Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Renovating your HDB Flat - The Living Room

The Living Room. The space where you use the most often. It's where you do most of your "living". I guess there will be two major items in this space, the TV console and the sofa.

The TV console must be big enough. Make sure you know what is the size of the television you plan to buy, and ensure there is enough space for it. Cater for future growth, when you got more money to buy that 80+" TV. Include space on the side of the TV so that you can access the Starhub cable connections.




To let it stand or wall-mounted. Both have it's pros and cons. Standing means it is easier to shift around. No need for extra drilling work on the wall. You can also access the connectors on the back of the TV easily. Wall mounting means you have more table space for other stuff and the overall design of your console looks more streamlined. Take note that the wall mount usually do not come with the TV purchase.

Remember that the TV is not a standalone device. Your contractor should know what else is needed. Make sure you have space for that Starhub or MioTV console, and video recorders. And home entertainment systems. My contractor gave me some space underneath the TV, with a black glass front so that the remote controls will still work.



You will also need to provide space for the electrical cables, Starhub coaxial cable, etc. Your contractor should put some effort making them easy to access yet hidden from view.



Show off your stuff. Let every person I know, you are sure to have collected souvenirs and gifts over the years. What better place to show them off than a display case right at the sides of your TV. Make sure you have enough height for each shelf to place your collectibles.



The coffee table decision. To have or not to have a coffee table. This was not an easy decision. New HDB flats tend to have very little space for an average coffee table. Furthermore, I need space for playing XBox Kinect. So, no coffee tables for me. However, I did purchase two small white tables from IKEA that are easily moved, so that I can have some table space to eat my dinner in front of the TV, whenever I want to yet be able to move them away when I need space.
Ceiling lamp must look good. I actually took effort to really pick a ceiling lamp that I really like for the living room. This is because this is the room where all guests will spend the most time when in my home. I picked a brown coloured lamp, to match my sofa color. It has multiple bulbs so that if one fails, I would still have light in the room. I even gotten a matching lighting for the dining room space.

Cooling your room with a fan. Some folks might want to consider buying a ceiling fan. It is quite popular as I spotted it in many homes around my flat. It is also very easy to spot, as the ceiling fan is very obvious from the first floor, looking up into other people's living rooms. I personally did not like it as I have concerns about maintenance and reliability. I just stuck to buying a standing fan. 

Marking your territory. Just one final note, is that do think about where to place your wedding photo. I'm pretty sure when you got married, you gotten one big framed wedding photo. Do hang it up, in a prominent place. Not only it looks really great, it will also remind you of better times, when you get into an argument with your spouse, and hopefully, remind you to just forgive and forget.

Check out the rest of my Renovation Blog


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