This living room was transformed with Facebook Marketplace finds

The perfect living room isn’t built overnight, especially not when you’re working with a budget. Even the smartest DIYer needs a few years to transform a room into somewhere special that is both stylish and comfortable. That was the case for Laura Deller, a DIY and interiors content creator, who over the course of a few years turned her problematic living room into a luxe-looking space using upcycled furniture ideas and clever design tricks.

When Laura, author of Nailed It – The Essential Guide to DIY, first moved in, she knew the living room was going to be a tricky project. It had very low windows she couldn’t position any furniture in front of, which meant one whole wall of the room wasn’t usable.

‘The room was also heavily artexed and had very limited electrical outlets; a full replaster and rewire was needed too,’ she explained. But that didn’t stop Laura from dreaming big.

‘I have been obsessed with the idea of built-in living room storage for a long time,’ explains Laura. ‘The four-metre living room wall felt like the perfect space for a statement cabinet. I have fallen in love with arches and wanted to add a colour-drenched piece that would be practical but also really make a statement.’

Because a lot of work was needed, Laura decided to do the renovation as and when budget allowed, to get the room replastered professionally and the windows resized first.

The work started in 2020, the room was replastered and the log burner installed. ‘We then decorated and added flooring before finalising the furniture in 2021. I built in the arched cabinetry in 2023 and then chose to paint the woodwork in its colour in 2024 – a sign that finding your style takes time. I have introduced more eclectic pieces and personal keepsakes over the years too,’ says Laura who documented the transformation on her Instagram @houseprojectuk.

Laura loves how it looks now: ‘For guests, there is plenty of space, and as it’s firstly a family space, hardwearing furniture was important.’

‘A moody blue was always the intended colour scheme and Farrow & Ball’s Inchrya Blue had the edge,’ says Laura. ‘I loved how it paired so well with neutrals but could also handle rich rusts, mustards and greens too.’

In six years, Laura still adores her blue living room colour choice, ‘Cocooning in the deep blue was a bold move but one I love. It instantly gave it a mood and it is a colour I have not tired of in 6 years. Probably because it changes in the light and with the seasons.’

One of Laura’s favourite pieces is the log burner, ‘I love the fireplace – the statement log burner gives it a cosy ambience and is the central feature, which is what I wanted over the TV.’

Previously it was where the old gas fire was and Laura tiled the inset and hearth in monochrome circle tiles. For similar try B&Q’s Top Ceramics light grey Victorian porcelain tile pattern matt floor and wall tile, £1.99 for a sample.

Because the budget was not endless, the TV cabinet, sideboard and coffee table were all upcycled pieces of furniture.