Here are some DIY living room décor ideas that can refresh your space with a personal touch while staying budget-friendly. These projects are easy to customize and can make your living room more stylish, functional, and cozy.
1. DIY Coffee Table Makeover
- Materials: Old coffee table, paint or stain, sandpaper, sealer
- Instructions:
- Sand down the surface of an old coffee table to remove the current finish.
- Paint or stain the table in a color that matches your living room’s palette.
- Seal it with a protective coat for durability.
- Style Tip: Go bold with a statement color like navy blue or mustard, or opt for a distressed look by lightly sanding after painting.

2. Gallery Wall
- Materials: Picture frames, artwork, photos, nails
- Instructions:
- Collect a mix of artwork, photographs, and prints to frame.
- Arrange the frames in a cohesive gallery style on one wall. Start by laying them out on the floor to experiment with the layout.
- Use a mix of sizes and styles of frames to add depth and personality.
- Style Tip: For a minimalist look, stick to black-and-white photos with matching frames. For a more eclectic vibe, mix colors, shapes, and textures.
3. DIY Decorative Throw Pillows
- Materials: Plain pillow covers, fabric paint, stencils, fabric markers
- Instructions:
- Customize plain pillow covers by stenciling patterns, using fabric paint, or hand-drawing designs with fabric markers.
- Create geometric patterns, stripes, or write quotes for a personal touch.
- Style Tip: Mix different pillow textures and sizes for a cozy, layered effect on your couch or chairs.
4. Repurposed Wooden Crate Shelves
- Materials: Wooden crates, paint or stain, screws, wall anchors
- Instructions:
- Sand and paint or stain wooden crates.
- Mount them on the wall as shelves to display books, plants, or decorative items.
- Style Tip: Stack several crates together to create a modular shelving unit, or hang a single crate for a rustic, farmhouse-style look.
5. Framed Fabric Panels
- Materials: Fabric, wooden frame, or canvas, staple gun
- Instructions:
- Stretch fabric over a wooden frame or canvas, securing it tightly with a staple gun at the back.
- Hang the fabric panels as wall art to add color and texture to your living room.
- Style Tip: Use bold, graphic prints for a modern look or soft florals for a cozy, vintage vibe.
6. DIY Macramé Wall Hanging
- Materials: Macramé cord, wooden dowel or branch, scissors
- Instructions:
- Tie macramé knots in various patterns to create a textured wall hanging.
- Attach the knots to a wooden dowel or branch and hang it on the wall.
- Style Tip: Opt for neutral-colored macramé for a bohemian feel, or try dip-dyeing the ends for an ombré effect.
7. Upcycled Wine Bottle Vases
- Materials: Empty wine bottles, spray paint or acrylic paint, flowers
- Instructions:
- Clean and dry the wine bottles thoroughly.
- Spray paint or hand-paint the bottles in colors that complement your living room décor.
- Use the bottles as vases for fresh or dried flowers, or as standalone decorative pieces.
- Style Tip: Paint a collection of bottles in metallic shades for a chic centerpiece on a coffee table or mantel.

8. DIY Floating Shelves
- Materials: Wooden planks, brackets, screws, drill
- Instructions:
- Measure and cut the wooden planks to your desired size.
- Install brackets on the wall and attach the wooden planks to create floating shelves.
- Use the shelves to display plants, books, and small décor items.
- Style Tip: Stain the shelves in a rich wood tone for a modern rustic look, or paint them white for a minimalist style.
9. Custom Artwork with Canvas and Paint
- Materials: Blank canvas, acrylic paint, brushes
- Instructions:
- Use simple techniques like brush strokes, geometric shapes, or abstract designs to create custom artwork for your living room.
- Let the paint dry completely and hang the canvas on the wall.
- Style Tip: Use colors from your existing décor palette for a cohesive look, or go bold with contrasting hues to create a statement piece.
10. DIY Fabric-Covered Storage Boxes
- Materials: Old cardboard boxes, fabric, glue, scissors
- Instructions:
- Cut fabric large enough to cover the outside of the boxes.
- Glue the fabric securely in place, folding the edges neatly inside the box.
- Use the fabric-covered boxes for stylish storage on shelves or under the coffee table.
- Style Tip: Choose fabrics that match your room’s color scheme or opt for bold patterns to add a pop of color.
11. Repurposed Ladder Blanket Rack
- Materials: Old wooden ladder, sandpaper, paint or stain
- Instructions:
- Sand down an old ladder and paint or stain it to match your décor.
- Lean the ladder against the wall and use the rungs to hang blankets or throws.
- Style Tip: This adds both function and style to your living room, and the blankets can easily be swapped out seasonally.
12. DIY Painted Terra Cotta Pots
- Materials: Terra cotta pots, acrylic paint, sealer, small plants
- Instructions:
- Paint simple or intricate designs on terra cotta pots using acrylic paint.
- After the paint dries, apply a sealer to protect the designs.
- Use the pots to display small plants like succulents or herbs in your living room.
- Style Tip: Group several painted pots together on a shelf or coffee table for a cohesive, nature-inspired décor.

13. Chalkboard Accent Wall
- Materials: Chalkboard paint, roller brush, chalk
- Instructions:
- Choose one wall or a small section of a wall in your living room to paint with chalkboard paint.
- Use the chalkboard wall to write messages, doodle designs, or create rotating artwork.
- Style Tip: Frame the chalkboard wall with molding for a finished look, or leave it unframed for a more casual, artistic style.
14. Repurposed Shutters as Wall Décor
- Materials: Old shutters, paint, screws
- Instructions:
- Paint or stain old shutters to give them a fresh look.
- Hang the shutters on your living room wall as a unique backdrop for framed photos, plants, or small décor pieces.
- Style Tip: Use multiple shutters for a large wall installation, or prop a single shutter against the wall for a farmhouse-style accent.
15. DIY Book Page Wreath
- Materials: Old book pages, wreath form, glue gun
- Instructions:
- Roll or fold old book pages and glue them to a wreath form, layering them in a circular pattern.
- Continue layering the pages until the wreath is full.
- Style Tip: Hang the wreath on your living room wall or above the mantel for a literary-inspired touch. Add a ribbon for a seasonal flair.
16. Custom Rug with Painted Design
- Materials: Plain rug, fabric paint, stencils, tape
- Instructions:
- Use stencils or painter’s tape to create a design on a plain rug.
- Paint the design with fabric paint, and let it dry completely.
- This will give you a custom rug that matches your living room décor at a fraction of the cost.
- Style Tip: Choose geometric patterns for a modern look or go with floral stencils for a more traditional feel.
17. DIY Hanging Plant Holders
- Materials: Rope, small pots, ceiling hooks, plants
- Instructions:
- Create simple macramé plant holders with rope to hang small pots from the ceiling.
- Install ceiling hooks in your living room and hang the planters at varying heights for visual interest.
- Style Tip: Use trailing plants like ivy or pothos to create a lush, green feature in your living room.
These DIY living room décor projects are easy, affordable, and allow you to personalize your space to reflect your style. Whether you’re upcycling, adding new art, or creating functional storage solutions, you can transform your living room into a space you love. Which project will you start with?