In detail: do-it-yourself living room renovation design from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
The living room is a room in which the owners show their lifestyle to the guests, it is the decor that makes it possible to add a zest to the interior design of this room, to make it special. It is not difficult to decorate in your own living room with your own hands. Just follow a few tips.
First of all, you need to decide on the direction and style of the living room interior. It is worth choosing the option that best suits the character and therefore more attractive to the owners. Also, you should immediately decide on the purpose of the decor and take into account the details. For example, for a small living room, it is better to decorate the walls and ceiling in light colors, add mirror elements for the walls - this way you can visually increase the area. In the large living room, the area allows you to place various items related to hobbies, for example, collections or an aquarium. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the interaction and combination of all selected elements, to allocate a separate place for their placement.
Living room decor option
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DIY living room decor
The decor of this room includes a choice of colors and coatings for walls, ceilings and floors, as well as all kinds of decoration options. Furniture plays an important role - it occupies the largest area. The correct choice of its shape and color is the key to success in decorating a living room.
Another important feature of the living room is lighting - it can be decorated in various options from a ceiling chandelier to all kinds of fixtures.
Also, various little things that show the life of the owners, hobbies and leisure are well suited.
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The Hall is the key room in most apartments and only needs to be refurbished on the basis of a well thought out design. The interior plays an important role in its compilation. The need to attract experienced designers depends on whether the repair will be cosmetic or larger, or the residents will carry out all the work on their own.
Most often, living rooms are commissioned to be repaired by professionals in order to avoid negative effects and mistakes. But if you want to save money or not depend on anyone to realize your ideal, you will have to do the repair yourself.
In an old panel house, the main problem that needs to be addressed urgently is the lack of usable space. Capital work (with redevelopment) is quite expensive and almost always requires approval. Therefore, they mainly carry out budgetary cosmetic repairs, limiting themselves to visual expanding effects.
As in any other room, the living room is being renovated, starting from the ceiling. In case of an acute shortage of space, it is covered with plasterboard plates. Such a solution, while elegant in appearance, saves a lot of precious time. The simpler the decor, external decorations and ornaments on all surfaces, the better the hall space in the "Khrushchev" will look.
Unlike the corridor, living rooms usually do not lack natural light. And if it still exists, then it is worth choosing design options with two windows. Decide immediately whether the openings will be next to each other or on adjacent walls: sometimes a very interesting effect is obtained when they are taken out to mutually opposite walls.
Space and light are extremely important. But what to do in an ordinary apartment, when no special delicacies can be organized, only a professional will tell you.It is then that seemingly insignificant accents acquire special significance. "Ordinary" apartments are renovated, first of all by finishing the surfaces - only then comes the turn of the whole arrangement.
Strictly speaking, there is not even a need for repairs to carry out zoning in most cases. But if the living room is being renovated, it is worth considering dividing it into functional blocks or improving the previous division. When the apartment has a bay window, as well as in a narrow, elongated living room with an area of 15 sq. m, it is recommended to put arches from gypsum plasterboard for visual differentiation. The useful area is not reduced, but the effect of a gloomy, constricted space is eliminated.
The technique becomes only more spectacular if you remove the interior door and thoroughly clean the opening, rounding the upper part of the passage with an arch.
When there is no need to deal with excessive gloom (a pair of windows were originally installed), a sleeping area for guests can be located at the window farthest from the entrance to the apartment. But when the windows are located opposite each other, often only part of the southern or south-western opening is left open. This will create a workspace with the best lighting and reduce excessive heat during the summer months. A cloudless winter day gives a normal stream of light even through a reduced window, but in bad weather you still have to flip a switch.
Zoning even a very large (not to mention small) living room should be limited to a maximum of three or four areas. Otherwise, there is a feeling of senseless piling up of objects. For your information: professional designers consider it permissible to combine only such functional areas that do not contradict each other.
The recreational area should be separated from the dining room; in another version, the nursery is separated from the common space of the living room. Furniture is an important zoning tool: what is important, this technique is not perceived as an artificial or ridiculous act. It is not at all necessary to put bulky cabinets, enough to delimit the space of ordinary sofas, bar counters, flat aquariums and drywall shelves.
An alternative is to use sliding doors, such a move is especially good when you need to separate a small area at the end of the living room and cover it from outside observation.
Visual structuring of the space can also be carried out with fake partitions, arches, highlighting parts of the ceiling that are different in design. Sometimes decorative structures, podiums and curtains also come to the aid of designers. Separation with wallpaper is good because you don't need any additional elements in principle.
Sometimes, instead of dividing the living room itself into parts, they try to combine it with other rooms. Such a move is especially relevant in a one-room apartment, where even small boundaries between rooms take away a tangible part of the space. The fusion of the living room and the kitchen is quite widespread, and the designers are trying to find ways to connect the corridor with both of them.
Rebuilding is a must for old housingbuilt over 20 years ago; but keep in mind that thinking over the design of a multifunctional room is not an easy task, even for a specialist.
Whenever possible, try to achieve a square contour of the room, it is much more attractive than any "original" forms and allows you to diversify the design approach. Geometric design techniques help to get away from the feeling of a rectangle. In "studio" apartments, the recreational and dining areas are necessarily combined, sometimes even a folding place for sleeping is organized. In the walk-through living room, it is worth using internal partitions, otherwise it will not seem like a cozy and pleasant part of the house.
In a small guest room, a competent choice of style allows you to create a feeling of comfort and coziness, but an indispensable requirement must be taken into account - the minimum number of introduced details.
- The ideal choice for these considerations is modern style; it is both functional and neat, allowing you to use even the latest technology innovations. By diluting with decorative elements, it is easy to get away from the "office effect".
- Classic more solemn and luxurious, its characteristic features are saturation with white, the use of crystal, gilding, carved elements. In the classic format of the house, molded parts, arches are also used, columns can be placed, sometimes relief cornices are suspended. Above the windows, even seemingly heavy curtains are attached, complemented by a vertical drapery - in this case, the hooks should be made as attractive as possible.
- Provence - always brings a feeling of rustic coziness, this style is suitable for those who do not like the stiffness and pomp of a classic setting. Lace, prints with floral images, pastel basic colors are used abundantly. The perfect setting for a friendly tea party.
- An elite interior can be created even when you like it industrial style - try to use the design for a loft. The indispensable features of this format are walls devoid of any decor, even rich in color finishing materials. Panoramic windows are installed, furniture is chosen only that one cannot do without. To decorate the living room, they use paintings by abstractionists, black and white photography with simple plots without small details. All this is sometimes complemented by metal floor lamps.
It makes no sense to talk about finishing materials in the living room "in general", you need to disassemble them for each surface separately. After all, the floor is decorated in one way, the walls in another, and they are all poorly suited for ceilings.
The appearance of the living room floor can be very different in spirit, but in any case, it should be in harmony with the walls and ceiling. If you are using a contrast effect, be careful not to create complex combinations.
If the original floor is wooden, be sure to check the strength and reliability of all components. Look at the nail heads, none should rise above the surface. Only after a thorough check can a rough substrate be laid, then chipboard or fiberboard can be laid on it.
For decorative finishing, it is worth using parquet board, classic parquet or laminate imitating their appearance. Old parquet floors that can still be repaired are scraped and varnished.
Important: avoid laying tiles and linoleum, these materials spoil the interior and are incompatible with the most popular styles.
A simple way to decorate the walls is to use wallpaper or paints, in these two cases it is equally important to consider what the role of the finished surfaces will be in the interior. Moldings help to cope with the effect of a ceiling that is too low. Surface design with geometric shapes looks invariably aristocratic and elegant. But don't create too many small details, they can ruin the feel.
Stylish solutions, hinting at unity with nature, are easily created using wood and stone decor elements. In a simpler version, you can limit yourself to a drywall shelf for constantly used things. Using a bay window, you will be able to both increase the available space (using it in everyday life or for other experiments), and add light to the room. The final decision depends on the size of the ledge and on whether it is fully glazed or only partially.
You can always repair the ceilings, but it is recommended to take on this work first, so as not to stain the finishing of the walls and floor.Flat structures with one level are created from tiles, wallpaper, wood and decorative plaster.
You should not give up on such budget solutions as suspended and stretch ceilings, they can also look very beautiful. If you want to create a suspension system covered with plasterboard, or combine such a ceiling with tension elements, think carefully about how it will all look. Additional decoration, embossing will be provided by plaster or polystyrene stucco molding, the number of such elements should vary depending on the chosen style.
The living room color options can be very different, but a prerequisite for their use is a clear choice: which elements will become the main ones, and which ones will be background blotches. It is inappropriate to make too large accent areas or create them in a significant number. It is recommended to decorate ceilings in light colors, this will help increase the visible volume of the room.
Important: mixing warm and cold tones should be avoided, because only professionals can beat their contrast competently and clearly.
The interior of the hall needs to be thought out carefully. But where to start preparation and renovation, how to make the premises really suitable for recreation and receiving guests? The answer to this question depends on what kind of repair is meant, for example, cosmetic or major, and it will also be a design development or an independent update. In any case, it is worthwhile to design the room in order to exclude oversights and the lack of the required amount of materials or their excess, which will always affect the budget.
Even if you want to make repairs yourself, you should listen to the designers and their rules.
For a complete change of the interior, it is considered the best option to carry out:
- Redevelopment;
- Combining a balcony with a hall;
- Installation of partitions.
It is worth noting that it is possible to re-plan the room and carry out the combination only after submitting the project to the housing management company in order to obtain permission. Otherwise, there is a high probability that a fine will be charged.
The renovation work of the capital-type living room includes:
- Installation of new doors and windows;
- Replacement of coatings on walls and ceilings;
- Re-laying the floors.
Everything should be thought out before the start of the repair and only then the result will be the best. If the electricity changed more than 10 years ago, then you need to pay attention to replacing the wiring. It is required to start work with a study of the layout of the wires, since in this way it is possible to avoid defects, short circuits and damage to property. As soon as the above steps are completed, it is worth proceeding with the decoration or, in other words, the decor of the room.
To carry out repairs yourself, you need to take real options for design solutions that will correspond to the dimensions of the room, budget and strength.
Experts believe that before starting repairs, you need to ask yourself questions such as:
- Where technical equipment will be installed, in particular, a TV set and the like;
- Where will the furniture be installed;
- Do you need such interior items as a table for a computer, as well as a laptop;
- Will there be books in the room, dishes and wardrobes for clothes, and exactly where they are located, and not what exactly they will be placed in;
- What the lighting will be;
- What decor will be located in the room;
- Do I need to buy an LED backlight;
- How the installation of the fireplace will be carried out;
- In what style the room will be finished.
Each of these points, and in addition to them, a lot of issues are resolved only at the stage of preparation, since the consumption of funds, the choice of materials in color, quantity and quality, as well as cost will depend on this.
The design of the new living room should be significantly different from the old interior, because this is why the renovation is being carried out.Some prefer to rely on a designer look, while others find it much easier to finish to their liking. In any case, it is worth deciding what style the room will be in. The choice of a specific style allows you to carry out repairs according to certain rules.
In particular:
- In a specific color scheme;
- Using furniture of a certain type;
- Give your preference to specific accessories.
The most important thing is to create a pleasant atmosphere as well as a home. According to the style decision, you can even choose certain types of wood. For example, furniture made from chic and expensive wood species is suitable for a classic style. In modern style, analogs and products from laminated chipboard panels can be used. The shades of furniture directly depend on the color of the walls, on the preferences of the owners of the room and on the lighting.
By adding all these parameters into one, you can make a specific choice, but the designers believe that there should not be more than three shades in the room.
Also, depending on the style, it depends on what accessories, chandeliers, and decor will be installed. The most important thing is not to overload the room with many items. This will create a ridiculous look and a messy effect.
The beautiful interior of the hall should suit everyone who finds himself in it. There are a lot of tastes and preferences of thousands out of thousands, but you can make such an original and extraordinary accent that even the most excellent and experienced designer will look at the room without stopping.
There are several guidelines for updating your living room:
- For rooms with high ceilings, you can use optical illusion techniques, for example, by gluing wallpaper with stripes located horizontally or by laying borders, moldings and modular paintings.
- You can visually enlarge the room by installing large-sized window frames and doorways, as well as volumetric paintings.
- If you want to make the effect of the heaviness and massiveness of the ceiling, then you can use a canvas for the walls on which there is a checkered pattern.
- Diamond wallpaper can expand a room, which is great for small spaces.
- In the presence of an absurd appearance of window frames or their irregular shape, small size, as well as an elongated shape, the most important thing is to choose the right curtains.
- Drapery can be used to expand the windows.
- To narrow the window frame, you can hang the curtains to the height of the wall, but according to the size of the window opening.
Examples can be very different, just like the pictures on wallpaper and furniture, but do not forget about the floor canvas. Floor repair is not carried out in one day, and this must be done before the start of all work.
The process itself requires:
- Removing the old canvas;
- Installation of a new cement screed;
- Insulation laying;
- Laying a new coating.
If the floor in the living room is not concrete, but made of wood, then when updating it, it is worth looking at each element for strength. Parts are replaced if necessary. On examination, attention is paid to the heads of the nails so that they do not stick out.
After that, the laying of a rough substrate is carried out, and only then can one start finishing with chipboard or fiberboard sheets.
At the moment, parquet board, laminate or ordinary parquet is considered a very popular material. Parquet board is recognized as the most expensive product, but at the same time the most attractive and durable. If there is an old parquet floor in the living room, it is worth cycling, and then painting with varnish. Thus, you can refresh the canvas and not change it to a new one. It is practically forbidden to lay tiles or linoleum for the living room, as this will not only ruin the appearance, but also become a so-called oversight, because modern styles exclude the use of such a canvas.
Correctly thought out renovation in the living room can bring a lot of positive emotions. It will allow you to create a stylish room that can please household members for years. Good luck in the repair!
The living room is the calling card and the focus of the whole house.Its design should set the mood for the rest of the rooms and at the same time be multifunctional and comfortable for all residents of the apartment. The duration of the renovation will determine the complexity of the project: it is one thing when you just need to refresh the walls and ceiling, and quite another - to change the floor structure, dismantle the walls or combine the living room with a balcony. We share step-by-step instructions for quickly repairing a living room.
The duration of the repair largely depends on how competently the project is created and the work plan is drawn up. In this matter, it is better to trust the professionals - as a result, you can save both time and money. Of course, you need to take into account that you will have to pay extra for the urgency of the project.
However, you can do the project yourself. Connect your household to the process: the whole family should like the new living room. Put together a plan and think over the details - from the location of furniture, appliances, air conditioning to the color and type of finishing materials. It is almost impossible to immediately calculate the final cost estimate - leave part of the budget for additional expenses.
With simple cosmetic repairs, all furniture and interior items from the living room do not need to be taken out. It is enough to cover them with a protective film. If major repairs are to be made, then furniture and things from the living room can be temporarily transferred to other rooms or placed in the corridor.
Do not forget to disconnect power before repairing. It is better to mark what tools you need in the plan opposite each stage of work. Remember that a quality tool can speed up the process significantly. Some construction companies offer rental tools to help you save money and time on your shopping trips.
Begin repairs with scheduled replacements. The most difficult and dirty work should be in the first place: replacing windows, doors, radiators, demolishing a wall, replacing a floor. At this stage, it is advisable to check the reliability of the electrical system of the room and, if necessary, replace it.
Plan in advance the location of the outlets and switches depending on what the lighting scenario will be. Hiding wires in a false ceiling is very convenient, however, according to experts, it is safer to do it the old fashioned way - in the wall.
The secret to easy and fast finishing work is perfectly flat and well-prepared surfaces. The easiest way to align them is to sew them up with drywall. Its installation is less problematic and faster than traditional plastering.
And drywall also opens up a lot of opportunities for the embodiment of bold design ideas: with its help it is easy to get comfortable niches, shelves and racks, close radiators, make arches. But do not forget: installing drywall eats up part of the usable space, which can negatively affect the interior of small rooms.
The fastest, but not cheap, way to repair a ceiling is to use stretch canvases. The work of the masters will take a maximum of half a day. Then all that remains is to refine the smooth surface with ceiling plinths or stucco molding. By the way, matte rather than glossy ceilings are preferable for rooms on the sunny side.
The most economical and no less efficient option is to decorate the ceiling with wallpaper. But they can only be glued on a perfectly flat surface, and their service life is short. In new buildings, experts advise against painting or whitening the ceiling: the house can shrink, which will provoke the appearance of cracks.
Plasterboard structures are heat-resistant, inexpensive and easy to install, but still you will have to say goodbye to a few centimeters of space.
Among all types of wall decoration in the living room, the simplest, which means that the fastest will be wallpaper or paint. Fans of the loft style can save time by leaving one or two walls completely untreated.If you have not finally decided on the style of the interior, then at this stage, prefer light, neutral, matte colors for the walls: they are harmoniously combined with any style.
The original design of the walls is obtained with the help of decorative plaster, which is popular recently. It can be sprayed on quickly and easily, but it will take the necessary skill and practice. Such rare finishes as glass, stone, mirrors, textiles will take much longer. But they can be used in part, emphasizing favorably one of the living room areas.
The flooring in the living room, like the room itself, should make an impression - it is advisable not to save on materials. The most popular living room flooring option is laminate or parquet. The first is the easiest to install and maintain. You can lay it without the help of specialists, but do not forget about the soundproofing gasket. You will have to tinker with the parquet, but it will look more respectable.
If you need to save time and money as much as possible, choose high-quality and practical linoleum or carpet. Both are easy to install and maintain. But environmentally friendly cork, which is becoming more popular, can only be quickly installed by professionals. Yes, and it is not cheap. The same applies to self-leveling and marble floors.
Lighting plays a special role in the design of the living room. It is necessary to take into account at least two scenarios - daytime and evening. If you don't want to bother with the installation of spotlights and hidden lighting, then leave one original chandelier on the ceiling with several light modes or with a dimmer installed to it. A wall sconce or a spectacular floor lamp will be an excellent addition to it.
Think over the furniture plan in advance, taking into account the competent zoning, especially if the living room is the only living room in the house. But much also depends on its size.
In a small living room, you can refuse some types of furniture in order to save free space, and at the same time save time on its arrangement. For example, you can get by with two armchairs or a sofa together with a small (preferably folding) table. Instead of wasting time assembling an intricate, massive wall, opt for a lightweight TV stand and open shelves along the wall.
Making out the design of the living room, try not to harm the space and use every centimeter rationally. Prefer small, numerous details, several accent and large ones: a floor lamp, a mirror, a wall panel, a carpet, a blanket ... So you will cope with the task much faster and avoid busting the decor. Place your bets on high-quality, beautiful textiles. Don't forget to refresh the interior with at least one living plant.
The living room is a meeting place for households and guests. Its main function is to create maximum opportunities for communication and entertainment. If you have not yet connected high-speed Internet, digital TV and telephone, renovation is the most suitable reason to do it.
Using GPON technology, digital services can be connected and disconnected at any time in a couple of clicks. To do this, it is enough to lay just one powerful fiber-optic cable into the apartment. During the project phase, plan where the TV, desktop computer and telephone will be located in the room. To these places from the front door, where the optical modem is usually located - an access point to the network, lead an Ethernet cable: it carries both electricity and data at the same time.
Surely you will want to go online not only from stationary computers, but also from mobile phones and tablets. The Wi-Fi module is already built into the optical modem, which you will receive for free when connected. But if the living room is located far from the hallway, or the apartment has a complex layout, it may not be able to cope: in this case, provide a separate point in the living room for connecting a Wi-Fi amplifier.It is worth placing it higher, then the signal will meet less interference and it will be better caught anywhere in the room.
Place electrical outlets near seating areas - couches, armchairs. Then you can use mobile devices and charge them at the same time. And you don't want to let go of them and leave the network: high-speed unlimited Internet is usually addictive.
This article will be useful for those who are thinking about DIY living room renovation. It is necessary to design the main room in the house in such a way that it is comfortable and cozy to be in it both for the owners of the apartment and for their guests.
The living room is a universal multifunctional room in an apartment, where several zones can be combined at once - in the living room you can dine, work, relax, sleep or just spend time together. Surely everyone knows how he would like to see a living room in his own home. That is why the arrangement of the hall should be started by creating a sketch. Usually all family members are involved in this process so that in the future everyone will enjoy spending time in the main room. The family council, as a rule, resolves such questions, how:
- where the home theater, TV, music center will be located;
- what is the best way to place chairs and sofas;
- whether there will be a table for a computer in the living room, or you can limit yourself to a laptop;
- where will be the clothes, books, dishes;
- what type of lighting will be installed;
- whether an air conditioning system is necessary;
- how the walls will be decorated (paintings, panels, mirrors);
- do you need additional lighting in the living room, as well as a decorative fireplace.
If you managed to come to a consensus on all these issues, you can proceed to the next stage - the choice of the style of the future living room.
The living room can be decorated in various styles - here only your personal tastes and preferences play a decisive role.
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For example, classic style - a universal and most popular solution in the design of a living room. He has always been and will be at the height of fashion. With a competent approach, it is not so difficult to equip a living room in the classics, because this is one of the few rooms in an apartment in which there is no shortage of natural light and a lot of free space.
High tech - some people prefer to see their living room in this style. In particular, those who love order in everything tend to him, and also adhere to calm, discreet tones in the interior, rigor and clarity of lines. This style can be combined with the eclectic style, adding bright elements so that the interior is not too boring and gray.
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If you are a fan of modern innovations and are not afraid of experiments - style modern will suit you perfectly. Living room items of this style are usually made of plastic, with a modern audio system or flat-screen TV in the center of the room.
For a room with rather large windows and high ceilings, the style is the best fit loft... In it, you can safely combine elements taken from other styles: for example, an old rocking chair will look very harmonious in a duet with a modern home theater.
To make your living room look modern and beautiful after renovation, you must not overload it with pieces of furniture and decor items, so that it does not turn into a storage room for many unnecessary things. With the help of your imagination and with the right approach to design, even a small room can be made warm and comfortable, with its own character and individual features.
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If your living room is not very high ceilings, and it does not differ in the presence of a large number of square meters, the use of certain shades in decoration will help to expand the space.The color of the ceiling should be several shades lighter than the floor and walls. You can install stretch ceilings in the living room, in particular ceilings with a glossy texture are suitable - the gloss will reflect the light and favorably emphasize the dignity of any room.
When it comes to lighting, placing the main light in the center of the room isn't exactly the right choice. A massive chandelier is not suitable for lighting the living room; it is best to install spotlights on the ceiling, complementing them with wall sconces hung along the perimeter of the walls.
Walls the living room is also best decorated in light colors. It is preferable to choose monochromatic coatings, and, on the contrary, avoid large clumsy patterns that can visually reduce the room. To prevent the main room from looking boring, you can paste over one of the walls with wallpaper in a bright shade or paint it with bright paint. Thus, you will be able to revitalize the room and make a bright accent.
For outdoor coverings in the living room are suitable for light colors, for example, with an imitation of a natural wood. As for pieces of furniture, it is not recommended to place a large number of them. A soft headset, a coffee table and a few shelves or racks will be enough. Transforming furniture is best suited for the living room - a folding dining table or a folding sofa.
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When decorating the living room with furniture and accessories, try to leave free space near the window openings so as not to deprive the room of natural sources of light.
It is best to hang curtains and curtains made of light, light materials on the windows that allow light to pass through. The room will also appear wider and more spacious if you use original wall mirrors or other surfaces that reflect light in the decoration.
Colors such as beige, brown, burgundy, gray are best suited for decorating a modern living room. If you like rich and vibrant colors, you can choose coral and orange tones, and blue, green or olive will look good. Fans of original and laconic design will like the combination of black and white colors.
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Watch this video for more living room renovation ideas: