Before & After: A Spacious Living Room Gets an Entirely New Look

At Apartment Therapy, we talk a lot about dealing with small spaces, but larger spaces can also present their own unique design challenge. When one Brooklyn family moved into their dream home, the oversized living room proved to be a bit of a conundrum — so they turned to a designer for guidance.Before, the family's furniture — a single sofa and a small dining table — was a bit lost in the expansive space. Designer Susan's solution was to add a few more pieces to fill up the room, without cluttering it, and also to establish areas for different activities, breaking down a large, somewhat overwhelming space into more comfortable zones.



One end of the room is occupied by a dining area and reading nook. Susan opted for a leather banquette, which adds a bit of color to the space and is great for a family with kids because "they can kind of pile in there and be comfortable." The family's existing Cherner chairs were lined up along the other side of the table. The reading nook occupies a cozy corner, perfect for retreating with a good book for a little alone-togetherness. An oversized chandelier serves as the focal point of the room, drawing the eye upward.On the opposite side of the room, a new sofa with thin, tapered legs preserves the room's spacious feel, while a light-colored Moroccan rug helps to define the living area while coordinating with the light, neutral color scheme of the rest of the room. The rest of the furniture allows for maximum flexibility: a dual-sided daybed means guests can face the living room or gaze out the window, and the cowhide ottomans can be moved about to add seating wherever they're needed.

The homeowners found their designer, Susan, on Sweeten, an online resource that connects homeowners with local design and construction experts for home renovations. You can read more about the project, see more photos, and find sources on the Sweeten blog.