Although having guests is currently not allowed, living with a big family means you have enough action at home even without them. But how to set up a living room that is suitable for different activities? Our interior designer Asta believes that the same room can definitely meet all needs of both parents and kids.
Meet the heroes!
This week, we invite you to a cosy home of Agnė and Jonas located in Semeliškės village. Although the couple works in Vilnius, they always enjoy going back to their peaceful countryside house. They even spend their holidays here having fun in the yard or in the living room. In fact, the living room plays a very important role in the family life. Jonas often works here, little sisters Ugnė, Urtė and Upė love to play around, the whole family gathers here for lunch, reading or having guests.
This week, we invite you to a cosy home of Agnė and Jonas located in Semeliškės village. Although the couple works in Vilnius, they always enjoy going back to their peaceful countryside house. They even spend their holidays here having fun in the yard or in the living room. In fact, the living room plays a very important role in the family life. Jonas often works here, little sisters Ugnė, Urtė and Upė love to play around, the whole family gathers here for lunch, reading or having guests.
Before the renovation
The large living room that occupies area of about 50 square meters wasn't furnished properly. Massive, dark-coloured furniture overshadowed the room, while many items were placed on the floor instead of using the walls. Agnė and Jonas wanted to keep the room finished in natural wood, so our interior designer had a double task: to align rustic interior with modern solutions and to divide the living room into several areas for different activities without losing the sense of spaciousness.
The large living room that occupies area of about 50 square meters wasn't furnished properly. Massive, dark-coloured furniture overshadowed the room, while many items were placed on the floor instead of using the walls. Agnė and Jonas wanted to keep the room finished in natural wood, so our interior designer had a double task: to align rustic interior with modern solutions and to divide the living room into several areas for different activities without losing the sense of spaciousness.
Let the light get inside
To make the living room as bright as the view outside windows, Asta chose to work with light colours and natural materials. She replaced the old corner sofa that occupied a lot of space with a SÖDERHAMN modular sofa in modern style. It is easy to change the size of this sofa by adding or removing individual sections. The new sofa is placed in two rows. Such a layout makes it more convenient to communicate, watch TV and enjoy the view through the window. Even more, if having fun on the sofa ends in accidental stains or spills, all covers are removable and can be machine washed.
To make the living room as bright as the view outside windows, Asta chose to work with light colours and natural materials. She replaced the old corner sofa that occupied a lot of space with a SÖDERHAMN modular sofa in modern style. It is easy to change the size of this sofa by adding or removing individual sections. The new sofa is placed in two rows. Such a layout makes it more convenient to communicate, watch TV and enjoy the view through the window. Even more, if having fun on the sofa ends in accidental stains or spills, all covers are removable and can be machine washed.
Things to do at home
To keep the family busy, the new sofa enjoys a company of not only a TV, but also some other items meant for their personal hobbies. The NYMÅNE floor lamp is here to make reading more comfortable, the side table offers enough space to keep the favourite books within reach, and the VITLÖK plant stand attracts more attention to their cherished indoor plants.
To keep the family busy, the new sofa enjoys a company of not only a TV, but also some other items meant for their personal hobbies. The NYMÅNE floor lamp is here to make reading more comfortable, the side table offers enough space to keep the favourite books within reach, and the VITLÖK plant stand attracts more attention to their cherished indoor plants.
“A big family needs a big dining table. Especially if they are going to invite guests one day. Therefore, I have chosen one that can be expanded and accommodates up to 10 people. It will take up less space when not in use.”
Asta Petravičiūtė, IKEA interior designer
A bookcase for more than just books
The wall next to the dining table is meant for storage. Our interior designer placed here a BILLY bookcase combined of cabinets in different heights. The lower closed cabinets will help to keep the room tidy, since they can hide toys and other belongings. Meanwhile the higher cabinets with glass doors are great for storing books and treasured items. To avoid running back and forth to the kitchen, these cabinets can also be used to store plates and glasses close to the dining table.
The wall next to the dining table is meant for storage. Our interior designer placed here a BILLY bookcase combined of cabinets in different heights. The lower closed cabinets will help to keep the room tidy, since they can hide toys and other belongings. Meanwhile the higher cabinets with glass doors are great for storing books and treasured items. To avoid running back and forth to the kitchen, these cabinets can also be used to store plates and glasses close to the dining table.
It's fun time!
There also is a dedicated space for play in the living room. Three girls in this family are very creative, love drawing and playing jigsaw puzzles. Thus, now sisters have a wide table to accommodate not only them, but also their friends. A deep drawer and storage crates on castors are just perfect for storing drawings, handicraft supplies and toys. And they make it easier to deal with clutter without any help of mom or dad.
There also is a dedicated space for play in the living room. Three girls in this family are very creative, love drawing and playing jigsaw puzzles. Thus, now sisters have a wide table to accommodate not only them, but also their friends. A deep drawer and storage crates on castors are just perfect for storing drawings, handicraft supplies and toys. And they make it easier to deal with clutter without any help of mom or dad.
“If the living room is also available for kids, be sure to make it safe: safety plugs, corner bumpers and other accessories can help you protect those curious little fingers from injuries.”
Asta Petravičiūtė, IKEA interior designer