7 Completely Free Living Room Makeovers
Roll up your sleeves and give your living area design scheme a fresh new look without buying a thing
Anne Ellard
12 January 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
Now that we have entered the new year, many of us are making resolutions that we hope will improve our lives. We are also craving new starts and fresh outlooks both in our lives and for our homes. The good news is that there’s no need to spend a fortune to create a fresh new outlook for your living room – just some movin’ and shakin’. See what a difference a new layout makes from these seven mini makeovers.
1. Move furniture away from walls
It can be instinctive to arrange furniture against the walls. It’s the obvious spot for a TV unit as electronics will need to be plugged into a power point, and it’s the safest position for large items such as bookcases and display cabinets.
However, allowing the rest of the furniture in your living room, such as your sofa, occasional chairs, console table, and even study desks to roam can often add a sense of breathing space to a smaller room if positioned in the right way. If space allows, you may wish to consider moving furniture from the extremities to the middle of the room to keep the walls free. Make sure you have plenty of room around the furniture setting for circulation.
It can be instinctive to arrange furniture against the walls. It’s the obvious spot for a TV unit as electronics will need to be plugged into a power point, and it’s the safest position for large items such as bookcases and display cabinets.
However, allowing the rest of the furniture in your living room, such as your sofa, occasional chairs, console table, and even study desks to roam can often add a sense of breathing space to a smaller room if positioned in the right way. If space allows, you may wish to consider moving furniture from the extremities to the middle of the room to keep the walls free. Make sure you have plenty of room around the furniture setting for circulation.
In a larger room, on the other hand, pushing furniture right back to all the walls can create an uncomfortable amount of dead space in the middle of the room, leaving you sitting too far away from the TV or with a coffee table floating awkwardly in the middle of the room.
Pull your sofa about 30 centimetres out from the walls (or more if you have enough room). This will immediately make the room feel cosier, more inviting and less formal.
Pull your sofa about 30 centimetres out from the walls (or more if you have enough room). This will immediately make the room feel cosier, more inviting and less formal.
2. Take out one piece
Coco Chanel famously advocated removing one accessory before leaving the house. You’ll have also heard the phrase ‘less is more’. In my opinion, removing a furniture piece is a fantastic way to change the face of your living room in an instant (just think of how different it looked when the Christmas tree came down last week). The question is, which furniture piece?
Ensure that every item in your lounge room has a purpose or adds to the aesthetics of the space. For example, do you need a side table for your glass of wine when you always put it on the coffee table? Is there a furniture piece that stands out when you actually want the view to take centre stage?
Embrace the less-is-more trend
Coco Chanel famously advocated removing one accessory before leaving the house. You’ll have also heard the phrase ‘less is more’. In my opinion, removing a furniture piece is a fantastic way to change the face of your living room in an instant (just think of how different it looked when the Christmas tree came down last week). The question is, which furniture piece?
Ensure that every item in your lounge room has a purpose or adds to the aesthetics of the space. For example, do you need a side table for your glass of wine when you always put it on the coffee table? Is there a furniture piece that stands out when you actually want the view to take centre stage?
Embrace the less-is-more trend
The omission of a coffee table in this living area creates an air of calming minimalism as well as circulation. The loungers can also enjoy the fireplace without obstruction. Instead, the use of small and portable end tables offers a surface to rest drinks or a book if needed.
3. Turn everything 90 degrees
Take all of your freestanding furniture that can be moved, such as your seating, coffee table, end tables and sideboards and, keeping everything in the same arrangement, just turn it all 90 degrees, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on your room.
Items such as your entertainment unit may have to remain in their existing position where you have easy access to power, TV and data points. This may mean that your seating arrangement is no longer focused towards the TV – but that’s not always a bad thing (more on this next). Live with it for a little while, and if you don’t like it, it’s easy to move everything back.
This living room layout works wonderfully in the open-plan scheme, but for argument’s sake let’s take it as an example. By turning the living area furniture anti-clockwise by 90 degrees, the owners could still enjoy the warm glow of the fire and see the TV, but would have the added advantage of being able to look straight outside to the luscious garden.
Take all of your freestanding furniture that can be moved, such as your seating, coffee table, end tables and sideboards and, keeping everything in the same arrangement, just turn it all 90 degrees, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on your room.
Items such as your entertainment unit may have to remain in their existing position where you have easy access to power, TV and data points. This may mean that your seating arrangement is no longer focused towards the TV – but that’s not always a bad thing (more on this next). Live with it for a little while, and if you don’t like it, it’s easy to move everything back.
This living room layout works wonderfully in the open-plan scheme, but for argument’s sake let’s take it as an example. By turning the living area furniture anti-clockwise by 90 degrees, the owners could still enjoy the warm glow of the fire and see the TV, but would have the added advantage of being able to look straight outside to the luscious garden.
An alternative to this rearrangement idea is to turn everything clockwise or anti-clockwise by 45 degrees so that it sits diagonally in your room, as opposed to in line with your walls. The result is an unexpected and visually interesting new look with alternative walkways throughout the room.
Another advantage of positioning furniture diagonally is that it allows the eye to see more space behind your furniture, particularly in corners, thus making the living room feel larger and more open.
Another advantage of positioning furniture diagonally is that it allows the eye to see more space behind your furniture, particularly in corners, thus making the living room feel larger and more open.
4. Move focus away from the TV
In a time when we are always being distracted by TV, radio, computers, tablets and smartphones, sometimes it’s nice to just switch off, relax, and have a real conversation with a real person.
Instinctively, we tend to arrange our living room furniture around the TV, making it the focal point of the space. Orientating your sofa away from the TV – for example at a 90-degree angle, shown here – can give your living room (and perhaps even your lifestyle) a huge makeover.
In a time when we are always being distracted by TV, radio, computers, tablets and smartphones, sometimes it’s nice to just switch off, relax, and have a real conversation with a real person.
Instinctively, we tend to arrange our living room furniture around the TV, making it the focal point of the space. Orientating your sofa away from the TV – for example at a 90-degree angle, shown here – can give your living room (and perhaps even your lifestyle) a huge makeover.
Positioning two sofas, or your sofa and armchairs, opposite each other instead of facing the TV creates a cosy and intimate space. It’s still possible to watch your favourite shows, but the social aspect of the room gets more attention.
8 living room layouts that work
8 living room layouts that work
Here’s another example of a living space, the purpose of which is less about TV and more about interaction. A low sofa rests with its back to the TV, so as not to obstruct it, while also encouraging conversation.
5. Swap rooms or zones
You may have heard of a house swap, but what about a room swap? An interesting way to bring a new lease on life to your living room is to move it completely.
If you have an open-plan living space (and if power sockets allow), try swapping your living and dining areas around. It might be that you actually get better use out of each ‘zone’ than in the previous configuration.
This exercise is a little more intensive, so you might want to grab a friend or two to give you a hand, but again, it won’t cost you a cent (except maybe some beers for the hired help).
You may have heard of a house swap, but what about a room swap? An interesting way to bring a new lease on life to your living room is to move it completely.
If you have an open-plan living space (and if power sockets allow), try swapping your living and dining areas around. It might be that you actually get better use out of each ‘zone’ than in the previous configuration.
This exercise is a little more intensive, so you might want to grab a friend or two to give you a hand, but again, it won’t cost you a cent (except maybe some beers for the hired help).
Rooms with fireplaces are often reserved as the living room, but take a look at the elegant focal point it provides for this dining scheme. In the same way, a bedroom fireplace could add the luxe serenity you’ve always dreamed of – how would your home change if you swapped the bedroom and living room and moved the living room upstairs?
6. Add accessories from another room
If the thought of lugging furniture from one room to another is far too arduous for this summer heat, try something smaller. Sometimes all a space needs are some new accessories to give it a fresh look and a new lease on life – all you have to do is ‘shop’ your home.
A dusty old table lamp that you have fallen out of love with in the hallway may take on a whole new look in your living area, while also providing extra light. Other ideas are to try swapping shelving items or artwork between rooms, or to borrow a plant from your balcony to bring some greenery and organic shape to the area.
If the thought of lugging furniture from one room to another is far too arduous for this summer heat, try something smaller. Sometimes all a space needs are some new accessories to give it a fresh look and a new lease on life – all you have to do is ‘shop’ your home.
A dusty old table lamp that you have fallen out of love with in the hallway may take on a whole new look in your living area, while also providing extra light. Other ideas are to try swapping shelving items or artwork between rooms, or to borrow a plant from your balcony to bring some greenery and organic shape to the area.
7. Create zones
Arranging your living room furniture into zones can make a huge difference to how your scheme looks, and how the space is used. For example, consider arranging your furniture into areas for different activities such as watching TV, reading or doing paperwork.
You might even be able to use the furniture you already have. For example, reposition one of your armchairs into a corner next to a bookshelf to create a dedicated reading space.
When arranging furniture like this in a large room, ensure that the flow of traffic isn’t obstructed and that you can move easily through the room from one end to the other.
TELL US
Have you tried any of these living room layout hacks? Let us know in the Comments and share your before and after photos.
MORE
Read more living room stories
Arranging your living room furniture into zones can make a huge difference to how your scheme looks, and how the space is used. For example, consider arranging your furniture into areas for different activities such as watching TV, reading or doing paperwork.
You might even be able to use the furniture you already have. For example, reposition one of your armchairs into a corner next to a bookshelf to create a dedicated reading space.
When arranging furniture like this in a large room, ensure that the flow of traffic isn’t obstructed and that you can move easily through the room from one end to the other.
TELL US
Have you tried any of these living room layout hacks? Let us know in the Comments and share your before and after photos.
MORE
Read more living room stories
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Very interesting ideas to try. But I am a bit confused about when to move furniture away from wall. Are you suggesting for larger room, moving furniture away from wall and in a cosy layout? What about small living room? I have a small 3m x 4m living room where furniture are along the edges. While my family space 6.5m x 5.5m has raked ceiling going 4.5m high, like item 7, zoned into study area along wall and cosy seating. Should I try diagonal for large space?
Hi Sharmin,
You just need to try it, it is furniture, if it is not working you can place it back where you originally had it. Yes, smaller rooms can have furniture 200mm off of the walls. It makes the space look and feel larger. If your in Canberra, NSW south or Queanbeyan you can employ us to do all this for you, just give us a call. Happy furniture trials.
CORE INTERIORS, Qualified Interior Designers, Canberra Australia. 0409605323 ask for Jennifer.
https://www.houzz.com.au/pro/coreinteriors/core-interiors
Thanks for your advice, but I myself am an architect and have some interior design knowledge too. I tried it 30cm in a large room, looked like galley behind sofa.