Though DIY living room makeovers and bedroom redecorating can be an exciting undertaking, these projects often wind up uncompleted and with less than satisfactory results. This was the case with our client, a young professional in his early 30’s who purchased his first apartment and tried to decorate it himself. Short on interior décor ideas and unhappy with the results, he decided to hire an interior designer, turning to Décor Aid to transform his one-bedroom into a classy, adult space. Our client already had invested in several key pieces of furniture, so our Junior Designer worked closely with him to incorporate the existing furnishings into the new design and give them new life. Though the living room boasted high ceilings, the space was narrow, so they ditched the client’s sectional in place of a sleek leather sofa with a smaller footprint. They replaced the dark gray living room paint and drab brown bedroom paint with a white wall paint color to make the apartment feel larger. Our designer introduced chrome accents, in the form of a Deco bar cart, a modern chandelier, and a campaign-style nightstand, to create a sleek, contemporary design. Leather furniture was used in both the bedroom and living room to add a masculine feel to the home refresh.

East Hollywood Staging Project

Gray + Gold Design

1925 Assisi Residence

Period Architecture Ltd.

Angle Eye Photography

It’s a garage. It’s an apartment. It’s both.

Jacobson Construction, Inc.

Relatives spending the weekend? Daughter moving back in? Could you use a spare bedroom for surprise visitors? Here’s an idea that can accommodate that occasional guest while maintaining your distance: Add a studio apartment above your garage. Studio apartments are often called mother-in-law apartments, perhaps because they add a degree of privacy. They have their own kitchen, living room and bath. Often they feature a Murphy bed. With appliances designed for micro homes becoming more popular it’s easier than ever to plan for and build a studio apartment. Rick Jacobson began this project with a large garage, capable of parking a truck and SUV, and storing everything from bikes to snowthrowers. Then he added a 500+ square foot apartment above the garage. Guests are welcome to the apartment with a private entrance inside a fence. Once inside, the apartment’s open design floods it with daylight from two large skylights and energy-efficient Marvin double hung windows. A gas fireplace below a 42-inch HD TV creates a great entertainment center. It’s all framed with rough-cut black granite, giving the whole apartment a distinctive look. Notice the ¾ inch thick tongue in grove solid oak flooring – the perfect accent to the grey and white interior design. The kitchen features a gas range with outdoor-vented hood, and a space-saving refrigerator and freezer. The custom kitchen backsplash was built using 3 X 10 inch gray subway glass tile. Black granite countertops can be found in the kitchen and bath, and both featuring under mounted sinks. The full ¾ bath features a glass-enclosed walk-in shower with 4 x 12 inch ceramic subway tiles arranged in a vertical pattern for a unique look. 6 x 24 inch gray porcelain floor tiles were used in the bath. A full-sized murphy bed folds out of the wall cabinet, offering a great view of the fireplace and HD TV. On either side of the bed, 3 built-in closets and 2 cabinets provide ample storage space. And a coffee table easily converts to a laptop computer workspace for traveling professionals or FaceBook check-ins. The result: An addition that has already proved to be a worthy investment, with the ability to host family and friends while appreciating the property’s value.

New Farmhouse - In Law Apartment

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

First floor of In-Law apartment with Private Living Room, Kitchen and Bedroom Suite.

Built-In Entertainment Center

Julie Rootes Interiors

Clean Modern

COHN

The architecture of this modern house has unique design features. The entrance foyer is bright and spacious with beautiful open frame stairs and large windows. The open-plan interior design combines the living room, dining room and kitchen providing an easy living with a stylish layout. The bathrooms and en-suites throughout the house complement the overall spacious feeling of the house.

Nuova casa e la ricerca di uno stile fresco ed originale - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

KBD PROJECT: Humphrey

Karin Bennett Designs

Stanford Wood Lodge

Absolute Architecture

Stanford Wood Cottage extension and conversion project by Absolute Architecture. Photos by Jaw Designs, Kitchens and joinery by Ben Heath.

Little Italy Condo

Design Opera Inc.

Media Center: The storage within the wall interlocks, strategically borrowing space from one side to serve the other. The Wall neatly conceals lighting above and disorganized audio-video components below with a speaker cloth access door that allows both sound and infrared to pass through. The back side echoes the projection and serves as a headboard for the sleeping area with storage above for linens and books. Photo by: Jonn Coolidge

Buckhead - Automated Condo

Georgia Home Theater

This unique system, on the 43rd floor of a Buckhead condo, had some distinct challenges, but it came together beautifully! The system features full automation including shades and curtains, multiple A/V setups, and gorgeous lighting, all backed by the stunning view of Atlanta. One of the most phenomenal features of this project is the in-ceiling dropdown screen in the Master Bedroom. This project is easily classified as one of the most elegant systems in this Buckhead highrise. Jason Robinson © 2014

Living Rooms

Cipher Imaging Architectural Photography

Living Room + Fireplace + Built-in Cabinet Detail + TV

Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

The Castlelands

Jacqueline Murray Interiors

A neutral and calming open plan living space including a white kitchen with an oak interior, oak timber slats feature on the island clad in a Silestone Halcyon worktop and backsplash. The kitchen included a Quooker Fusion Square Tap, Fisher & Paykel Integrated Dishwasher Drawer, Bora Pursu Recirculation Hob, Zanussi Undercounter Oven. All walls, ceiling, kitchen units, home office, banquette & TV unit are painted Farrow and Ball Wevet. The oak floor finish is a combination of hard wax oil and a harder wearing lacquer. Discreet home office with white hide and slide doors and an oak veneer interior. LED lighting within the home office, under the TV unit and over counter kitchen units. Corner banquette with a solid oak veneer seat and white drawers underneath for storage. TV unit appears floating, features an oak slat backboard and white drawers for storage. Furnishings from CA Design, Neptune and Zara Home.

Festival Tower

Monaco Interiors

Custom furniture was built to suit the space, including the coffee table and custom down filled leather sofas. The two columns (one pictured here) flanking the new ledgestone wall are painted charcoal gray, to match the stone and create harmony. This also creates accent walls, which are adorned with custom made artwork.

Modern Living room

Moore House Design

Modern Farmhouse inspired Living room

The Jewel Box (Back Bay Residence)

Adams + Beasley Associates

Living Room : Photography by Eric Roth Interior Design by Lewis Interiors Every square inch of space was utilized to create a flexible, multi-purpose living space. Custom-painted grilles conceal audio/visual equipment and additional storage. The table below the tv pulls out to become an intimate cafe table/workspace.

Library and Music Room in Suburban North London

Charlotte Heather Interiors Ltd

Our clients wanted a space where they could relax, play music and read. The room is compact and as professors, our clients enjoy to read. The challenge was to accommodate over 800 books, records and music. The space had not been touched since the 70’s with raw wood and bent shelves, the outcome of our renovation was a light, usable and comfortable space. Burnt oranges, blues, pinks and reds to bring is depth and warmth. Bespoke joinery was designed to accommodate new heating, security systems, tv and record players as well as all the books. Our clients are returning clients and are over the moon!

Small Living Room Design Photos with a Built-in Media Wall

A living room, often referred to as a lounge room in Australia and New Zealand, is the hub of the home. If you only have one living room in the house, it’s likely to serve multiple purposes: be it a place to watch TV, play games, spend quality time with family or hang out with friends. If you have the luxury of two living areas, one is usually a formal living room or lounge room, reserved for reading, relaxing and entertaining. A successful living room design is inviting, has enough seating for the whole clan – a comfortable couch is a must – and encourages conversation. Browse photos on Houzz for living room layouts, furniture and decor, and strike up a conversation with the interior designers or architects of your favourite picks. For even more living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which living room layouts will work best for you?

Every living area will have design challenges. A long, narrow lounge room, for example, risks looking like a hallway if furniture is lined up against the walls. Instead, opt for small furniture items, like a cosy two-seater couch, and create various focal points throughout the space. In square living rooms, a symmetrical layout encourages a formal setting. Place seating on either side of the room, with a focal point in the middle to pull the room together. For a truly intimate vibe, replace your couch with some occasional chairs positioned around a coffee table or ottoman. This will make the main focus conversation. An open-plan home – one where the lines are blurred between kitchen, dining and living – may require a layout that focuses on definition. You’ll want to make sure furniture doesn’t block the flow between spaces, and instead use something like an area rug to create zones.

How can you decorate your living room?

The living room can be a place in which to show off your personality, but if you want a timeless living room scheme, stick to neutral walls, couches and ottomans. Colour can be added through accessories, and is a lot more interchangeable! Rugs, cushions and throws are great for adding colour, while mirrors, lamps and ceiling lights will set the mood. Make your living room unique by including family heirlooms and photos. For a polished look, try creating a coffee table vignette – you could use books as pedestals or group items together on a tray. Try adding a vase, a mixture of round and rectangular objects and some books.

What are some small living room ideas?

Small living room designs can be tricky to work with, but aren’t doomed to fail. Often, you just have to get creative with furniture. An open-back chaise can create a sense of spaciousness, while small side tables paired together can substitute a coffee table. Even better, an ottoman can be used as a footrest, coffee table or extra seating. Big furniture items like the couch are best kept in light colours, and if there’s room for a coffee table, a glass-top one is best. If you have two spaces in one – perhaps your living room sits in front of a single-wall kitchen – make sure they are connected by decor, colour and style. For definition, just add area rugs, or use your couch as a dividing wall. It’s worth having a few furniture pieces, whether a bookshelf, couch or entertainment unit, in the same colour as the walls, too, so they blend into the room and visually expand the space.

Is open-plan living for you?

Today’s homes often embrace open-plan living, whereby the living room runs off the kitchen and/or dining areas. Open-plan living allows greater functionality, but can risk creating a vast, soulless space if not done right. To avoid a cavernous feel in an open-plan design, define areas with furniture, rugs and lighting, or consider using a wall divider. Also be sure to keep flooring, lighting and materials consistent throughout, for cohesiveness. Noise may be an issue – someone banging pots and pans while you’re watching TV, for example – so include lots of soft furnishings, such as rugs, curtains and couches to help absorb the noise. You will also need to factor in plenty of storage, so mess is kept at bay.