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6 Inspiring Before and After Living Room Transformations
From a simple layout rethink to a brave extension decision, check out ways designers have created cosy lounging spaces
Our living rooms should primarily be comfy, calming spaces where we can relax, but it isn’t always obvious how to achieve that, both in terms of decor and layout.
If you’re looking to make the most of every centimetre of your living room or want to up the cosy factor – or both – take a look at these schemes, where designers on Houzz have cleverly balanced improving flow and functionality with retaining or adding character and warmth.
If you’re looking to make the most of every centimetre of your living room or want to up the cosy factor – or both – take a look at these schemes, where designers on Houzz have cleverly balanced improving flow and functionality with retaining or adding character and warmth.
Maya kept a chunky nib wall, so there’s still a sense of separate spaces. This also allowed her to fit kitchen units right up to the living room and retain the chimney breast alcove. The new alcove cupboards echo the kitchen cabinets to link the two rooms.
A number of features were replaced with era-appropriate pieces. Maya retained and cleaned up the floral tiles in the fireplace, but smartened up the surround with a marble design. The old coving was damaged, so she replaced it, and she laid dark-stained engineered oak flooring. “The couple wanted dark wooden floors everywhere, as Edwardian houses often had,” she says.
A round, gold-framed mirror boosts light and adds to the period feel of this now well-functioning family home.
See more before and after photos of the whole of this home.
A number of features were replaced with era-appropriate pieces. Maya retained and cleaned up the floral tiles in the fireplace, but smartened up the surround with a marble design. The old coving was damaged, so she replaced it, and she laid dark-stained engineered oak flooring. “The couple wanted dark wooden floors everywhere, as Edwardian houses often had,” she says.
A round, gold-framed mirror boosts light and adds to the period feel of this now well-functioning family home.
See more before and after photos of the whole of this home.
Before Photo
The awkward nook transformation
This living room nook in a 1930s home was a slightly odd space that wasn’t being fully utilised and felt detached from the other side of the room, where there’s a wood-burning stove.
The family of four who own the house hired designer Alison Anderson to help them improve the layout and create space for their treasured possessions. Using Houzz Pro software to share information, she was able to present ideas and products clearly and easily to the owners.
This living room nook in a 1930s home was a slightly odd space that wasn’t being fully utilised and felt detached from the other side of the room, where there’s a wood-burning stove.
The family of four who own the house hired designer Alison Anderson to help them improve the layout and create space for their treasured possessions. Using Houzz Pro software to share information, she was able to present ideas and products clearly and easily to the owners.
Alison’s solution was to bring the nook into the main room. She designed a media wall as a focal point and somewhere the owners could display books and treasures.
She then cleverly placed long sofas against the sides of the nook, which visually extend the space. Shelves above the radiators either side ensure the sofas don’t look as if they’re floating. “The shelves make the space near the extended sofas feel purposeful and designed, and add balance to the room,” Alison says.
With the sofas against the side walls, rather than across the opening as before, anyone sitting there can now benefit from the wood-burning stove (behind the camera), making the nook feel part of the room.
Tour the whole of this 1930s house.
She then cleverly placed long sofas against the sides of the nook, which visually extend the space. Shelves above the radiators either side ensure the sofas don’t look as if they’re floating. “The shelves make the space near the extended sofas feel purposeful and designed, and add balance to the room,” Alison says.
With the sofas against the side walls, rather than across the opening as before, anyone sitting there can now benefit from the wood-burning stove (behind the camera), making the nook feel part of the room.
Tour the whole of this 1930s house.
The warm and welcoming transformation
This tired living room in a period terrace was gloomy and cold when the owners first moved in.
The brief was to bring what had been a rental for several years back to being a family home with a light, calm and cosy mood, but without making the look fussy.
“[The owners] were understated and didn’t want anything ostentatious,” Simon Tong of Mustard House Design says.
This tired living room in a period terrace was gloomy and cold when the owners first moved in.
The brief was to bring what had been a rental for several years back to being a family home with a light, calm and cosy mood, but without making the look fussy.
“[The owners] were understated and didn’t want anything ostentatious,” Simon Tong of Mustard House Design says.
Several of Simon’s design decisions have made the room almost unrecognisable. He removed the tatty window seat to create an airy reading spot. “People would have been leaning against the glass,” he says. “This is now a lovely place to sit and read, and it looks nice from outside, too.”
The walls have gone from dark grey to warm off-white and the wooden blinds have been replaced with soft white curtains.
Herringbone parquet flooring, a pale rug, and plenty of tactile textures and natural wood complete the cosy, uplifting mood.
Read the whole story of this stylish transformation.
Find reviewed architects and interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The walls have gone from dark grey to warm off-white and the wooden blinds have been replaced with soft white curtains.
Herringbone parquet flooring, a pale rug, and plenty of tactile textures and natural wood complete the cosy, uplifting mood.
Read the whole story of this stylish transformation.
Find reviewed architects and interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The cramped to sociable transformation
The new owner of this two-floor flat wanted to be able to host a crowd, but also needed a cosy retreat after a busy day at work. Designer Camila Rodrigues of COR London managed to tick both those boxes with a simple layout switch that’s hugely improved the room’s flow.
The new owner of this two-floor flat wanted to be able to host a crowd, but also needed a cosy retreat after a busy day at work. Designer Camila Rodrigues of COR London managed to tick both those boxes with a simple layout switch that’s hugely improved the room’s flow.
Camila moved (a new version of) the sofa to the opposite corner, which has unlocked several advantages: it no longer blocks a section of the glazed balcony doors; it gives anyone sitting there views of the city; it feels cosily contained, and it has freed up space for guests to gather around a large dining table (just seen on the far left).
Camila brought in the cosy feel the owner wanted through an earthy colour palette and plenty of pleasing textures, from leather and timber to slate and soft textiles.
Using Houzz Pro Mood Boards, she was able to share her vision with the owner to get his reaction, so she knew he loved her ideas. As she says, “He just wanted to feel at home and was really happy with the result.”
See more before and after photos of the whole of this flat.
Camila brought in the cosy feel the owner wanted through an earthy colour palette and plenty of pleasing textures, from leather and timber to slate and soft textiles.
Using Houzz Pro Mood Boards, she was able to share her vision with the owner to get his reaction, so she knew he loved her ideas. As she says, “He just wanted to feel at home and was really happy with the result.”
See more before and after photos of the whole of this flat.
Before Photo
The demolished extension transformation
It may seem counterintuitive to remove an extension to improve space, but this project is proof it can sometimes be the answer.
The back room in this terraced house was originally home to the kitchen (now moved to the centre of the floor plan) and had a poorly constructed extension tacked on (seen here beyond the sliding doors). The extension blocked light and was useful for nothing beyond storage.
It may seem counterintuitive to remove an extension to improve space, but this project is proof it can sometimes be the answer.
The back room in this terraced house was originally home to the kitchen (now moved to the centre of the floor plan) and had a poorly constructed extension tacked on (seen here beyond the sliding doors). The extension blocked light and was useful for nothing beyond storage.
Brian Hagood and Charisma Panchapakesan of CAB Architects removed the extension and replaced the sliding doors with a large, attractive window. A new back door has been walled off to create a boot room and, behind that, a cloakroom, so arrivals from the garden don’t land straight in the living room.
The garden area where the extension was is now decked and contains a corner sofa, so the owners can relax while keeping an eye on their children playing on the lawn.
Inside, a new wood floor, decorative plasterwork, light-enhancing soft white paint, and colourful cushions create a lovely bright space.
See more of the clever reinvention of this terraced house.
The garden area where the extension was is now decked and contains a corner sofa, so the owners can relax while keeping an eye on their children playing on the lawn.
Inside, a new wood floor, decorative plasterwork, light-enhancing soft white paint, and colourful cushions create a lovely bright space.
See more of the clever reinvention of this terraced house.
The gentle decluttering transformation
There’s a lot going on in this living room in a detached period house, with disparate furniture styles and storage boxes with no home.
The owner loves Victorian style, but had downsized and wasn’t sure which of her period pieces to keep and which to move on – nor quite how best to inject era-appropriate character into her new home while giving it a fresh, modern twist.
She asked designers Caroline Nicholls, Deborah Moor and Katie Minney of Slightly Quirky to help.
There’s a lot going on in this living room in a detached period house, with disparate furniture styles and storage boxes with no home.
The owner loves Victorian style, but had downsized and wasn’t sure which of her period pieces to keep and which to move on – nor quite how best to inject era-appropriate character into her new home while giving it a fresh, modern twist.
She asked designers Caroline Nicholls, Deborah Moor and Katie Minney of Slightly Quirky to help.
The team brought the bones of the room back to Victorian splendour with engineered wood flooring, a traditional fireplace surround and William Morris-style wallpaper, which ties in colourwise with the coral velvet sofa and ottoman (just seen).
Some of the owner’s antique pieces add to the mood, including the bureau, which offers more closed storage than the previous console, while a round mirror softens the lines and links to the arched fireplace insert via the curvy mantel clock.
The owner loves her new home. “[The team] were very empathic when it came to deciding which pieces of existing furniture would work in the redesign, and which (sadly) had to go,” she says. “I’m very grateful they held my hand through that process.”
Explore the whole of this house.
Tell us…
Have any of these projects inspired your own renovation ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Some of the owner’s antique pieces add to the mood, including the bureau, which offers more closed storage than the previous console, while a round mirror softens the lines and links to the arched fireplace insert via the curvy mantel clock.
The owner loves her new home. “[The team] were very empathic when it came to deciding which pieces of existing furniture would work in the redesign, and which (sadly) had to go,” she says. “I’m very grateful they held my hand through that process.”
Explore the whole of this house.
Tell us…
Have any of these projects inspired your own renovation ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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It’s a desire common to many of us who live in period properties – how to keep the original look and mood while creating a sociable and well-functioning home.
The owners of this two-floor flat in an Edwardian house found designer Maya Salfati on Houzz and asked her to help them do just that. The living room, seen here, was both tired and disconnected, so Maya first removed a large section of the wall on the left to open it up to the kitchen.