Does your living room feel stale? Would you like to give it a facelift? A renovation, big or small, can bring new life to a space.

Your living room is often the center of activity for your home. You want the space to function for your family’s needs. You also want to make design choices that fit your style and needs.

Carefully planning can ensure you get the most out of your renovation. Being thoughtful about decisions can result in a room you love for years to come. Here are six things to consider when you’re planning to renovate your living room.

1. Making it Livable

It’s important to consider your individual tastes and lifestyle when you are planning a living room renovation. This is often one of the most used areas of the house. You want to make sure that you are making practical choices that will work for your family and allow you to relax in your space.

Carpeting may be cozy, but it’s tough to keep clean. An area rug might be a better option if your family is prone to spills and dirt. Consider hard flooring options, especially if you have small children or large pets. Durable finishes like a composite wood or laminate will withstand your activity-filled home.

Do you frequently host gatherings and holidays? Think about how you can make your space flexible for large groups. Adding a wet bar or a transition to the outdoors will make your living room more party-friendly.

2. Re configuring Walls

One of the most significant impacts you can make to a space is changing the footprint. Changing the footprint of your living room can include knocking down walls and installing new drywall, which can get costly. But, you can also create a whole new space in your living room by changing the walls, which may be well worth your time and money.

You can open up your space or make your living room larger by removing non-load bearing walls. Think about how this will change the flow to the attached rooms. You could take an unused area, like a formal dining room, and make a larger living space.

Have an open floor plan you want to give a more cozy feel? Adding a wall or half wall can better define your living room. A good drywall installer can seamlessly add a wall that looks like it was part of the original architecture.

3. Choosing A Mood

Decide on the feel you want your living room to have. Are you looking to make it formal and dramatic? Or do you want a space that is bright and cheerful? The mood you desire dictates your design choices.

If you are looking for an airy feel, consider adding larger windows for lots of natural light. Opt for light fixtures that fill the room with light. Choosing a light paint color will also make the room feel bright and open.

Looking for something a little more moody? Dark living rooms can be beautiful and cozy. Make a statement with a deep, jewel-tone wall color or one wall painted dark grey. Scatter smaller, warm lighting fixtures to add to the moodiness.

4. Making Thoughtful Furniture Purchases

Again, the functionality of your living room is a priority. And, the flow of your space is based mainly on your furniture selection and placement. Make sure you are careful about how you choose pieces and keep in mind how they will fit in your living room.

The features of your furniture can change everything about the look of the room. Like paint color, the shade can make the room feel larger or smaller. Choose light furniture to create space and dark for a more cozy feel. Also, keep in mind the demands of your lifestyle when choosing materials and colors.

The scale and amount of furniture pieces are also important. If you choose too large-sized furniture, it may feel cramped in your space. And too many pieces of furniture will make your space feel crowded and congested.

You want to leave about two and a half feet between pieces to comfortably move around the room. You also want to consider the height of the furniture and placement around things like vents and windows. It’s a good idea to use an online furniture planner to simulate the pieces in your room.

When you make a plan to arrange furniture, think about your room’s primary purpose or focal point. Is your room mainly for watching TV? Place furniture so that it can comfortably be seen from every seat. If quiet social gatherings are more your thing, plan for a cozy set up. Arrange furniture towards each other or the center of the room to encourage conversation.

5. Integrating Practical Items

The living room needs to be a functional space. The trick is to balance the function with design. A renovation is an opportunity to integrate your practical items that aren’t necessarily beautiful.

Toys, board games, and books are all items that find their way into the living room. Consider adding built-in cabinets for a polished storage solution for everything from video game systems to movies and games. Built-ins can be created for your space by a contractor, purchased at furniture stores, or even made as a DIY project!

With the number of electronics in the living room, the number of wires can be unsightly. Think about how you can integrate these as part of your renovation. Can you mount the flat screen and hide the wires? Could you have the surround sound installed in the walls? A remodel is the perfect opportunity to make these devices feel like part of the room.

6. Creating Space

Does your living room feel like a tight space? You can make it seem grand with some strategic fixture placement. Creating the illusion of height in a room makes it seem more spacious.

There are some simple tricks to help visually enlarge your room. Plan to hang curtains at ceiling height to open up windows and create the illusion of higher ceilings. When choosing light fixtures, look for ones that don’t hover too low over the room. Placing artwork and shelving higher on the walls can make your walls appear much larger.

Conclusion

A renovation may seem stressful to start. But taking your time to focus on the details will make your planning more successful. Be sure to evaluate your options and make mindful decisions.

And your planning will pay off. Whatever your style or family’s needs, you can create a living room perfect for you. Whether hosting large parties or watching movies with friends, you can have a space that you are proud of and enjoy.