In many homes, the living room is the heart of daily life, where your family spends most of its time. Over time, that familiarity may make your space feel dull and boring, simply from looking at the same things arranged in the same way day after day. If the thought of redecorating fills you with dread at the effort and cost, relax! There are actually simple and inexpensive ways to breathe life into your living room décor.

Rearrange: Rethinking the positioning of the furniture you already have is one of the easiest ways to shake things up. Moving furniture away from the walls, or grouping chairs in cozy conversation areas, can change both the flow and feel of the room. Getting some furniture sliders to move things around more readily can make experimentation easier.

Add an accent color: Much of the appearance of your living room is defined by color. However, you don’t need to replace major pieces of furniture or repaint the walls to transform the effect. Adding an accent color—with new throw pillows, an area rug, or throws to drape over the back of a couch or chair, for example—can lighten, brighten, or add impact to your decorating palette.

Reorganize shelving: If you have bookcases, a mantel, or other shelves in your living room, have the display items there become a permanent exhibit? Take out items that no longer appeal and reposition the ones you decide to keep. Having a balance of empty space will help to keep your treasures from looking cramped and cluttered. If you’re adding new items, consider including a vase or picture frame in your new accent color or in a contrasting hue in your existing artwork for a pop of interest.

Include houseplants: Plants bring a fresh grace note of bright color and literally add life to your room. Many popular houseplants also help clean the air, making your environment more pleasant. (For households with pets, check the ASPCA’s plant list to find nontoxic choices in case your dog or cat likes to nibble.) If you don’t have the greenest thumb, low-maintenance options like succulents can help you add some foliage without stress.

Update artwork: Pictures and paintings are another element of your room that may have become static over time. Simply positioning existing pieces of art in different spots may be enough change to enliven the room. For instance, a gallery wall arrangement can give a collection of smaller pieces the impact of single larger artwork—if they’re framed in varying types of frames, you can unify the look by painting them all a single color. Don’t hesitate to rotate in artwork from other parts of your house for a change of pace.

When it comes to interior decorating, it may seem like there’s no upper limit on what you can spend to change things up in your living room. Before you pull out your credit card, though, you should take a look at your room with new eyes and employ a little creativity. You’ll be surprised at what a dramatic difference you can make with a little bit of effort and not a lot of cash.