greenery. Look for an option that includes drainage holes to minimize the chance of overwatering, which is arguably the most common reason plants die. There are plenty of stylish options to choose from, and it will make a fun addition to your spring refresh.

4. Cover Up With a New Area Rug

With proper care, a quality area rug can last 10 years or more, but if your floor coverings have seen better days, a new rug might be just what your living room needs. (Or, if you’re just tired of looking at it, you can move it to another room, giving yourself an excuse to get something fresh!)

Similar to furniture, it’s best to get an area rug that isn’t too trendy or bold, as it will serve as a foundational piece in the room for years to come. Save the statement colors for smaller, less expensive accents. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a textured rug for visual flair, or something with a pattern to add contrast against your solid couch upholstery.

5. Incorporate Matching Artwork

Once you’ve chosen new pillows, blankets, and maybe even a rug, you can tie the room’s new aesthetic together with a piece of artwork. Look for something that includes similar colors for a cohesive vibe, but don’t be afraid to have fun with it!

Don’t want a framed piece? Maybe you get a quirky paperweight to place on the coffee table or a tapestry to hang behind the sofa. Whether you swap these pieces in for existing art or add them to the mix, even a small addition can make a big difference in your living room.

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What small changes have made a big improvement in your living room? Tell us in the comments!

In partnership with Designer Looks at American Signature Furniture, we're sharing all the small-but-mighty ways you can transform your space for spring (think: switching in bright new accent pieces, adding touches of greenery, and rearranging your furniture). Whether you're refreshing a room or doing a total redesign, our friends at Designer Looks at American Signature Furniture have all the pieces you need—like the Westport Collection Sectional we used in the living room you see here—to create a stylish-meets-cozy home.