topic Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER in Home

NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Oznell — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:58:03 GMT

Design blogger Caroline Winkler, left, refreshed her younger sister's rental living room in Richmond, Va. Things were tired, dilapidated, messy. They spent no money at all in the makeover. Caroline and her sister Julia revealed that Julia has ADHD, and difficulties with organization.

The room had a random, forlorn look. But Caroline was positive. She started by helping to define her sister's design style-- "eclectic cutie pie fairy-in-her-cabin" style. Love that! And Julia chimed in, that she likes her own color scheme, which helps. So, they had a lot to work with.

She definitely had a good eye for cute items, but then tended to line them up, without considering the whole room and how it would function.

The upholstery, especially, was sagging and unkempt.

Caroline focused on several areas for change-- the poor layout, the dispirited furniture, the scattered art placement, and organization of important items like books and art supplies.

For better flow and conversation, she flipped the couch over to the opposite wall. But first, she had to reshape it. She unzipped the covers, and manipulated and fluffed and fluffed the inner cushions, then put the covers back on. She left off the draggy arm protectors. What a difference.

This coral chair was a thrift shop find with an ill-fitting slipcover. So it needed more drastic help--

She took extra fabric, including the cast-off arm protectors from the couch, and moulded and stuffed them around the chair, then put on the slipcover again. She could have stuffed with foam to fill it out, if she had it, I suppose. Nice improvisation-- looks better!

The chair had to be improved, b/c her idea was that it would be the center of a new, inviting reading nook, right by the previously rather neglected window.

So now the reading nook is a special place, with her books and supplies at hand, but it also faces the couch for easy conversation. The angled tufted midcentury chair, completes the conversation area.

The AFTER living room:

Julia seems quite maximalist, with a love of color, art and plants. But now, it's organized and feels intentional.

Caroline removes and re-arranges these books in the room, so there wouldn't be so many unbalanced "heavy" areas--

There's better distribution of them...

The art was arranged to enhance the reading nook.

The mirror and wall hook help establish an "entry way".

Now the long mirror's placement makes more sense--

Before, Julia's art supplies would frequently be left on the couch, since, a talented artist, she constantly uses them in the living room. She struggled to put them away in a closet, partly b/c of her ADHD. But Caroline said to keep them neatly always nearby, on the side table's lower tier. Julia would be more likely to put them there when finished, and they'd always be handy:

Whew, this was kind of a talky, potentially boring one! And I don't think I can give the true quality of the "refresh" through just stills.

But, I thought their efforts were really worth highlighting. People with ADHD often genuinely need help with keeping their spaces from declining, or becoming chaotic.

Caroline was the perfect guide for her sister, b/c she kept in mind her graduate student sister's lifestyle-- lots of reading, lots of art, discomfort with conventional organization-- in mind. She capitalized on the positive-- her sister's "free spirit", sort of bohemian and charming style, rather than despairing over her untidyness.

She said "make your room work for you, not you for your room". She gave permission for her to leave her supplies out in plain view, but this time, captured by trays, or stacked, so they didn't look chaotic.

Anyway, that's my poor summary of it. The video is much better, if you google:

A Living Room Makeover-- Without Buying Anything New youtube

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

spiderw — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:43:06 GMT

It is a lovely comfortable apartment. The changes created a space filled with pretty decor, art work and placement of the furniture which enhances the room. Sometimes it just takes a few changes to make a room stand out. I like the reading area, it looks calm and cozy.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

skatting44 — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:49:44 GMT

Gives inspiration to those on a very tight budget in how to refresh their environment while making it more functional

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

just bee — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:53:50 GMT

Great thread, as usual, @Oznell.

Enjoyed the transformation. It's important to live in a space that's functional, organized and attractive.

A wonderful gift to her sister.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

LTT1 — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:22:05 GMT

@Oznell @just bee @skatting44 @spiderw

WOW what a difference!

Now it looks ORGANIZED but everything is still there!

What a lucky girl to have a sister who HELPS her and redecorates only by adjusting the space!

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

1Snickers — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:53:45 GMT

@Oznell How does the door open without the couch and table with the lamp being in the way?

🛋️💥🚪

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

We rescue cats — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:58:53 GMT

Love the changes, especially the reading nook she created. What a difference, it is now much more user friendly.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

lbwshop — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:33:32 GMT

I love this!! It is practical help. I.m tiree of seeing large, beautiful rooms which are way beyond the reach of most people. Please show us some more small rooms that are nicely arranged and accessorized. Those of us with regular houses need help, too. This designer has a wonderful eye and used her talent wonderfully for her sister.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Puggywuggy — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:14:42 GMT

Don't you just love how just moving one's own things around and changing up wall decor, accessories and soft textiles can alter and improve one's environment?! I have done this for many, many years as I become bored, lol. My spouse would come home and everything would look so different. He used to complain about my 'rearranging ' habits until I gently pointed out how much money I had saved over the years as I lovingly and thoughtfully curated our possessions and home...he no longer complains about my 'rearranging ' 😉

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Franklinbell — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:04:14 GMT

Wow! that is fantastic. What a lovely gesture for her sister!

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

nevergivesup — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:07:46 GMT

Oh yes, I love this. So nice to see sister helping sister.

Just as we are now urged to "shop our closets" for clothes I firmly believe we can do a major room refresh by rearranging furniture and finding decorative items in cupboards, drawers etc. instead of buying at stores.

i found a large, old Ironstone white pitcher that belonged to my great aunt. It was out in the garage, covered in dust and deemed worthless due to a crack. I pulled it out, cleaned it up and put my beautiful dried blue hydrangea in it. Everyone who comes into my house seems to comment on it and wonder where I found this because it looks "like something in a magazine". Lol. Not quite.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

nevergivesup — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:20:05 GMT

Thank you @Oznell for searching out these interesting and helpful videos. They are fun and satisfy my "inner designer"

I learned a lot many years ago from a lady with superb taste who told me, "Move the furniture around. It will tell you where it wants to be". I have seen this to be true many times over.

I agree with @lbwshop @Puggywuggy and others who would like to see more practical design shows. Not everyone can afford huge renovations and personally I find much of the tv show "reveals" to be very cookie cutter and uninspired.

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

ECBG — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:25:25 GMT

Smart changes! Now there is a great visual flow!!!

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Puggywuggy — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:09:45 GMT

@Oznell Just wanted to pop back on and say Thank You for all of the time and effort you put in to post these home photos....whether aspirational or practical, I enjoy them immensely!❤️

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

QVCisFun — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:48:59 GMT

@Oznell wrote:

The AFTER living room:

The makeover is an improvement, the living room looks more streamlined (I find it easier to compare before and after photos when they are taken from the same angle and placed next to each other).

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:32:18 GMT

I like this. It is a refreshing change to see a smaller space re-done with little to no money as well.

Sometimes its not about buying more things, its about using what you have and maybe just changing it up and refreshing the space which is what her sister did!

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Oznell — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:18:54 GMT

@1Snickers , good question! The door does look too close. They didn't discuss that. It's possible it's a seldom used door to some sort of outside area she rarely uses? If that's the case, it wouldn't be a big deal to move furniture on the rare occasions you had to go out there. The room is small, so they might figure it was worth it to "ignore" the door.

Thanks, kind @Puggywuggy !

@QVCisFun , great, thanks for putting those side by side!

Re: NO-COST, TINY APARTMENT LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Judaline — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:08:28 GMT

I love the color of the chest!