This week’s heroine, Edita, shares her home with an energetic five-year-old and their pet, Zara. The heart of their home is the living room – and that’s exactly where our interior designer, Gabija, worked her magic to give it a fresh new look.
Before the renovation
When the family first moved in, the living room was furnished with borrowed pieces that were slightly too large for the space – and they’re still in use today. The room is small (the combined living room and kitchen area is just 12 square metres), so before the makeover, it lacked both cosiness and proper storage for belongings.Interior designer‘s task:
- Create a cosy living area next to the kitchen, with a dedicated relaxation zone for unwinding after a long day and enjoying favourite activities.
- Find a storage solution that suits the compact room, providing ample space without making it feel cluttered.
- Design an inspiring and organised play corner for the child.
Take a look at the result!
A relaxing retreat and hidden storage in one
The main piece of furniture in the refreshed living room is the LANDSKRONA sofa-bed with covers in grain leather. It’s an ideal choice for homes with children or pets, as any accidental stains are easy to wipe off, and hair doesn’t cling to the surface.The pull-out sofa is perfect for hosting guests or planning a movie night at home – after all, watching a film while lying down is far more enjoyable! Plus, this sofa has a storage space under the seat, perfect for keeping rarely used items or seasonal clothes.
Sofa-beds
The IKEA PS 2014 pendant lamp, inspired by science fiction movies, provides the general lighting in the living room. Its design has won the prestigious Red Dot Award, while the shape and light intensity can be adjusted with a simple pull of the strings.
The all-in-one wall
To create ample storage space in the living room, we installed the BESTÅ combination along the entire wall. The varying frame depths and different coloured fronts add a sense of airiness, while the cabinets with glass doors and built-in lighting showcase treasured memories and favourite dinnerware. The lighting is adjustable via remote control, allowing for easy dimming to create a softer ambiance in the evenings.“If your living room is small but you have plenty of belongings, make the most of the wall space by installing cabinets that fit along them.”
Gabija Petkevičiūtė, IKEA interior designer
One day, there will be an air conditioner...
...but for now, the wall is adorned only with unsightly cables. So, we temporarily hid them behind the EKET wall cabinets, creating another great spot for storage!
The sturdy RÅSKOG trolley is perfect for items you need in different areas of your home. With castors, it’s easy to move and use wherever needed: in the living room, kitchen, hallway, bedroom or office.
No home is complete without playtime
Like many families with small kids, Edita faces the challenge of toys scattered around the place: her son wants to play and keep his things where mom is, so the living room doubles as a play area. To keep this space tidy and make it easy to put away toys when playtime is over, we added a trolley, boxes, baskets and the BILLY bookcase. The latter features a deep pull-out drawer at the bottom, perfect for neatly storing the little one’s toys and easy for small hands to open, thanks to the child-friendly BEGRIPA handle.Children’s storage & organising
Aliving room within a living room
Cats and dogs deserve to feel just as comfortable at home as their human family members. That’s why we created a special spot for Zara, right next to the sofa. Everything in this small living room – from the soft bed to the toys – was designed with support from trained veterinarians.UTSÅDD pet products
“The finishing touches to the living room are textiles and decorations. Cushions and throws add cosiness, blackout curtains provide privacy, while RÖDALM frames with family photos bring a personal feel.”
Gabija Petkevičiūtė, IKEA interior designer
Would use some help?
If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.Interior design service
What was done before?
In previous seasons, IKEA interior designers shared their tips on how to furnish odd spaces, adapt homes to changing life situations, and organise all belongings. We have organised kitchens, children’s rooms, and bedrooms, set up a home office in the living room, furnished a tiny one-room apartment, upgraded premises for family business, and so much more.Previous makeovers