“Home idea with IKEA”: a living-and-everything-else room

This week we have visited the Katinai family – Andrius, Viktorija and their twin boys. We have met in the living room, but in their home, this room is not just for welcoming guests. It’s where the family spends their free time and keeps a lot of things, and while the children are playing there, Andrius and Viktorija are trying to concentrate on their work and creativity. To make sure the living room provides enough space for everyone and everything, the family asked our interior designer Anželika for help and ideas.

Before the renovation

The family living room was dark and cluttered, with many different patterns of wood and both modern and classic furniture that didn’t fit together. Some of their belongings were kept on the open shelves creating clutter, while others were hidden behind the pieces of cardboard or furniture panels, out of reach of the curious and mischievous little fingers.

Interior designer‘s task

In the very beginning, Anželika had many questions. How to find space in the small living room to store DJ’s equipment and other family items? Where is the best place to put the desk? Where will the family rest? But soon she found the answers. Just look how bright, cosy and modern the family living room is right now – just the way Andrius and Viktorija wanted it to be.

A room for leisure

The living room is first and foremost a place where the family and their guests relax. This is why the FRIHETEN sofa-bed has become the most important piece in this room. It’s ideal not only for leisure in front of the TV, but also for grandma’s frequent overnight stays. In addition to the sofa, the living room also includes an extra armchair, which is comfortable, lightweight and can be easily moved away when more space is needed.

A room for storage

The BESTÅ modular storage system is designed to make the most of the room’s height. Some of the cabinets have closed fronts to keep things out of sight, while others have glass doors and lighting to that highlights beautiful glassware and dinnerware.

The cabinets next to the sofa are also from the BESTÅ series. They are installed slightly higher from the floor so that one can put a cup, a book or a phone down without having to get up from the sofa. And there’s enough room left underneath. Isn’t it a great parking spot for the kids’ cars and tricycles?

The coffee table in the living room is replaced with two KVISTBRO box tables. They’re perfect for storing children’s toys, blankets and other items. A handle in the table top makes it easy to open and get to things stored in the basket, thus the kids can organize their toys after playtime themselves. And when the sofa-bed is folded out, these baskets can be used as bedside tables.

“As the IKEA Life at Home research has revealed, things that help us feel like ourselves at home can also be a source of tension. One of the main frustrations for 1 in 4 people in Lithuania is having too many things without a designated place.”

Anželika Rutkevičienė, IKEA interior designer

Below the TV, our interior designer has placed the BESTÅ bench with cable management and height-adjustable shelves. We have also installed ROTHULT smart locks to ensure that the items inside are completely safe and only accessible to parents.

A room for work and hobbies

Andrius is a professional techno DJ who uses the living room to create music in his spare time. His wife Viktorija often works from home as well, which made it important to set up a comfortable office for both of them. We have placed the MALM desk by the window, with an additional panel that pulls out when more space is needed (to put the sound system or anything else) and fits neatly under the desk when not in use. We also added a lockable drawer cabinet next to the desk for documents and other things that need to be hidden.

Would use so help?

If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.