A Cosy & Warm Japandi-Inspired Living Room under $5K with No Built-in!
973
- Solo Living
- 2 br
- HDB (Resale)
- ~700 sqft
- Japandi
Hey there! 👋 Welcome to my cozy Japandi-inspired living room, @littlecupabode. It's a complete transformation of a 40-year-old Resale HDB in Tampines. I love the classic Japandi vibes, but I couldn't resist adding a touch of mid-century modern flair to make it uniquely mine. As renovating an old home can be quite a costly affair, I found many of my furnishings, fixtures, and decor pieces on Taobao, Shopee, IKEA and Daiso. It's amazing what you can find with a little creativity and patience! Living in a matured estate also has its perks. I love being able to explore the endless amenities around my block and then come home to this cozy space. It's my little perfect haven away from the hustle and bustle. 
To make the most of my low ceilings and limited space, I opted for low-lying modular furniture and a mix of low and high-hung wall decor. This creates the illusion of height and openness, preventing the room from feeling cramped. The two Togo-inspired sofas were a perfect fit. They're light, modular, and low-sitting, with a classic mid-century modern look that complements the earthy tones of my Japandi-inspired home. I added a cream-coloured round rug with a minimalist Japandi design. It ties the space together visually while adding a soft and calming touch which I love! This is the ever-popular Samsung "The Frame" TV that you can find in a lot of homes today. I love how the frames around the TV can be changed to match the vibe of your home! If you observe closely, I tried to create the illusion of height and space by mounting it slightly lower than usual. The negative space above makes the room feel more open. Also, one of the best things about wood-toned furniture is that you can mix and match different shades without worrying about them clashing. It's a great way to add personality to your space without having to stress about colour coordination. Rattan is all the rage in Japandi-inspired homes, but I have a soft spot for the clean lines of fluted designs. Unfortunately, fluted furniture options can be a tad bit pricey. So, I decided to get creative and search for a budget-friendly option. I found this gorgeous TV console on Taobao at a very affordable price. I love that it's low-lying, has clean edges, and is made from natural wood. It's a much better option (at least in my opinion) than the laminated ones you usually see! 
Finding the perfect low-setting coffee table was a challenge, but I finally found this gem on Taobao. To add a bit of visual interest without being too ostentatious, I decided to incorporate my love of terrazzo design for selected furniture and fixtures around my home. This coffee table is the perfect example. I love that it's made of real terrazzo stone with real wood support! It's been a solid and reliable piece for the past six months, and serves as the perfect spot for snacks while I watch my favourite anime series! This mid-century modern find from Taobao is a total gem. It's not just a beautiful sculptural piece, but it's also functional as a stool and in my case, a light stand. I'm a fan of pieces that can do double duty! To achieve a clean and clutter-free look, I hid the TV and sound bar wiring behind a false wall and cut out a hole behind my TV console unit to connect my gaming consoles to the sockets behind. This leaves the table-top open for me to decorate. As an avid crystal collector, I decided to use this space to display my treasured stones. The living room is often considered the command centre of a home, so it's a great place to channel positive energy! Meet McKenzie, my rain tree! A Japandi home is never complete without a few well-chosen plants, and I found this beauty at @jungalore. I love the lush green foliage it provides, and how the leaves and branches sway gently in the wind when my ceiling fan is turned on. It really adds a touch of softness and brings the whole look together! Did you know that the rain tree leaves close up towards the evening? It's like a natural signal that the day is coming to an end. How cool is that? This fan is the silent warrior of my home! It's also the main reason why my rain tree sways so beautifully in the wind. I bought it from PRISM+, and I love the smart features, especially the customisable colour options that matches my Japandi design. It's been working great for the past few months and I'm so glad I chose this ceiling fan instead of a standing fan, which would have taken up even more space in my already small flat. That's all for my living room! Stick around for more exciting content in the next few weeks as I take you on a tour through every nook and cranny of my home. I'll be showing you more on how I made the most of my small space to create my cozy Japandi-inspired dream pad! Meanwhile, if you have any questions for me, feel free to leave a comment down below!
- 2 days ago
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