Sitting pretty See a blank canvas become a chic lounge in a weekend

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Living room makeover

Before

The room had good bones: a tall ceiling and great natural light, however it lacked personality and warmth

While the budget didn’t stretch to upgrading floor coverings, the existing carpet’s neutral tone of beige was a bonus

Sitting pretty

With clever styling and a little budget-friendly DIY, you can transform a blank space in no time. Try our eight steps to create a beautiful room in a weekend

Where and how we live has a marked effect on our wellbeing. Not surprisingly, the living room – the place where we spend most of our time, relaxing with family, watching TV, entertaining friends and, well, living – has a vital role to play. Creating a comfortable, stylish and inviting space is key. The project doesn’t have to be costly and complicated – simple additions, such as a feature wall, a large textured rug, timber shelves and soft furnishings, can help to give a room a sophisticated vibe with a light and airy feel. With this blank canvas, we show how to style a living room from scratch. Be inspired, then make it yours, to create a fresh new look you’ll love. SAFETY TIP

Enlist the help of others to move heavy pieces of furniture. Bend your knees, keep your back straight and use your leg strength. Where possible, use sliders or a furniture dolly for heavy items

Always secure floorstanding shelves to the wall using brackets and fasteners suitable for your wall type

1 Paint a feature wall An accent wall is a simple and effective way to transform a room. Dulux Bold Yellow gives the rear wall a sunny, welcoming glow, creating a natural focal point. It also helps make a feature of the tall, narrow window and draws the eye to the timber shelves. 2 Include display storage A large bookshelf or display shelving brings interest to an empty corner. Here, two Clever Cube storage units have been placed side by side, adding height and a sense of depth, while the timber finish adds warmth and works beautifully with the wall colour.

3 Lay down a rug – or two Rugs work on several levels. They contribute colour and texture and can help to define a seating area in the heart of the room – especially handy if you’re carving out a cosy spot within an open-plan space. We’ve used two side by side to fill out the area. 4 Place your furniture Your furniture layout can make or break a room. The golden rule in a living room – especially if you entertain a lot – is not to have everything aimed at the TV. Position seating to make the most of a garden view, if possible, and group it for ease of conversation. 

Try using double-sided carpet tape to hold your rugs in place

5 Just add greenery Spread plants around, away from the centre of the room, to draw the eye in different directions. Use a large plant – or a variety with an interesting leaf shape – to give life to an empty spot.

6 Dress the windows Curtains complete and soften a space. To make a room feel bigger, go for a clean and simple look; choose something lightweight in a pale colour that blends with the walls.

A neutral colour scheme with clean lines and light, bright walls works wonders in opening up the space

EXPERT TIP

Floor-to-ceiling curtains can help to add height to a room. Blockout fabrics provide insulation and privacy; if you prefer a more open, airy feel, choose sheers instead

7 Style your shelves Think of shelves as more than just functional. Instead, use them to create a focal point with a display of favourite objects. Follow the tried-and-tested rule of three when grouping pieces together and arrange them in differing heights. But remember restraint is key – leave some empty shelf space to give the illusion of depth.

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Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 385mm x 335mm x 335mm divider insert in Oak, $15, I/N: 0079580 Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 370mm x 330mm x 330mm fabric insert in Earth, $4.99, I/N: 0230921

8 Channel your inner stylist While you don’t want to crowd a small space with a mishmash of patterns and colours, splashes of colour in cushions and other soft furnishings can subtly lift a scheme. Here, the blue, green and cream scatter cushions complement the space-enhancing cool whites, greys and natural timber in the rest of the room. ◆

Left and above: 40cm ‘Palla’ paper shade in White, $5.60, I/N: 7072316. (On walls) Dulux paint in Bold Yellow and Porter’s Paints Popcorn. Windoware ‘Hilton’ 1200mm x 2230mm eyelet blockout curtain in Quartz, $49, I/N: 0019254. Fiddle leaf fig plant in Home Leisure ‘Balconia’ 350mm round plastic pot in Taupe, $12.98, I/N: 2941237. Ficus umbellata plant in Northcote Pottery ‘Italian’ 30cm terracotta low bell pot in Antique, $17.90, I/N: 2833074, with ‘Italian’ 19cm terracotta saucer in Antique, $4, I/N: 0044340. Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 2 x 4 storage units in Walnut, $94 each, I/N: 0206276, and ‘Living’ paper weave basket, $12/set of 3, I/N: 0234690. Ceramics, jug, gold trays and vase, Zakkia, zakkia.com.au. Cushions and wooden bowl, Adairs, adairs.com.au. Sofa, James Lane, jameslane.com.au. Ottoman, armchair and white bowl, West Elm, westelm.com.au. All other products, stylist’s own. All plants sold separately. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. Dans Plants 240mm indoor foliage in ceramic pot, $105, I/N: 0144878 ‘France’ 230cm x 160cm textured loop weave rug in Ivory, $149, I/N: 0244175

Arlec 2000W ceramic wall heater with remote control, $79, I/N: 0014806

Uni-Pro ‘Extenda Rolla’ 230mm heavy duty paint roller, $15.57, I/N: 1671979

Monarch 230mm paint tray, $8.85, I/N: 1662148

Windoware ‘Barcelona’ 1200mm x 2230mm eyelet blockout curtain in White, $52.20, I/N: 0019287

Roberts 508mm x 254mm rug gripper roll, $7.90, I/N: 6670605

Scotch 48mm ‘General Painting’ multi-surface painter’s masking tape, $12.23/55m, I/N: 1660169