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Yo, like most of us colonials, our crib has a family room and a living room. And let me tell ya, we spend way more time chillin’ in our family room than our so-called living room. My 7-year-old still gets confused when I say “living” room. We just call it the “red” room now, ya feel me?

So here’s the deal, with a few tweaks and a whole lot of inspo, you can transform your lame living room into a space you’d actually wanna hang in! Check out these dope ideas and design tips to get you started:

Home office – Now, a home office could mean different things to different peeps. It could be a spot to pay bills and take care of paperwork, a place for your kids to do their homework, or even a workspace for your home biz. Whatever your vibe, make sure your design is all about function, yo.

• Make sure you have a clear surface to work on. Ain’t nobody got time for a cluttered desk or table. If you’re short on space, consider a table that drops down from the wall like a freakin’ Murphy bed, ya dig?
• Gotta get yourself a comfy desk chair that’s adjustable and doesn’t squeak. Trust me, the squeaky chair life ain’t fun. If you got carpet, think about adding a plastic floor protector so you can roll around like a boss.
• Get yourself some hidden storage, but don’t forget to label your storage units so you don’t end up losing your sh*t.
• Lighting is key, fam! You gotta have some overhead lights and task lighting. If there’s no overhead light, add some badass up-lighting.
• Pick out functional accessories that show off your personality without cluttering up the space. But don’t make it look like some boring institution, it’s still your freakin’ crib, after all!
• Keep the colors light and bright to get those creative juices flowin’.
• Tidy up them cords as much as possible. Go wireless whenever you can, my peeps.

Library – If you’re a bookworm like me, you gotta turn your living room into a cozy spot to curl up with a good book. It’s like having your own virtual coffee house, ya know?

• Put in some fly shelving. Instead of just boring bookcases, get some custom shelves built around a window to create a window box seat. This way, you’ll have more storage and a cool focal point in the room.
• Screw traditional sofas or loveseats, opt for a couple of comfy club chairs (depending on your space). Gather ’em around a round glass-top coffee table with a wood shelf to show off your favorite coffee table books.
• Hell yeah, you need task lighting for each reading chair. Pharmacy lamps are bangin’ for this. And make sure you have enough lighting to see them books on the shelves.
• Since it’s a freakin’ library, you can go for darker paint to create that cozy vibe.
• Add some warm-toned rugs, soft throw blankets, and black and white photography on the walls for that groovy coffee house feel.

Toy room – Now, if you wanna keep the peace between parents and kids in the never-ending battle against toy clutter, a toy room is where it’s at, my peeps!

• Get some rad shelving with cool bins that can hide all that toy chaos. Trust me, open storage is a hot mess, even when the room is clean. And don’t go for a mishmash of tacky toy organizers, that’s just not fly!
• Make sure the room is comfy for both grown-ups and kids. Add a chill chair or loveseat, ya dig?
• Toss in a kid-sized table and chairs. Pro tip: put a machine washable rug underneath to survive the chaos of arts and crafts time!
• Keep the room bright with cheerful colors, but avoid anything too cutesy. Save that cuteness for their own damn bedrooms.
• If your kiddos are into movies, add a TV and DVD player.
• Set some clear rules for clean up, and make sure you stick to ’em!

Media room – Love watching movies? Create your own movie theater right at home, yo!

• Throw in some French or pocket doors and light-blocking shades to create a dark, quiet atmosphere whenever you need it.
• You gotta have a big screen TV with killer surround sound, my peeps.
• Add a dimmer switch to control the lighting like a boss. And make sure you have enough task lighting for those sneaky multitasking moments during a movie.
• Depending on how many peeps are gonna be watching movies with you, get enough comfy seating. Pro tip: angle two loveseats at the corners of the room opposite the TV, and throw in some bean bag chairs for extra seating when needed.
• For decor, just frame a couple of your favorite movie posters and hang them on the walls.
• And don’t forget the DVD organizer and a handy remote control holder, ’cause ain’t nobody got time to be searching for their movies or remotes!

Mud Room – If your house layout allows for it, you could convert your living room into a massive “holding cell” for all your coats, bags, shoes, and all that jazz. You get the picture, right?

• Give each fam member their own “locker” (even the fam pet deserves one!). Lockers provide dope vertical storage that makes the most of the space while hiding all that junk. You can go for wood or metal, whatever floats your boat.
• Throw in some wall hooks for guest coats, umbrellas, and whatever else.
• Add a shoe rack for wet or dirty kicks. Put some vinyl placemats underneath to protect your damn floor.
• Create a mailbox for each fam member to keep that mail flow under control.
• Add a credenza or file cabinet to organize all that mysterious paperwork that keeps wanderin’ into the house.
• Create a sick message center by painting a wall (or part of a wall) with magnetic and/or chalkboard paint. Make it pop by adding a big empty gold leaf frame, ya feel me?
• Throw in a colorful rug. Instead of one big rug, get a couple smaller ones that you can throw in the wash.
• How ’bout a small drop-leaf table and a couple chairs for small projects or just for kickin’ it with your boots on?

Stag room – Look, I ain’t judging, but if you really gotta have a stag room, here are some ideas:

• Get yourself a pool table and a dart board if you got the space for it.
• Add a bar and some cool bar stools.
• Go for a darker paint color that can handle wear and tear, my dude.
• Display your favorite neon bar sign, deer head, or any other prized possessions.
• If you’re feelin’ it, toss in a jukebox in the corner, why not?
• Don’t forget the classic “dogs playing poker” print, it’s a must-have!

Feelin’ overwhelmed? Give an Interior Re-designer in your hood a call. They specialize in making rooms work with what you already have. It’s a smart and budget-friendly way to breathe new life into your old-ass room.

It’s about damn time you start actually livin’ in your so-called “living” room, my friend!

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Ihab Salloum