There’s nothing quite like sitting with your friends and family in a new living room remodel with a stunning design. New features, details, colors, and materials could potentially make your living space both more aesthetically pleasing and more functional.
But while you may be excited about your upcoming remodel project, you might also be overwhelmed by all the options. It’s hard to know where you should start and which options will work best in your home.
At Four Day Fireplace, we can help you relax during your remodel project. We can give you some tips to help you find the best remodeling options and make decisions that work with your needs, style, and budget. Here are some ideas to help you create a gorgeous living space that you and your loved ones will enjoy.
How Do You Remake a Living Room?
Remaking a living room is a multistep process. To end up with the best possible final room, you will need to start with plenty of research and planning, then find good contractors to complete the work (unless you are very confident in your DIY abilities).
Your design decisions will depend on both your lifestyle and your design style. While a white-and-dove-gray living room with a lot of glass may look beautiful in a magazine, it might not be as practical if you have young children who tend to spill things or like to host boisterous parties. You might also prefer a more colorful space for yourself.
Don’t forget to consider your daily activities in your design. For example, if your family tends to spend a lot of time together watching movies or TV shows, you may want to design around a large-screen TV and make it comfortable for everyone to curl up together on the couches and chairs. On the other hand, if you are likely to entertain or spend more time on other activities, you may want to find a way to keep the TV out of sight when you aren’t watching.
Many people prefer to consult a professional interior designer before renovating, remodeling, or redesigning their living space. Even if you don’t hire a professional, it’s a good idea to talk to your friends and neighbors about their remodeling projects. Learning about what they did, what worked, and what they regret doing can help you make better decisions.
What is the first thing to do when remodeling a living room?
Every remodeling project should start with an understanding of your goals and priorities, especially if you have big, structural changes in mind. The more you’ve thought through why you want to remodel your living room and how you want to use it in the future, the less likely you are to have regrets after the project is completed.
Try to envision how you and your family are going to use your new living space. Are you planning to host parties? Just hang out with a few friends? Do you need space to lay out your yoga mats, a larger seating area, or both?
Remember, you will be using your living room not only now, but likely throughout several other phases of your life if you stay in your current home. For example, if you are planning to have children, you may want to ask people who have children whether your remodeling ideas are likely to work with young ones in the house — some designs may cause safety issues, or lead to things being broken too easily.
How Much Does a Living Room Remodel Cost?
Living room remodeling costs can vary widely, and not just because of regional variations and differences in individual contractors’ prices. If you are only getting some new paint and flooring, your remodel might cost a few thousand dollars. If you are undertaking new construction, rearranging plumbing or electrical lines, and completely redesigning your living space with a magazine-worthy design, that might cost a few hundred thousand dollars.
How can I renovate my living room cheaply?
The least expensive renovation projects tend to be surface-level rather than structural. For example, redesigning your fireplace mantel or getting a new fireplace insert will be cheaper than adding a whole new fireplace or moving your fire feature to another part of the room.
If you’re worried about renovation expenses, talk to a few different professionals to get an estimate and ask about financing options. This will give you a better sense of what to expect, as well as how prices might vary.
Living Room Remodel Ideas
Add a modern fireplace mantel
A modern fireplace mantel can completely change the appearance of your living room. The fireplace is generally the focal point of the room, so a new, modern-style mantel can go a long way toward creating a sophisticated vibe.
Linear fireplace designs have become especially popular in recent years. This modern design choice can work especially well for minimalist living.
Add new windows
Nothing makes a space come alive like natural light and warmth. In many living rooms, the windows are tired and drafty, leaving a darker room that leaks heat in the winter. Some rooms also have overly small windows that make the living space feel overly shut-in.
New windows will generally recoup 70 to 75% of their original cost if you sell your home. They will also help you save money on your energy bills, especially if you replace poor older windows with weathertight ones.
Upgrade with classic details
If you prefer a more traditional living room appearance, consider adding classic details to your living room like detailed millwork and a more elaborate fireplace mantel. You can also incorporate more traditional materials, like oak, mahogany, and leather, and patterns like florals and damask.
Expand your living room
Living rooms were historically smaller to help conserve energy. Today, however, many people prefer larger living areas where they can stretch and relax, host loved ones, give the kids more space to play, or just enjoy a little more breathing room.
Many home remodelers are choosing to expand their living rooms. Depending on your home layout, you may be able to do this by removing an interior non-loading-bearing wall between the living room and an adjoining space. With fewer walls, you can enjoy an open plan home or a larger living room. You can also create a greater sense of openness by defining subspaces with bookcases or half-walls instead of walls.
Include storage and display space
Given all the equipment and objects that come with modern living, most families feel like they can never have enough storage space. A living room makeover is a great time to add additional bookshelves, furniture with hidden storage, and shelving around the walls or over the fireplace.
Choose a new color palette
Most families spend the majority of their time together in the living room. Whether you watch movies together, host friends, read, sip wine, or just hang out, the living room acts as the main gathering place of your home. The color palette arguably makes more of a difference here than in any other room in your house.
If you are planning to eventually sell your home, it makes sense to choose a living room color palette with broad appeal to buyers. Neutrals like white, dove gray, and beige are popular choices, while warmer browns and golds or soft blues could add a nice touch of personality. A limited palette of mostly neutrals with small splashes of color can create a calm yet inviting atmosphere.
Add a new fire feature
A new fire feature can completely change the feel of your living room. Aside from the benefits of an aromatic, crackling wood fire or a heat-producing electric fireplace with beautiful faux flames, your new fire feature can be a stunning design statement in your home. You can add a completely new fireplace or remodel your existing fireplace with a new insert and mantel.
A wood or stone fireplace can add a lovely rustic feel to your home, while a custom linear fireplace with a floating shelf can make your home appear chic and elegant. Check out our recent articles about fireplace designs and fireplace mantels for more ideas.
