Living rooms are one of the most used areas of a home. It is where people play games, socialize, entertain guests, watch television, relax, and sometimes even eat. Naturally, beautifying a living room with striking furniture, decorative crown molding for walls, a beautiful area rug and the like are great ways to make the space more pleasant to inhabit.
However, transforming a living room into the space of your dreams might require a remodel.
Remodeling a living room can feel a bit overwhelming to some, as there are so many things to consider. If you need help figuring out how to start, look no further.
Here are six steps to getting started with a living room remodel.
Table of Contents
Reexamine the Layout
Before diving into a full-blown living room remodel, you might want to examine your space with a critical eye. Sometimes, all a living room really needs is for things to be rearranged or even moved to a different room in the home.
Living rooms typically revolve around something like a fireplace or television, so use this as your anchor and work to reimagine the area. After doing this, if you still think that a living room remodel is right for you, then proceed into the next stage.
Research and Plan Your Remodel
Research and planning are at the core of any successful gambit. Therefore, you will need to take the necessary time to consider what you are looking to do to your living room, how long it will take to achieve and how much it will cost. This is particularly important if you are wanting to make any structural changes.
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The key here is to think long-term about the functionality of the space and how you want to use your living room. Once you have established this baseline, be sure to conduct an abundance of research to get a good understanding on the details and logistics of such a project.
This is critical because, while you might have allocated $5,000 to spruce the space up, the average living room renovation cost ranges between $6,700 and $7,800. If you didn’t know this beforehand, you would end up with a half-finished living room.
Take Your Lifestyle into Consideration
When designing your living room remodel, you need to consider your lifestyle. This means thinking about how you and your family plan on using the space. Additionally, you will want to think long-term as well. It is important to plan for various stages of life.
While you might have a baby right now that you are worried about falling over on a hardwood floor while learning to walk, in just a short couple of years, you will have a toddler who will constantly threaten to stain your carpeted floor with every liquid imaginable.
The point here is to think beyond your current desires and think about what will make you and your family happy now and in the future.
Focus on the Flooring
As alluded to a moment ago, the flooring you select for your living room is important. However, this does not mean that it needs to be an expensive affair.
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Today, there are a panoply of great-looking flooring materials that will fit a variety of budgets. Everything from wooden laminates to vinyl tiles, various budget carpet options and beyond, there is something out there for everyone.
That said, if you are interested in going for a higher-quality material, this is a great idea as well. Just make sure that you research costs beforehand.
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Paint is likely to be one of the most cost-effective options for remodeling your living room. Depending on your plan, it can also be one of the most dramatic.
No matter if you decide to paint the entire room, transform one wall into a focal point or a combination of the two, painting the walls is an essential step in a living room remodel.
However, before you settle on a color or colors, be sure that they will coordinate well with your existing furniture or any new furniture you plan on purchasing.
Freshen Up the Furniture
While we are on the topic of furniture, it should be mentioned that this is a critical consideration for any living room remodel.
Of course, while you can choose to buy a new couch, end tables and the like, you can also renovate your existing furniture by sanding and staining wood pieces, applying beautiful wood moldings or even taking your furniture to be reupholstered by a professional.
The point here is that buying brand new furniture may not be necessary and there are various options at your disposal.
Livening Up Your Living Room
Remodeling your living room is a fantastic way to make the space more functional, enjoyable and even increase your home’s value.
However, the key to a successful remodel is to think long-term about your wants and needs, conduct thorough research on the matter and plan the project meticulously. By following these steps, you are sure to end up with a living room you love.