Living Room Home Projects

This tiny studio’s bedroom and living area started out dingy, but with some fresh paint and furniture it’s totally unrecognizable.

The previous homeowner put tons of work into creating a rustic-style space they loved — but when the new homeowners moved in, it didn’t quite suit them. Here’s how they made it their own.

A five-week project using IKEA IVARs and a discount fireplace totally transforms this blank white box.

When these owners purchased their caravan, it was in much worse shape than they first thought. A complete overhaul brought it back to life.

The new space is a grown-up secret clubhouse that goes all-out with bold design.

This home was part of a Sears catalog kit, and many of its original features can be seen in the living room today.

See how a blah beige living room gets a glam glow-up that’s both trendy and timeless.

Wallpaper, tile, and a new mantel take this fireplace from a blank slate to a bespoke and character-filled feature.

“I love having my books all together on the wall; it really feels like a feature in the room instead of an afterthought,” this DIYer says. This one’s for the bookworms out there!

These homeowners “wanted something moody, modern and something no one else had.”

This DIY is perfect for art lovers on a budget.

A can of paint and a little wallpaper went a long way to elevate the boring fireplace in our newly flipped home.

By painting her walls and built-ins the same color, this DIYer created a seamless storage setup. Read more about her painting tips and takeaways.

This would be the perfect spot to curl up with a book on a Saturday morning.

Visions of Paris inspired this cozy makeover.

A less-than-exciting fireplace became a bold focal point.

Paint, tile, and new seating are a winning combo in this cozy cabin living room.

After a few setbacks, this intrepid DIYer figured out how to make her dream accent wall a reality.

The makeover blends traditional touches with modern embellishments.

Dividing this giant room into zones helps make room for family hangouts, entertaining, movie nights, and more.

Modern updates make the home feel fresh, but special details make it feel totally cozy, too.

These homeowners transformed their living room in a week, thanks to the deadline of hosting family the following weekend. But the space has served them well past their hosting duties.

Green paint works wonders here, as does a one-of-a-kind mural. It was a big risk that paid off.

These living room redos will inspire you to take another look at your own space.

The space is bright and welcoming now — a far cry from the blah brown of before.

The before was "builder-grade, plain, bland, boring," this homeowner says. The after is perfect for dimming the lights, curling up under a blanket, and pressing play on a good movie.

Stuck on a project of your own? Let this intrepid DIYer's success inspire you to take it to the finish line.

This homeowner decided to give her fireplace a more contemporary look and a little pop of color.

This designer used several simple go-tos for making a room feel airier and lighter.

Come for the excellent art hanging and sourcing tips, stay for the clever way to disguise a TV.

A key ingredient in this transformation? Paint, of course.

If you are anything like me, you often look at your living room and wonder when you are going to get around to making those updates you keep talking about. If that’s the case, let this roundup of Apartment Therapy’s makeover projects inspire you to take up the cause, even if it’s a little bit at a time. 1. Ferren and her husband started with the goal of brightening their space and spent the next year gradually replacing items with pieces that were more to their taste. 2.

Revamping the exposed brick and the fireplace rescued this living room from its dark motel room roots.

Here's an easy project renters and non-renters can do to spruce up a fireplace for fall.

"I love the classic look and the added closed storage," this DIYer says of her innovative railing swap.

The "after" is a little airy, a little rustic, and very striking.

The new scalloped shelving is a must-see!

Hilary Farr has to decide whether she loves it or lists it.

This is a trick you can steal for your own mural painting projects.

Get more mileage out of your well-loved basics.

Why go out when you can get a cozy theater experience at home?

"The only thing we would do differently is doing it earlier," these homeowners say of their DIY project. "It has really made the space feel purposeful."

With some budget-friendly, big-impact solutions!

A painted fireplace, DIY slat wall, fresh paint, and a DIY ottoman really make this gathering space sing. Now, you can't even tell it's a basement.

This homeowner has some great advice for styling shelves.

Because some functional essentials in your home are not so appealing to look at when not in use — like your television. 

Kari Rezac and her boyfriend ditched the carpet and dated features and DIYed a fresh new space.

Bye bye, brick, and hello, period appropriate stone!

The new built-ins are more functional — thanks to to-the-ceiling shelving — and more stylish, too.

"One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to interior design is not utilizing perfectly good space!" this DIYer says. This project leaves no usable inch untouched.

From the cushy seating to the warm color palette, every part of this new hangout spot is inviting.

This TV wall goes from personality-less to charm central with just a few easy changes.

This little New Mexico home had "gorgeous, classic bones," its owner says.

Bookworms and plant parents alike will love this redo.

The vintage touches make this living room feel timeless.

The homeowners kept their budget under $2,300 by selling their old furniture, sourcing budget-friendly new finds, and doing some of the work themselves.

This savvy DIYer used bright colors and cozy textures to bring life back to her living room.

You don't need all new furniture to get a new look.

IKEA GERSBY bookshelves become custom-looking shelving in this room-transforming, one-wall redo.

In a recent episode of “Rock the Block,” the teams remodeled the entryway and living room areas of their respective houses.

The new color combos in the "after" are bold and unexpected but well-reasoned and well-executed.

The bold library wall is a bookworm's fantasy.

No walls were lost in this redo, but lots of light was gained.

You don't have to change every single thing in a space to totally transform the feel of it, and this redo is proof.

A cool new media console + room-brightening details = one gorgeous living room.

The room looks unrecognizable and is much more multi-functional.

The ultimate escape right at home.

"There are still a few stray big toy items that cannot fit in the drawers or cabinets, but overall it has the perfect mix of functionality, open space, and design I was craving," the homeowner says of the "After."

The new space feels lots bigger, even though it's the same size as before.

A few small changes made this living room way more welcoming for the whole family.

It's now a much better focal point.

The unexpected paint job gives the vintage living room a completely new look.