Sponsored Review
Most Singaporeans live in a HDB flat and the room that we spend the most time in as a family is usually the living room. It’s the largest space in the whole house and in that space, we hang out, watch TV, play games, do homework, dine and do all sorts of things together. Therefore, it’s really important to have a comfortable, cosy and functional living room. My personal opinion is that everyone must feel at ease and relaxed in that space, and it must also reflect the unique personality of the family. Making little changes and sprucing up the living room every once in a while injects fun and breaks the monotony, so I love to do that. When inspiration hits, I head to my favorite home furnishing store in town. Ikea, of course.
Because I like to make changes to my space often, Ikea is able to meet my needs in terms of pricing and variety. I know there are many people who go for expensive and timeless pieces that can be used for a very long time, but for the very fickle me when it comes to design and furnishing, reasonable pricing is more important. I also need new ideas and design concepts constantly, so the frequent introduction of new product ranges at Ikea works perfectly for me. I recently just did a simple sprucing up of my living room because I got tired of the look and the space had gotten so messy with the kids’ stuffs everywhere! Don’t believe me? Here’s the before and after:
It’s not tough to spruce up your living room, really! Today, I share 3 simple tips on how you can do that easily and economically. You can thank me at the end of the post. LOL!
1. Showcase your Family Moments
The best way to personalize a space or to give it a unique personality and flavor is to display photographs of the family in the space, either on the tabletop or on the walls. Not only do the beautiful photos remind us of the happy moments we spent together as a family, they also enhance the space aesthetically. Simple designs can make a big difference!
Selected these favorite photos from my family outings and overseas trips, and framed them up with these basic black frames from Ikea. Frame your family moments in different sizes and form a design on your wall however you like it. The good thing about this is that you can update the photographs to give it a different look every once in a while. I love looking at my wall now – Brings me so much happiness!
2. DIY A Signature Item
I love to DIY my stuffs, because then, they would be unique and cannot be found anywhere else. To spruce up my otherwise dull sofa, I decided to personalize some plain cushions I bought from Ikea with the initials of the husband and my name. Do you like them?
They are very simple to make, really. First, get your cushions and covers from Ikea. I got the black plain ones because they are the easiest to spruce up. Then get some colorful fabric – I found these stripped ones at home.
Then draw up your design (in my case, alphabets) on cardboard for easy drawing on the cloth (You can go freehand direct on the cloth if you are confident enough, of course). Cut out the design accordingly.
I used a craft glue to stick the alphabet cloth onto the cushion cover before using the sewing machine to stitch them on.
With thick white thread, I sewed a tracing outline around the alphabets, and also some felt buttons I got from Daiso. Completed!
3. Add A Warm Light Source
Lightings make a big difference to a space. Most of our homes would have white lights in our living room because we need good illumination for most of the activities done in that space. But adding a warm light source can give it a very cosy touch and a different ambience for those quiet moments, especially after the kids have gone to bed and peace returns to the household.
This simple Japanese-style HOLMO floor lamp from Ikea works perfectly for me. It’s extremely affordable (Less than S$10!) and lights up very well. I love the warm glow that comes out of it.
I like to light some scented candles occasionally and the BORRBY lantern from Ikea works great for me. Makes the whole living room smell so good! Even when not in use, I like it as a décor too.
I hope this has inspired you to make some little changes to your living room. Go ahead and do it – You’ll be surprised how much happier that makes you feel.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Ikea Singapore. The J Babies was provided with vouchers to purchase some of the items mentioned in this post, and no other financial compensation was received. The ideas, photographs and text are all solely mine.
