The term living room can be used to define many different types of spaces. For some it is where the family gathers to watch movies and listen to music. For others it is a formal space kept only for entertaining guests, once called a parlor room. Renovations made to them include entire makeovers and removing interior walls for more open space. Hiring a general contractor might be a good way to organize your project, as you will likely need to hire more than one person to help create the new living room.
Purpose of the Room
What do you want this new living room to be used for? Deciding exactly what the purpose of your living room will be determines what the next steps will be. If you intend to use it as a space for watching TV with the family, you might consider turning it into a home theater room, installing a surround sound system to enhance the experience. If it's going to be an entertainment space for parties, you might want to expand the room by knocking down walls to make it bigger or opening up your kitchen space into the area. Research what other people have done with their living rooms and then decide what works best for your purposes. By telling a general contractor ahead of time what you want, he or she can proceed forward more quickly and hire the right people to get the job done faster. Continue Reading
You have probably been thinking about knocking out the walls to make a bigger room for some time and can see exactly how the finished product looks. However, be prepared to find other problems as you go: termites, asbestos, mold, a load-bearing wall that will need additional work to support your ceiling. There may be unforeseeable issues as work progresses that you will have to make split decisions about. If you are removing a wall with outlets, ventilation or plumbing you may have to move those items somewhere else. A good general contractor will be able to spot things ahead of time and include them in your bid. Think about how you will adapt to not having certain rooms of your home available to you and how youll feel about having a bunch of people in your home.
Flooring Options
Carpeting may be a better choice if you plan to use the room for watching TV, and it's affordable. Wood flooring is beautiful and often lasts almost forever, but it is more expensive and does take a bit more effort to maintain. Laminate, vinyl and cork floors are your cheapest options for flooring, but they're also not that pretty, and your furniture could scratch them. Tiles is another option, especially if you plan to extend the kitchen space out. It will cost you about the same price as the wood flooring though. What you decide to put down should be about price and what the purpose of the room will be.
Cabinets and Countertops
Adding cabinets and countertops to your living space can dramatically increase your storage space as well as give a totally unique look should you decide to use it as an entertainment space. Stock wall cabinets are designed to fit into the majority of homes. Custom cabinetry is designed specifically to serve a certain purpose or go in a certain area with a specific aesthetic. Such cabinetry offers several advantages, including the custom sizes, different finishes, trimmings, and building materials. Custom cabinetry will come at a premium price, but it depends on materials, sizes and engineering.
You can also repurpose your kitchen cabinets for your living space if you decide to merge the two areas or replace the kitchen cabinets. Think about cabinet refacing. The basic refacing project consists of installing new cabinet door and drawer fronts and covering the exposed face frames of the cabinets with a matching wood or plastic veneer. The layout and structure of your cabinets stay the same just freshened up with a new look.
If you think of adding countertops as part of the entertainment space, you can go with stone slab marble, granite, quartz, or laminate. Also consider adding a sink for convenience, especially if you are thinking of installing a bar.
Furniture Choices
Depending on the room's purpose, you may want to invest in new furniture. Couches, love seats and recliners are normal options when furnishing a living room, but then you have specialty options like bar stools, high-back chairs, coffee tables, end tables and so on. What you will spend on this furniture depends on how much you need, the materials they're made of and the brand you buy. Do some window shopping in big-box stores and online to see which ones best fit your style and budget for the room.
If you plan to keep your old furniture but it doesn't match, then you might think about upholstery. There are professionals who can make your furniture look brand new with fabric that better matches the new style of your living room. Consult with a few and see what their estimates will be for fabric and labor to see if it will be cheaper to fix your old furniture or buy new ones.
Personal Property
You also need to think about preparing your home by protecting your personal property. Either remove things from the home completely and put it in storage or cover up items to keep them from getting covered in dust.
I need quit range to install a wood burning fireplace in my ranch home.
I am in Noblesville Indiana.
betty davis
More than 1 year ago
I am looking for someone tp repair my drapes the pully is broke or maybe a bracket need to have it fixed can you help me?
More than 1 year ago
Hi Betty, Thanks for reaching out, we’re happy to connect you with a pro for your project. You can submit a request to our pros here: www.homeadvisor.com, browse a list of local pros here: http://www.homeadvisor.com/c.html, or send your info to [email protected] and a project advisor will reach out to assist you. –HASupport
