7 Living Room Items Not Worth Splurging On

When decorating a highly visible and frequently utilized space such as the living room, it may feel as though you should splurge on everything. However, interior designers say, that is by no means the case—there are actually plenty of categories in which you can cut costs when decorating your living area. Below, they highlight seven types of items that you certainly don’t need to spend the big bucks on, promise!

Wall Art

Artwork doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny in order to transform your space. Mary Kathryn Wells, the founder of Mary Kathryn Wells Interior Design in Nashville, Tennessee, shops retailers including Etsy, Society 6, and Artfully Walls to source stylish prints on a budget. “Of course, my love of using children’s art as ‘real art’ is well documented,” she adds. “My own living room has a piece my eldest child painted when he was about two years old, but I had it blown up by a fine-art printer and it looks so amazing —not at all childish.”

Designer Coffee Table Books

Coffee table books are a popular living room accent, but there’s no need to purchase them at full price, notes Marie Cloud.

The founder of Indigo Pruitt in Fort Mill, South Carolina, recommends skipping the books you see in everyone else’s homes and going for lesser known titles.

“Consider curating a collection of books that speak to your personal interests or hobbies,” she says. “Not only do these books add character and warmth to a space, but they can also be more affordable and meaningful.”

Secondhand bookstores, thrift stores, and yard sales are excellent resources for scooping up coffee table books on the cheap.

Throw Pillows

While a living room essential, throw pillows don’t need to cost you a ton.

“Throw pillows in living rooms specifically see a lot of traffic, therefore they’re one of those pieces that tend to show wear and tear quicker and require updating more frequently,” says Margie Kaercher, the founder of Hearth & Honey Homes in Tampa, Florda. “I also love to switch mine out as the seasons change for a quick and easy refresh and a little festive sprit,” the designer adds, explaining that she therefore will opt for more affordable finds.

Matching Furniture Sets

By no means do you need to sell out for a set of matching furniture from a high end company. Instead, skip the matchy matchy look and mix and match different pieces at various price points, Cloud encourages.

“This approach adds variety and interest while also allowing you to select furniture based on function and comfort rather than sticking to a prescribed design,” she says. “Plus, it’s often more budget-friendly to buy pieces separately.”

Teri Clar, the founder of NAFASI Interiors in Charleston, South Carolina, agrees that an assortment of pieces is the way to go.

“You could thrift a coffee table, like I did on Facebook Marketplace for $25, or you could make the most out of hand me downs,” she says. “This is sometimes the better way to make a space more creative and personal anyways.”  

Small or Trendy Decor Items

There’s no need to spend a ton on small decorative accents for the living room, according to Holly Hickey Moore.

“Anything smaller than a cantaloupe tends to get lost in the space, whether on a coffee table, fireplace mantel, or bookshelf,” says the founder of Holly Hickey Moore Interior Design in Dallas, Texas.

Trendy decor items aren’t going to be worth the cost either, Moore adds.

“If you’re seeing something everywhere, it’s a good sign to avoid buying it or consider phasing it out of your space,” she says.

Seasonal Decor

It’s always nice to weave seasonal decor into your living room if you wish, but you shouldn’t spend much on what you select.

“Every year, the trends with seasonal decor change, so I would be cautious of overspending for bit ticket decor items,” says Jenn Cameron, the founder of Jenn Cameron Interiors in Baltimore, Maryland.

Plants

Plants will add color and life to the living room, but make an effort to source them on when they’re discounted, Cameron notes.

“There are often sales on plants,” she comments. “This is definitely an item not worth splurging on!”