It almost feels as though life owes us all a makeover after the tumultuous year 2020 has been, and so we'll take joy in whatever form we can get. Whether you're craving a big or a small change, home interiors are a great place to fulfil that longing. And don't we all love home do-overs?
It would seem almost impossible to revamp your home during covid-19, but home remodelling has seen a steady rise during this time, and understandably so. Not always does cleaning out your room, or wardrobe, reorganizing your kitchen, or just regular spring cleaning ease that itch for change. Given the way things are, a home do-over might just be the perfect change you're looking for.
But doing up an entire house can be quite the ordeal if you haven't got your base covered. On the other hand, it can be very exciting when there's clarity on where and how to begin. A lot of the time, it helps to break down your home refurbishing plan into multiple stages and tackle one element at a time. In this article we discuss living room spaces and how you can upgrade your living area to accommodate your need during these times.
Ready to give your home that do-over?
Here are five steps to help you achieve the perfect living room do-over - Your 5-Step Guide to Designing the Perfect Living Room -
Step 1: Research & Thematise
Before designing your living room, it's best to do thorough research of the layout and style you prefer, cost factor, type of storage needed, and the materials available. When it comes to interior decor, it's always best to have at least an idea of how you would like your living room to look and feel. Do your research and list out the kind of living room you envision. Mood boards are a great way to do that or you can even use an idea pad to collate your ideas. One of the most important things to keep in mind is the quality of furnishing. Do your research and find trusted brands with years of experience in making laminates, chipboards, plywood, mdf boards and the likes before you finally settle on a manufacturer.
Step 2: Know Your Need
When it comes to designing any home, if you start with the why or the where, you'll probably find your way to the how. This is one of the first things that will serve you: knowing what you want, or at least having an idea of it. Every home has a different need based on which you should begin your home decor plan. The need may be for sleek storage units, for some it may be aesthetics, for many it might be durability, and for some it might be antibacterial, grease-resistant, antifungal, waterproof, fire retardant, anti-skid or even dirt-resistant surfaces. At the end of the day, you would want to design a home that is harmonious in form, function as well as aesthetics.
Step 3: Allocate a Budget
The fun begins once you've allocated a budget for refurbishing your living room. Based on your budget you can opt for multicoloured laminates to give you a modern chic look, or even go for trusted matte laminates. Since the range of options to choose from are so far-ranging, allocating a budget will help you design your living room just the way you want it without leaving holes in your wallet. You can also do your home refurbishing in stages so that budget allocation becomes easier. This way there's less stress on you, and you can focus only on designing the perfect living room space.
Step 4: Choose The Right Material
When it comes to designing a living room space, your need takes utmost precedence, and so choosing the right material is of utmost importance. Make a lasting choice and opt for materials that are sturdy, scratch-resistant, waterproof, grease-resistant, with other features that best suit your living room needs. The best part is that there are no dearth of options when it comes to furnishing materials.
Here are some commonly used materials for living room furnishing -
Chipboards/ particle boards or low-density fibreboards (LDF) -
Chipboards are a sturdy and reliable option. They are engineered wood products that are prepared from chips of wood or jute-stick along with a suitable binder which is pressed and formed. Chipboards make burly living room units and are perfect as TV units, work tables, and can even go well as a living room centrepiece. Since they're long-lasting and can withstand wear & tear, they can be used in different aspects of interior designing like living room furniture, cabinets, or even as ready to assemble furniture. The soft tones that wood particleboards exude and the various options for assorting living room furniture comes easy with chipboards. Their calming effect creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Chipboards are available in different densities depending on your need.
Plywood -
Plywood is generally a lot lighter in weight when compared to regular or solid wood. This is what makes it a perfect option for living room furniture when compared to regular wood as heavier wood is generally harder to craft. Sanded wood is generally the wood used for cabinets, tabletops, shelves and panelling.
Soft Boards -
Softboards are generally used as insulating boards due to their thermal and acoustic properties. Softboards are manufactured under heat and pressure by using the "wet process", i.e. having a fibre moisture content of more than 20 % at the forming stage.
Laminates -
If you've gotten bored of how your living room looks, and want to spruce it up in a cost-effective way, laminates are what you should ponder over. Putting it as simply as it can be put, laminates have the ability to introduce a sense of definition to an existing setup. Decorative laminates for living room are designed to suit a variety of applications, including column claddings, wall linings, shelves, furniture, doors, counters, cabinets, etc. Their wide range of designs, textures, colours and sizes lend an aesthetically appealing finish to almost all interiors of your living room. Furthermore, laminates are easy to maintain and durable, which means a bit of care and maintenance will go a long way in keeping your laminates looking like new for long. Laminates come in different types, designs, patterns and colours. When it comes to your living room, you can choose from a range of acrylic surface, matte finish, metallic boards, grainy texture, as well as digital laminates.
It is surprisingly easy how well you can transform your work from home space into something new and refreshing and with minimal effort.
Step 5: Bring It To Life
Once you have all you need, it's time to bring your dream living room design to life. When it comes designing your living room, you will be spoiled for choice with the many options of surface finishes to choose from. These days digital laminates are garnering attention with the many exotic prints and patterns available. Digital laminates are a great place to begin if you'd like to give your house a quirky makeover. Another way could be by picking a specific wall and working your way around it. You could pick a theme, pick a colour or colours, and then find the right furniture to complement it. Or you could design your living room space by picking your furniture first, and then getting to the walls and surrounding areas.
Monochromatic hues are also a great way to add sophistication and elegance to living room settings. From acrylic, textured, printed, monotones, di-tones to digital laminates, there's enough and more options for you to choose from.
Apart from these, decorative laminates will most assuredly give your living room furniture that distinct personality and elegance. If you're opting for decorative laminates, here's everything you need to know as you prep for the perfect living room do-over.
To summarise: Visualize your living room. Know your needs. Work out a budget. Select options that best suit that need. Find the right manufacturers who can guarantee durability and affordability.
