Living Room Design Ideas for Creating Flexible Living Spaces

To create a brighter and airier communal area, an increasing number of home owners have adopted the open layout concept. Whether it’s removing partitions or using multifunctional furniture, here are some living room design ideas to transform your home into a flexible living space.

1. Multifunctional Spaces

By removing the walls and opening up the interiors, the owners of this 2-room Flexi flat have transformed their home into a studio-like apartment. Instead of a conventional sofa, a sofa bed allows the common living area to be transformed into the bedroom come night time.

2. Indoor-Outdoor Vibes

If you’re a fan of Selling Sunset or an interior enthusiast in general, the term ‘indoor-outdoor’ would be a familiar concept and one of the living room design ideas that you can adopt for your home.

Take for instance this HDB flat in Bukit Panjang, where regular sliding doors have been replaced with foldable glass ones that open up to a balcony garden. Straddling between the living room and balcony is also a cafe-style setup for enjoying a nice cuppa. This helps to maximise every inch of the in-between space while allowing its home owners to soak in the outdoor vibes while remaining in the shade.

To make a visual statement, consider framing the balcony with an arched wall. The raised platform of the balcony also helps to demarcate the outdoor space without the use of partitions.

In a similar setup but one with retro vibes, this home opted for rotating wood-framed rattan doors and an emerald-tiled coffee counter for the balcony. Besides adding onto the aesthetics, these doors also allow for more natural ventilation while providing privacy.

4. Extended Common Living Area

You can expand the common living area by combining the adjacent room. When needed, the L-shaped partition of this home can be opened up completely as a single, continuous space. To create the illusion of an even bigger space, add floor-to-ceiling mirrors!

Another popular living room design idea is to extend the communal area by incorporating the balcony like the home pictured above. It’s something to consider, especially if you host often. Tip: opting for the same flooring offers a seamless transition.

5. A Semi-Private Entertainment Space

This entertainment space is not only outfitted for gaming and television, it also doubles up as a space for guests to mingle before or after meals.

8. Totally Open Living Concept

Take open concept living up a notch by merging the living room, bedroom and kitchen into a single space! For home owners who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, opt for sliding or bi-fold doors to contain the fumes when you showcase your culinary skills.

In addition to transforming the communal area into flexible living spaces, these living room design ideas also help with space maximisation – something handy to think about as you embark on your home renovation!

The article was adapted from a version first published by Qanvast.

HDB does not endorse any products, persons, places that are featured.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

While many of us might already have an idea of our dream home, we could still use some help when it comes to visualising the final look.
Today, whether it’s to seek design inspiration, play around with layouts, or even swatch paint colours, there are many home design apps and tools to help excited homeowners ease the design process.
​ And we’ve put together a list of them for you.

Source for Inspiration

With an array of interior design and home décor inspirations, Pinterest has become one of the go-to home design apps, especially when putting together a mood board. You can even save the images that catch your eye through Pinterest’s Pins function before organising them in different Boards (another unique Pinterest function that are essentially albums).

Design Your Home Virtually

Now that you have a rough idea of the desired aesthetic for your home, it’s time for the fun part – designing! Skip the pen and paper, and use online tools such as Home Design 3D or Home by Me where you can virtually build your home. These home design apps let you draw your home based on your floor plan, and then pick out tiles and furnishings from a wide selection of furniture and accessories. Once you’re done, you can even walk through your home in 3D, as if you are physically there! It’s like playing The Sims, but only more fun.

Track Your Progress

To keep track of your renovation tasks and progress, leverage online notetaking tools such as Evernote or Google Docs. They may not be fall exactly in the home design app category,  but these easy-to-use tools let you upload images (such as floor plans) and notes, which will come in handy when communicating with your designer or contractor. You could even use Google Sheets to track your renovation budget and progress. The plus point of using these platforms is that they sync between mobile, web, and desktop versions, so the content is readily available at your fingertips.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

From design to size to material, here are some considerations to keep in mind when shopping for your kitchen sink.

Choosing a kitchen sink goes beyond your interior style. You’ll also need to consider your lifestyle, especially if you’ll be cooking and cleaning up regularly. It’s one of the most important decisions to make when planning your kitchen layout, as it can’t be changed as easily. To help you find a kitchen sink idea that works best for you, here are some considerations to keep in mind.

1. Design – Drop-in vs. Undermount Sinks

Drop-in sinks, as the name suggests, are placed with a visible rim that rests on the countertop. This kitchen sink idea makes such sinks easier to install and replace. They are generally more affordable as well. But you’d need to clean the rim regularly, to prevent dirt and grime from building up.

Drop in sinks

Undermount sinks are fitted beneath the countertop and are held in place with cement. This kitchen sink idea gives you slightly more countertop space – a huge plus for compact kitchens. It’s also more convenient to sweep food and water over the countertop and into the sink. However, it’s important to perform regular checks for leaks, to prevent mould and avoid expensive carpentry repair costs.

Undermount sinks

2. Material – Steel vs. Granite vs. Porcelain

Stainless steel is one of the most popular material for kitchen sinks, as it requires low maintenance and is heat-resistant. It can also blend well with most designs and countertop material, making it a classic in the modern-day kitchen. The only con is that water spots and scratches may appear over time, though these can be easily buffed out with the right equipment.

Granite composite and porcelain are also popular material choices. Granite composite is highly resistant to water spots, scratches and dents, while porcelain sinks are perfect for  vintage and farmhouse interiors. However, beware of scuff marks and chipping for the latter!

3. Size and Configuration

A double-bowl kitchen sink, with a divider in the middle, is a practical design for separate tasks. You could soap and rinse dirty dishes separately, or prep ingredients in one sink and clean your hands in the other.

On the other hand, a single-bowl sink makes it easier to soak and wash larger pots and woks, or prep larger quantities of ingredients. Also, consider the size of your sink based on the availability of countertop space, as well as the configuration of your cabinets.

4. Fittings

Once you’ve narrowed down your kitchen sink ideas, choose a kitchen tap design that’ll complement the sink. Make sure the height and direction of the lever work best with your kitchen sink design and kitchen layout. For larger sinks, consider an extendable spray that’ll help you reach all corners, to make washing up much more efficient.

Looking to renovate your kitchen? From kitchen islands to backsplashes, we’ve got your interior inspiration covered.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg