9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Redesigning Your Living Room
Hoping to transform your living room? Follow these tips to plan ahead and make the most of the space
The living room is the place where everyone gathers to watch television, socialise and relax. In a space that plays such a big role in the home, it’s important to get the ambience and layout right, so if you’re planning a redesign, follow this guide to ensure you’ve considered every aspect.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Will sockets and switches be accessible?
Consider the knock-on effect of moving furniture to a new position, especially when it comes to lighting. Can you get light to that area? Is this important in your new layout?
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to work with what you have, rather than adding more sockets and having to patch up afterwards. For example, think about whether you’re moving a side table with a lamp to a spot where there’s no socket. Consider what works and where, as moving sockets, TV points and lights can all add to the cost.
Find a professional to help with your design project on Houzz
Consider the knock-on effect of moving furniture to a new position, especially when it comes to lighting. Can you get light to that area? Is this important in your new layout?
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to work with what you have, rather than adding more sockets and having to patch up afterwards. For example, think about whether you’re moving a side table with a lamp to a spot where there’s no socket. Consider what works and where, as moving sockets, TV points and lights can all add to the cost.
Find a professional to help with your design project on Houzz
What storage will I need?
When thinking about storage solutions, ask yourself what will be the most useful for your requirements. For example, if you want to store things you need infrequently, could you utilise an area that’s hard to access?
When space is really tight, walk around the living room and work out whether there are any places that could be turned into storage areas. The space under the window is often under-utilised, so you could consider building a window seat and box storage, as these homeowners have done.
Find built-in storage ideas for living rooms
When thinking about storage solutions, ask yourself what will be the most useful for your requirements. For example, if you want to store things you need infrequently, could you utilise an area that’s hard to access?
When space is really tight, walk around the living room and work out whether there are any places that could be turned into storage areas. The space under the window is often under-utilised, so you could consider building a window seat and box storage, as these homeowners have done.
Find built-in storage ideas for living rooms
What’s my vision for the space?
This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to get further along the line and realise you’re flitting from one idea to another and have lost focus on the end result.
Search online for ideas, and put together a moodboard or Houzz ideabook before you start. Think about the ambience you’d like to create in your living room, and which colours and themes you’re drawn to.
Discover how to find your design style
This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to get further along the line and realise you’re flitting from one idea to another and have lost focus on the end result.
Search online for ideas, and put together a moodboard or Houzz ideabook before you start. Think about the ambience you’d like to create in your living room, and which colours and themes you’re drawn to.
Discover how to find your design style
How much money can I spend?
Work out your budget and whether your ideas are achievable within it. Also, consider how much value each decision will give to the room. If you take time to think through these questions, you’ll find your project much easier.
Don’t be afraid to ask how much things will cost, and be open about what you can afford. Really think about whether you need to spend money on changes that aren’t going to make that much of an impact on your living room. Perhaps you can live without some of the changes, or do the project in phases to make it more manageable?
Work out your budget and whether your ideas are achievable within it. Also, consider how much value each decision will give to the room. If you take time to think through these questions, you’ll find your project much easier.
Don’t be afraid to ask how much things will cost, and be open about what you can afford. Really think about whether you need to spend money on changes that aren’t going to make that much of an impact on your living room. Perhaps you can live without some of the changes, or do the project in phases to make it more manageable?
Will my design work in the room?
Even if you’ve been completely seduced by a beautiful interior style, ask yourself if it’s realistic in your home. For example, does your room have the architectural details that will work with that look?
Think about things you can and can’t do in your particular property. For instance, you might not have the large sash windows and deep cornices of a Georgian home, but you could still apply the rules of Georgian symmetry to your seating arrangement.
Find coffee and side tables in the Houzz Shop
Even if you’ve been completely seduced by a beautiful interior style, ask yourself if it’s realistic in your home. For example, does your room have the architectural details that will work with that look?
Think about things you can and can’t do in your particular property. For instance, you might not have the large sash windows and deep cornices of a Georgian home, but you could still apply the rules of Georgian symmetry to your seating arrangement.
Find coffee and side tables in the Houzz Shop
Will my new pieces be the right scale?
A pendant light is a great opportunity to create a focal point in your living room and make a big design impact. Before you choose a huge model, though, think about the height of the ceiling. Scale is very important and a light fitting that’s just a couple of inches too high or low can have a huge impact on the balance of a room.
A low ceiling could present you with the chance to do something a bit quirky. A pendant doesn’t need to be in the centre of the room – could it, for instance, be tucked in a corner or replace the position of a table lamp?
A pendant light is a great opportunity to create a focal point in your living room and make a big design impact. Before you choose a huge model, though, think about the height of the ceiling. Scale is very important and a light fitting that’s just a couple of inches too high or low can have a huge impact on the balance of a room.
A low ceiling could present you with the chance to do something a bit quirky. A pendant doesn’t need to be in the centre of the room – could it, for instance, be tucked in a corner or replace the position of a table lamp?
Should I seek professional help?
Smaller design changes are completely possible to do yourself. However, any major structural work is usually too much of a risk to carry out without professional help.
The first thing to ask yourself is whether you need to satisfy Building Regulations. Call in a good builder to help you understand your property and its limitations. Once you’ve decided what work you want to do, you can hire the relevant professionals.
Smaller design changes are completely possible to do yourself. However, any major structural work is usually too much of a risk to carry out without professional help.
The first thing to ask yourself is whether you need to satisfy Building Regulations. Call in a good builder to help you understand your property and its limitations. Once you’ve decided what work you want to do, you can hire the relevant professionals.
How can I limit upheaval?
Any change to a popular space, such as the living room, can cause huge upheaval in a busy household. Think about whether you could limit the design, and whether a small change would work just as well.
Some wallpaper, for instance, could produce the transformation you were looking for. A few new cushions or a piece of art can give any room a boost. Listen to the people in your home, consider whether any work is worth doing and try to make it as stress-free as possible.
Tell us…
Are you planning to redesign your living room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Any change to a popular space, such as the living room, can cause huge upheaval in a busy household. Think about whether you could limit the design, and whether a small change would work just as well.
Some wallpaper, for instance, could produce the transformation you were looking for. A few new cushions or a piece of art can give any room a boost. Listen to the people in your home, consider whether any work is worth doing and try to make it as stress-free as possible.
Tell us…
Are you planning to redesign your living room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Redesigning your home can be liberating, but don’t make changes that get in the way of a well-functioning space. Ask yourself whether moving a particular item of furniture or introducing a new piece will do more harm than good.
Don’t make changes for the sake of it, only to find you’ve created an obstacle course. The way you move around your home should be easy and enjoyable.
Cardboard boxes are a great trick for trying out a new item of furniture. Make a template that’s the same size as a potential new piece of furniture, then see if it works in the room and if you can get round it. To see how much floor space a rug or sofa will take up, try laying out pieces of newspaper.