Create a soothing escape in your own living room – on a budget

Homeowners: Brad and Ana, @RenovisionAU

Location: Hazelbrook, New South Wales

The project: Living room makeover

The budget: $7500

Ana’s top tip for renovators: “Plan ahead, budget carefully and be realistic about what you can do yourself and when to hire a professional.”

When D.I.Y. duo Ana and Brad were scouting out a new home in New South Wales’ regional Blue Mountains area, they struck gold. Built in the 1960s, the house was time-worn but had good bones. “It was quite rundown, lacked character and functionality, but its structure was solid,” says Ana. Their road to renovation was well paved.

Think about a focal point

The living room refresh was part of a total house reno. For a young, busy couple like Ana and Brad, who craved a space where they could relax and reconnect, it made sense to start here. Unlike the kitchen or other utility areas, the living room is a place where you can just be. But this living room didn’t rise to meet the seasons.

“We wanted to create a cosy and practical seating area around the fireplace – a warm, inviting spot to relax, especially during the colder months,” explains Ana. “The winters here, in the Blue Mountains, are very cold.”

Ana and Brad agreed to make the fireplace the focal point. This provided a strong foundation from where they could build and layer the rest of the room. “We built the fireplace frame ourselves but to ensure compliance, we brought in a licensed tradie to install the fireplace,” explains Ana.

To complement the rawness of a roaring fire, the couple clad the fireplace with beautiful earthy stone. They installed VJ wall panelling above the mantel to offset the surrounding walls, which they painted matte white. “The panelling adds texture and warmth to the room,” explains Ana. “The fireplace really anchors the space, giving it both cosiness and character – it’s now the heart of the home.”

Square off seating

With the fireplace taking centre stage, it was easy to furnish the room based on symmetry and balance. Ana and Brad created a square seating arrangement by placing furniture along each side of an imaginary square within the room. Designed for quality “we time”, this setup encourages conversation and a sense of togetherness. “We thought about how the space would flow, especially around the fireplace,” says Ana.

They paired contemporary furniture with mid-century timber pieces for a fresh, surprising effect. The wooden tones are repeated in the floorboards, giving the space a cohesive feel. Ana and Brad then anchored everything with a central area rug. It softens the decor, balances the acoustics and makes the whole room feel well put together.

Pull double duty with bench seats

Ana and Brad agreed that entering a living room should feel like an exhale. They wanted to conceal clutter without taking up floor space. But there was a budget to consider, so they took a shortcut. “Using Kaboodle Kitchen cabinets, we created custom-looking window bench seats with storage to hide the firewood,” explains Ana. They carefully chose cabinets that fit the space under the windows beside the fireplace, then added complementary seat toppers and cushions for finesse. It became an instant cosy corner where they could retreat and watch the world go by. “Small changes, like D.I.Y. dual-purpose bench storage, can have a big impact on both style and function,” says Ana.

Work with light

As the home came with a few desirable features, including north-facing windows and a row of skylights in the living room, the job of layering lighting was simple. Ana and Brad thought about the room’s orientation and how daylight flowed in. They made the most of negative space under the paned windows flanking the fireplace with their D.I.Y. bench seats. “Being north-facing, that area catches the beautiful morning light, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and a quiet moment,” says Ana.

Ana and Brad were also able to embrace the biophilic (bring the outdoors in) trend effortlessly. Opting for plantation shutters and sheer curtains, they maximised the warm glow and natural colours from outside.

At night-time, a mixture of downlights and wall sconces enhanced both functionality and ambience. Sconces above the bench seats provided task lighting, transforming these areas into after-dark reading nooks. Lighting doesn’t have to be expensive, it’s more about placement and layering.

Where to spend, where to save

When it comes to renovating, everything comes down to budget. “We used Excel to track costs and created a digital mood board to keep our vision clear,” says Ana.

A successful remodel is all about rebalancing the scales. “We paid a bit extra on the tradies and adapted other elements,” explains Ana. “We originally planned to clad the fireplace in stone from floor to ceiling, but chose to go halfway up the wall instead. It saved money and still gave the room the character we wanted.” A little ingenuity goes a good way.

And the cherry on the cake? Instead of shelling out for a hand-hewn bespoke timber mantel, Ana and Brad “bought a fence post from Bunnings and repurposed it”. The result was the same – an authentic-looking, rustic-style mantel but without the hefty price tag.

Overcoming the obstacles

Every D.I.Yer gets struck down with decorator’s block at some point. Ana avoids this fate by frequently looking at Pinterest, design blogs and home decor magazines for ongoing inspo. “Luckily, the inspiration I found for the living room translated easily as the space was a blank canvas,” says Ana. “The only challenge was finding a wooden mantel that was the right scale for the room. But persistence paid off and we found the perfect fit.” The takeaway here – celebrate small wins along the way. It can help take the pain out of an arduous process.

Achieving a practical, yet peaceful living room with a restrained rural look, Ana and Brad were thrilled with their transformation. “We felt excited at the beginning of the project, and even more satisfied at the end,” says Ana. “The space now feels warm, functional and truly ours.”

More from Ana and Workshop

To see more projects like Ana and Brad’s living room renovation, and their impressive D.I.Y. bench seat, visit the Bunnings Workshop community.