“Home idea with IKEA”: a living-cooking-dining room and study space in one

This week’s hero, Rasa, is a true powerhouse – she’s always on the move! Between hitting the gym, working hard, raising her son and whipping up delicious meals in the kitchen, she juggles it all. Most of their time is spent in a cosy 17-square-metre room, where they cook, eat, relax, read, work and do homework. For Rasa and her son, a dishwasher and the simple joy of stretching out to watch TV are absolute essentials. But can all aspects of family life really fit into one compact space? Our interior designer, Toma, has no doubt that they can! 

A bright room that has it all

The family’s home features a modern Scandinavian style. To keep the interior cohesive, Toma chose a neutral palette with light tones and green accents. Textiles play a crucial role in the new space, helping to define different zones. Curtains, rugs and cushions create a cosy living area, while the kitchen remains entirely textile-free for a clean, functional feel. 

Welcome to the living room

As soon as you step in, you’re greeted by the FRIHETEN corner sofa-bed with a chaise lounge— the perfect spot to stretch out and watch TV, just as the homeowners wished. Previously, the family’s TV was mounted right next to the kitchen, where clutter made it hard to fully relax. Now, with a new, thoughtfully chosen location, they can enjoy their screen time without distractions. Plus, the space has been optimised with additional storage solutions, including a TV bench, a bookcase and stylish decorative shelves.

Standard solutions for an odd kitchen layout

If you have a kitchen with columns, awkward corners or niches, take the time to experiment with different cabinet combinations. Even standard-sized furniture can maximise every centimetre of space.

When designing this kitchen, the interior designer used not only the floor space but also the height, choosing cabinets and shelves that reach up to the ceiling. This way, dust won’t gather on top, and Rasa will have plenty of storage for cooking tools, tableware and other items.

“A quick way to refresh the wall between the lower and upper kitchen cabinets is with LYSEKIL wall panels. For this kitchen, I chose white panels, which blend better with the current interior than the old dark brown tiles.”

Toma Laucienė, IKEA interior designer

“To keep the interior cohesive, look for furniture with similar colours and textures. In this project, the METOD system and HAVSTORP fronts were used for both the kitchen and storage in a niche, while the white EKET cabinets in the living room match the BILLY bookcase.”

Toma Laucienė, IKEA interior designer

Would use some help?

If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.

Have you missed this episode on TV3?

Watch it here, track all makeovers and get inspired.

What was done before?

In previous seasons, IKEA interior designers shared their tips on how to furnish odd spaces, adapt homes to changing life situations, and organise all belongings. We have organised kitchens, children’s rooms, and bedrooms, set up a home office in the living room, furnished a tiny one-room apartment, upgraded premises for family business, and so much more.