A living room is the heart of a home – a place for entertaining, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones. Whether your space is large or small, pretty furniture can do wonders for a boring room, but adding architectural detail will take it to the next level. You can have a warm and inviting space to enjoy year-round.

Average Cost of a Living Room Makeover

Costs will vary greatly depending on the types of materials used, where you live, and how much your contractor charges for labor. If you are handy and can install these items yourself, you can save thousands of dollars!

Cost Breakdown:
Flooring: $8 per square foot
Vinyl: $2 per square foot
Board & Batten: $1,300 with installation
Door & Window Molding: $300 – $700 per room
Faux Fireplace: $200 – $500 with installation
Antique Doors: $2,000 – $9,000

How to Add Architectural Details to Your Living Room

Update the Floors

Flooring is the anchor of any room and will work wonders to transform your space. Not only does wood flooring add to the resale value of your home, it also can add character, visual warmth, and texture. Vinyl plank flooring comes in a plethora of colors and styles and looks very much like real hardwood. You can use herringbone patterns that are easier to install than the traditional wood variety. They are relatively easy to install yourself.

Add Board & Batten & Beef Up Your Molding

Adding wall treatments such as board-and-batten, shiplap, or beadboard is one of the best ways to add architectural detail to your room. It creates interest and can make your home feel custom-designed. It may arguably be the best money you can invest into customizing your home. Custom molding instantly takes a room from drab to fab.

Builder-grade homes come with standard-size moldings around the doors and windows and on the baseboards. Those are typically around 3 inches wide. Replacing that with something more substantial in size is another way to add character and value to your home.

Make a Focal Point

The fireplace is usually the focal point of the living room. If your house doesn’t have one, it’s not too difficult to add a mantel and create a faux fireplace yourself. You can simply attach a mantel to the wall and add a hearth at the bottom. If you do not want a fireplace, you can create a focal point around the TV with bookshelves on either side. This option is functional as well as beautiful. Let your creativity guide you!

Accessorize

Once installations are finalized, it’s time to get into the details. Living room accessories include faux plants, wall clocks, and paintings. Accessories are a fun place to bring in additional textures (like basket weave, wood, and/or rattan), so be on the lookout for accessories that match the selected color palette. Think like Joanna Gaines. Add vintage shutters inside, and replace a plain door with something more interesting. You can even simply hang a pediment over a doorway or an open pass-through for interest.

Roxanne is a home decor blogger and DIY enthusiast. On her site, The Honeycomb Home, she shares simple, creative ways to update your home on a budget. She has appeared on the Rachael Ray Show and has worked with the Property Brothers.