Siim, Elin and their family of eight in Maardu had a challenge many households know well – how to make the living room a cozy space for everyone to enjoy together, without it turning into a cluttered mess. IKEA interior designer stepped in and shares now the smart, practical tips for creating a family-friendly living room that works for both comfort and order.
Before – bright and cosy yet slightly mismatched
The open dining and living area is the heart of this family's home, where time is spent having fun and being creative together, but the room's functionality needed rethinking. Before the makeover, not all family members fit comfortably on the sofa and constantly lacked storage. The family itself wasn't quite sure about the room layout and whether it was the best for their family.
After – bright and cosy and wholesome
IKEA interior designer Sälli Preitof completely changed the layout of the living room – she switched the positions of the sofa and dining table, creating two distinct zones. "When a living room has multiple functions, creating zones is key, because they allow different activities to happen simultaneously," explaines the interior designer. In this living room, one of the main zones is for relaxing – with a generous grey SÖDERHAMN modular sofa with washable covers that can sit all the family.As for storage solutions, the star is the BESTÅ furniture combination, which offers a flexible solution for the family's different needs. The interior designer's recommendation is to always combine open and closed storage solutions. "This allows you to display your favourite items while keeping other things out of sight," says Sälli.
She adds that there's no need to fear floor-to-ceiling wall cabinets – on the contrary, they use the entire wall height for storage, saving valuable floor space and creating a more spacious feeling.
Set up your dream living room and dining area
Playtime without the mess
Many families with children know how easily games and toys can take over the living room. Playing is important, of course, but learning to put everything back is just as valuable a life skill. In this living room, a designated play area with smart, accessible storage makes it easy to keep things in order. The TROFAST shelf system helps children take out toys and craft supplies on their own and return them afterwards.
A space to play and grow together
What are the 6 children of this family going to do today? Set up a toy shop? Draw and craft together? Or read fairy tales? They can choose themselves since everything is right here and just the correct height. And the youngest family member has their own special spot – a cozy play mat just for them!
Planning the room in zones – the dining area
The spacious dining area combines a round extendable table – a family heirloom – with bold blue dining chairs. METOD kitchen cabinets near the dining table offer ample space for dishes, napkins, and other dining essentials. Babycare items are stored in the beige NISSAFORS trolley. There are also special features for the family´s pets – a dog bed under the cabinets and a scratching board for cat that also protects the beautiful table.
A living room for the whole family
Sälli Preitof: "The living room of our lovely family of eight needed designated zones for different activities, a big sofa with room for everybody and storage that would be playful, stress-free, and suitable for everybody. After the makeover, the room truly is the heart of this family, where they can spend time together having fun and being creative. But at the end of the day, everything goes back to its place and the room stays neat and tidy."
What was done before?
During the previous season, IKEA interior designers refreshed rooms in 7 Estonian homes and one office. The shared tips on how to furnish odd spaces, adapt homes to changing life situations, and organise all belongings. Among the rooms getting total makeover were a living room located in a traditional Estonian farmhouse, a Soviet style appartment building kitchen, several bedrooms and children´s rooms, and the office of a local small company.Previous makeovers
Would use some help?
If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.Interior design service