One way to choose cheap living room furniture is to comparison shop. Look through various furniture websites in addition to sales fliers that come with newspapers. If a store or company seems extremely out of price range, so much so that even getting steep discounts wouldn't help, there are many more that are more affordable. Make a list of options that are more in the appropriate price range so, if a discount is possible, it is an added bonus.
Surprisingly, garage sales and thrift stores can have quite a selection of beautiful living room furniture. In some cases, the only reason the previous owners gave away or are selling the pieces is because it was too expensive to move to a new location, they wanted something different or they were downsizing. These are places to haggle, especially when buying several pieces from the same location — ask if it's possible for a bulk rate. Make sure not to let anyone put pressure to buy any pieces that don't seem less than perfect for your home.
They've been around forever, but candle sconces are still brilliant for adding ambience without calling an electrician.
An extra large mat is a simple trick for giving a small photo or piece of art big presence.
Add one woven or wicker chair to a room. Spray paint it a great color, and you have both seating and an element of surprise.
Have a card you can't bear to throw away? Put it in a frame or easier yet perch it on a little easel, and you've got art.
Plants are an underappreciated decorating tool. They bring life and color to a room, they're relatively inexpensive, and they're good for you, too.
A corbel is a clever perch for an accessory. Painted a bright color, it draws attention to whatever you put on it.
In place of a predictable coffee table, use two inexpensive side tables. Outline the edges with strips of nailhead trim for a high end look.
Remove the jackets, then group books by color, standing some upright and stacking others. Shelves will seem more organized and have an artistic, color blocked look.