Remodeling a Small Living Room
Living rooms are no longer rooms that are solely for the purpose of entertaining company. The "new living room" is the hub of your home, so it's increasing in popularity as a spot that sees remodeling projects. Small living rooms can present a challenge however.
In a condominium or small home, your living room may very well have to act as a dining room, study, playroom or even bedroom, which means that it needs to be adaptable, practical, and comfortable. Providing enough storage to separate and keep track of the items associated with each of its functions is the key to keeping your life clutter free.
The living room is probably your favorite room. The living room is big, light and airy. It is where you want to be in order to feel that you have your finger on the pulse of things. As a result, it becomes a multipurpose room whether that was the original intention or not. You can approach your small living room remodeling by either allotting different parts of the room for different activities, or by leaving it open-ended and furnishing it with dual-purpose furniture.
Dividing a room into multiple areas can be done using contrast and color, as well as using furniture to form boundaries between different areas. Screens, shelving, storage units, or the sofa can create effective lines of demarcation. On the other hand, if you are really cramped for space, you will want to select furniture that can play a dual role.
For example: a decent sized table can act as a desk or be turned into a dining room table. Foot stools can be used like a table for displaying magazines or for extra seating. Ottomans are available that have storage areas under the lid. Having furniture on wheels makes it easier for rearranging when you want to go from a practical look to something festive for entertaining.
Fortunately sofas and chairs come in all shapes and sizes these days so that a three piece sectional and winged chairs do not have to dominate your room. You can supplement your smaller sofa with foot stools or out-sized floor cushions if you do not have enough space for multiple chairs.
A separate dining room, if you are lucky enough to have one, ends up being a place to pile junk or just another unused space. Your dining room could very well be a part of your living room. When space is short, dining room tables need to be compact and unobtrusive. They will most likely be serving some other function when not in use for meals. Drop leaf and other tables that can be enlarged are useful. A trestle table is practical because it can switch from a worktop to a dining room table, as well as being easy to fold away if you don't need it as anything else.
There are two types of storage units that are good for organizing your belongings in small living rooms: units that allow you to hide things away or put them on display. The less tidy you are, the more hidden storage you should consider.
If you are remodeling as well as shopping for furniture, you can create storage with built in units. If you are trying to take advantage of wall height and odd nooks and crannies, streamlined built-in pieces often work best. A combination of both built-in and module can combine nicely too so don't feel compelled to go one way or the other.
Further reading: Small Spaces for Modern Living: Making the Most of Your Indoor Space
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