IKEA living room makeover

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NICE, our living room is much more spacious now.
Kids are keeping their toys and accessories into the colourful Trofast trays.
Everyone got their own set of colour, no more contention.

Neat and elegant, we can configure the cabinets in different orientation too.
Less messy, visually pleasing, we love how the colourful trays seem to increase our living room’s floor area.

Before and after IKEA living room makeover :p

Video : Fast forward, kids took 30 minutes to construct our Trofast

To digress a bit, we all know kids grow up fast. We have been living in Sengkang for 14 years! Our family size has grown bigger, and our decade-old furniture and accessories are showing signs of wear and tear.

When kids were growing and getting heavier, they like to jump from our sofas, chairs etc.

When we were house-tidying for Chinese Lunar New Year, we took the opportunity to replace some of the old furniture.

IKEA was decked in festive decorations, and the Chinese New Year mood is everywhere.

If shoppers are ever clueless about makeover ideas, we would recommend IKEA’s HDB rooms mockup. That was how we came across our Sofa design.

1. You can research and shortlist your ideas from the catalogue or mobile app.

2. Next collect the packaging from the racks.

3. Payment and load into car. We love the whole DIY concept at IKEA.

Kids, however have other ideas when they visit IKEA. Their FUN is not only confined to chicken wings, ice cream cones or SmΓ₯land. The trolleys and luggage bags never fail to provide some sorts of entertainment for them!

Measuring tapes can be handy toys too (Daddy try to hide behind some Billy book shelves, so embarrassing haha)

But when it comes to real work, kids are very efficient with alan keys. With so many helping hands, we diy our own Trofast cabinet in under 30 minutes.

Besides Trofast, we got some additional storage with wheels.

With six family members, our laundry clothes are always piling like a hill. With the wheels, kids can now help to cart the laundry between living room, washer and bedrooms.

Before and after, we are confident our new sofa will have more seating space πŸ™‚

The last thing on our shopping list, a three seater Kivik sofa, should last us ten years (warranty). We do not expect the kids to be jumping on the sofa anymore, three of them will be serving National Service come 2025.

Somehow, parents and kids could not agree on how the sofa will be laid out. We shall see.

Whatever it is, we are eagerly waiting for our new sofa’s arrival. Four more days πŸ™‚

ps.. we are sponsored by IKEA to showcase a different theme each month. February is “Living room makeover” for us. You may be interested in January’s theme “Let there be Light“.

** updated 2015Mar …
Our new sofa πŸ™‚
IKEA sofa

IKEA, let there be light

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Singapore is very fortunate, we are sheltered from natural disasters and our country is peaceful. No Earthquakes, Tsunamis or war and the little ones grow up blissfully unaware of the calamities which befall many countries.

Refugees? Kids might not be able to comprehend why some people do not have a country, a home or a childhood. Why are some people forced from their homes?

UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency who is providing shelters to house the refugees. Refugees camps have basic amenities, and lighting is in short supply.

From 01 February to 28 March, IKEA is running a “Brighter Lives for Refugees” campaign. For every LED light sold during this period, 1 euro will be donated to UNHCR. The funds generated will help improve access to lighting, renewable energy solutions and primary education in refugee camps across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

I asked the kids to pen down their feelings should there be an extended power outage in Singapore. It is a subtle way to ask them whether they are paranoid of darkness (你怕黑吗?)

I grew up experiencing power outages and water rationing, and I thought our kids should go through some of these exercises again. Perhaps, we will appreciate our way of life more, and not take everything for granted?

I kept a torchlight near the circuit breaker, and the older kids know how to flick on the master-switch should there be a power trip.

But imagine if there should be extended blackout in Singapore, what are the things which we cannot do? No Light, no Life.

We will not be able to participate in a lot of activities in the darkness. Toilet trips and story reading would become more challenging.

Some children in the refugees camps do not have the luxury of light once the sun sets. They might not even have the opportunity to dream about aspirations. They have to solve basic necessities like water, food, sanitation, and electricity first.

Video : IKEA Brighter Lives for Refugees Campaign

Video : A day in the life of a Refugee

Testimonials which touched me :
– Nights are long and with light people have opportunities and freedoms that are lost when the sun goes down.
– Is there any other place better than your own home? Your home is always your paradise.

What would we miss if we have to live in total darkness?

Call to action :
From 6-8 February 2015, bring your used halogen or incandescent lightbulbs to the IKEA store for a 1 to 1 light bulb exchange. (disclaimer – Up to 3 lightbulbs per person and exchange is limited to the first 1000 bulbs per day)

From 01 February to 28 March – for every LED light sold, IKEA will donate 1 euro.
Details at this link.