Living Room Makeover: Adding Character to a Builder Grade Home

One of the challenges of living in a builder grade home is that many of the rooms can feel a little lacking in character. The layouts are practical, but they often don’t have the architectural details that make a home feel warm, inviting and unique.

Our living room was no exception.

Like many of the rooms in our 25-year-old home, it was fairly small and featured beige walls, tan carpet and very little personality. Over the years we have slowly worked our way through the house, adding character and charm one project at a time. When it came time to tackle the living room, we had a clear vision of creating a space that felt timeless, welcoming and more reflective of our style.

Replacing the Carpet with Timber Flooring

The first project on our list was removing the old carpet and replacing it with timber flooring.

We had already completed a similar transformation in our family room and kitchen, and the change was dramatic. The timber floors immediately made the space feel larger, brighter and more cohesive with the rest of our home.

It’s amazing how much impact flooring can have on a room.

Extending the Built-Ins

Next, we addressed an awkward void beside the existing built-in cabinetry.

By filling in this space, we were able to extend the cabinetry all the way to the ceiling. Not only did this create additional storage, but it also gave the room a much more custom and substantial appearance.

Small changes like this can make a builder grade home feel far more considered and intentional. You can see the full transformation of our built-ins here.

Adding Architectural Character with Moulding

One of the things I love most about older homes is their beautiful architectural detail.

To recreate some of that charm, we added decorative moulding and trim around the large window and both room openings. We removed the outdated trim and replaced it with more substantial mouldings that better suited the classic style we were aiming for.

These details may seem small individually, but together they transformed the room and gave it the character it had always lacked.

Transforming the Old Built-In Cabinetry

The dominant feature of the room was an old built-in cabinet that Tony had constructed many years ago.

While it was incredibly solid and functional, it no longer suited the look we wanted for the space. Rather than starting from scratch, we decided to work with what we already had.

After plenty of sanding, painting and updating, we completely transformed the built-in into one of our favourite features in the room. It’s now both beautiful and practical—a reminder that sometimes existing furniture simply needs a fresh perspective rather than replacement.

Updating the Window

The large window became another opportunity to add character.

We installed colonial bars, similar to those we had previously added in our family room and kitchen. This simple change helped create the classic cottage-inspired feel that we love throughout our home.

To finish the window, we installed a beautiful Roman blind from Blinds Online in the fabric Chantilly Natural. The subtle pattern was perfect for the relaxed, timeless aesthetic we were creating.

One feature I wouldn’t be without is the remote control operation. It makes everyday use effortless, and the blind adds a softness to the room that curtains simply wouldn’t have achieved in this space.

Giving an Old Coffee Table a New Life

One of my favourite projects in this makeover was our coffee table transformation.

This large timber table originally served as a desk in our office many years ago. About fifteen years ago, we shortened the legs and converted it into a coffee table.

While it had served us well, the dark timber felt too heavy for the lighter look we wanted in the room.

Tony was keen to keep the table, so I decided to sand it back and see what lay underneath. As soon as the lighter timber emerged, I knew it was exactly what the room needed.

To protect the timber while maintaining its beautiful natural colour, I finished it with a white wax. The result was far better than I had imagined and saved us from purchasing a new piece altogether.

Adding Warmth with a Sisal Rug

For most of our family years, a rug in the living room simply wasn’t practical. Between children, pets, spills and everyday life, it was one more thing to worry about.

These days, however, life looks a little different.

With fewer little feet running through the house, it felt like the perfect time to introduce a rug to the space.

We chose an IKEA sisal rug, and it has added so much warmth and texture to the room. It helps define the seating area, softens the timber floors and makes the room feel complete.

Adding Extra Seating for Entertaining

One of the goals for this makeover was to create additional seating for when we entertain family and friends.

With such a small room, that was easier said than done.

After plenty of searching, I found two beautiful chairs from Lavender Hill Interiors that fit the space perfectly. We paired them with a small white side table, creating a cosy conversation area that doesn’t overwhelm the room.

These chairs have become one of my favourite additions. They provide extra seating when guests visit while also making the room feel balanced and inviting.

To help balance the room, we also purchased a beautiful old kitchen hutch and positioned it opposite the large built-in wall unit. The room needed something with a little height on that side, and the hutch was the perfect solution. I love incorporating older furniture pieces into our home wherever possible because they instantly add warmth, history and character. The aged timber and vintage details help soften the room and make it feel as though it has evolved over time rather than being decorated all at once.

A New Sofa for Family Gatherings

We also decided it was time to replace our sofa.

Comfort was the priority, but we also wanted something that could comfortably seat more people when family gathered at our home.

After much deliberation, we chose the IKEA Hyltarp sectional, and we absolutely love it. It’s comfortable, practical and perfectly suited to the relaxed style we were trying to create.

Most importantly, it has made the room a much more enjoyable place to spend time together.

Creating a Gallery Wall

Eventually, we plan to add decorative wall trim to the only full wall in the room.

Until then, I wanted something beautiful to fill the space and add personality.

I’ve admired Georgianna Lane’s Paris photography prints for years, and they were exactly the soft, romantic style I wanted for the room. The colours work beautifully with the neutral palette and add a subtle European feel that complements the rest of the space.

To keep costs down, I sourced the frames from TK Maxx. They were incredibly affordable and allowed me to create a large gallery wall without spending a fortune.

The finished result feels personal, elegant and perfectly suited to the room.

The Finished Living Room Makeover

Being able to sit back and enjoy this room now feels like an absolute gift.

The space is much more reflective of our style than it was when we first moved into the house. It feels relaxed but still pulled together, timeless without being formal, and full of the character that was missing for so many years.

The neutral palette has helped brighten the room, while the layers of timber, texture and architectural detail create warmth and interest.

Like most projects in our home, this makeover wasn’t completed overnight. It evolved gradually over time as we discovered what worked best for the space.

That’s something I’ve come to appreciate about renovating. There is no rush. Homes evolve alongside the people who live in them.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this living room makeover and perhaps found a little inspiration for your own home.

If you’d like to see another room transformation, you can also take a look at our Family Room, where we continued creating the warm and welcoming home we’ve always envisioned.