Updating your living room can showcase your personal style and make the space more functional for relaxing and entertaining friends and family.
You don’t need to undertake a full renovation to make a big impact. From painting walls to improving lighting, Bunnings Workshop members have shared many ways to make their living rooms more inviting and comfortable.
Here are practical ways to update your living room based on projects shared by community members.
1. Refresh the walls with paint
A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest and most effective ways to update your living room. While giving his living room a makeover, @diy_hausdesigns painted the walls, trims and ceiling to make the space look brighter.
Learn how to paint like a professional using Rob's step-by-step guide.
2. Add a feature wall
Create a focal point with a feature wall using materials like timber battens, moulding, or panelling. Experienced member @ProjectPete transformed a plain brick wall in his living room into a recessed TV feature wall with EasyVJ panels.
Get more inspiration from 7 ways to create a feature wall, 12 feature walls with wainscoting and 10 ways to decorate a wall.
3. Update the flooring
New flooring can completely change the look and feel of your living room. Hybrid and floating floors are popular choices in the community for their durability and ease of installation. For example, community member @RAW completed a D.I.Y. hybrid flooring installation using Smart Home Products waterproof hybrid planks.
Get more ideas from 5 ways to revamp your floors.
4. Add doors and window furnishing
Adding doors, curtains and blinds can help add privacy or make your living room easier to heat or cool, allowing you to relax and entertain in comfort. A new Pine barn door by @Jwyatt partitions a living area, adding privacy while providing shade from the afternoon sun.
Don’t miss 6 ways to add privacy to your home.
5. Upgrade furniture
Adding, upcycling or replacing furniture can be a quick and easy way to refresh your living room, including entertainment units, coffee tables and cabinets. Member @lifestylebymari upcycled an old coffee table by sanding it back to its original colour and adding leather handles.
Get more ideas from 8 ways to make a coffee table and our Top 10 most popular indoor furniture projects.
6. Hang your television
Make your living room more spacious and modern by mounting your television on a wall. A D.I.Y. freestanding entertainment unit by @mattham uses laminated Pine panels for a television mount - a neat solution for rental properties.
The Bunnings team provide step-by-step instructions How to install a TV wall mount.
7. Reorganise and add shelving
Decluttering and reorganising your living room can provide a big improvement. You can experiment with furniture placement to improve flow, maximise space and better define zones, or add storage to reduce clutter. A custom mid-century shelving unit by @Benskimo helps showcase and organise treasures.
The Bunnings team has a step-by-step guide to constructing a D.I.Y. cube storage unit.
8. Add greenery
Plant stands are an effective way to display potted plants and add greenery to your room. @joineryjo made stylish timber plant stands that would look great in your living room.
Experienced Workshop member @JoeAzza shared step-by-step instructions How to build a planter stand.
9. Improve your lighting
Layered lighting can make a huge difference to a room. Combine overhead lights with floor lamps, wall sconces or LED strips to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. You can also make features like @sandy_d who repurposed wooden slats from old Venetian blinds to create a D.I.Y. pendant light fitting.
Check out handy tips in the Bunnings guide Choosing the right interior light.
10. Add accessories
Make your living room more stylish and functional by adding accessories like trays, magazine stands, bar trolleys or simple couch cushions. The large ottoman tray by @igarimasingh was created simply using a Specrite panel.
10 ways to prepare your house for a party has more ideas for dressing up your living room.
11. Build a window bench seat
Workshop community members have created custom bench seating using cabinetry to add both comfort and hidden storage. Bench seats can be particularly effective around windows or fireplaces, like the benchseat using Kaboodle cabinetry by @RenovisionAU.
Ana and Brad also installed a bench as part of their award-winning kitchen renovation.
12. Create a dedicated study nook or workspace
With so many people working from home, it can be a challenge to create dedicate work spaces. Workshop member @Jithesh created a study nook within a living area by transforming an unused wall into a floating desk setup with timber shelving, feature panelling and integrated lighting.
The Bunnings team has also shared How to set up a study nook.
13. Upgrade the fireplace
If your living room has a fireplace, updating it can dramatically improve the space. Consider a new mantel, a floating hearth, or a fresh surround for a modern look. Projects like @Nailbag's floating hearth fireplace show how you can modernise a focal point without a full rebuild.
Community member @Melzie also completed a low-cost fireplace makeover using paint.
14. Install acoustic wall panels
More than a cosmetic upgrade, acoustic panels absorb sound as well as adding texture to your walls. In their living room makeover, @HD1 used acoustic wall panels to frame their built-ion entertainment unit.
@Nailbag also used the panels for an outdoor living space in his alfresco feature ceiling panelling project.
15. Make a statement with wallpaper
Beyond paint, Workshop community members have transformed spaces using bold wallpaper feature walls to introduce colour and pattern. Check out the living room makeover by @Ebbers92.
The Bunnings team can show you How to hang wallpaper in your home.
Need more help with refreshing your living room?
The Bunnings Workshop community can assist with more inspiration and advice for refreshing your living room. Don’t hesitate to Ask a question and tell us what you would like to achieve. We’re here to help.
