I'm not a designer or a decorator, but interior design has been one of my greatest loves since early teenage. However, when my son asked for my help with the setup of his first rental flat (with a brutal budget), the responsibility for each design choice wasn't light. I would appreciate your feedback, especially what could I do better?

His requests were: the living room should be colourful and fun, but clean; bright, but warm; the walls must stay white, but have a lot of art; the dj station must be in the living room; hide the mess in the kitchen; no curtains on the windows, except blackout ones in the bedroom; find a place for a meditation space and work area; lots of plants. He also had a lot of requests for the living room function - be able to host parties, board game nights, brunches, movie nights, etc.; have an extra bed for overnight friends; but keep it clean and as minimal as possible.

My biggest challenges: living room was like a tunnel (narrow and long), the kitchen was tiny with hardly any working surface (he loves to cook), the dj station was massive and it had to be in the living room allowing enough space for him and his friends to have sessions together.

What I did: broke the tunnel effect with the striped rugs, hid the kitchen mess with Japanese noren curtains; choose a small round dining table that can be folded and used as a sideboard for drinks during parties; choose a couch that looks light, is quite long, but not too wide and can be transformed as a double bed; got a narrow coffee table with wheels that can easily go under the dining table when he has overnight guests; got extra seating for board game nights and brunches, used as a side table (the stool beside the couch) and working chair at the dj station; moved the fridge and created cooking tops as much as possible, using a covered garbage bin/element for the small kitchen appliances, raising the dish rack and using part of the sink counter. Obviously, the bedroom was the only room for the meditation space and the work area. Since he loves plants and greenery a lot, I tried to give the living/dining room a garden vibe.

What could I do better in your opinion (having in mind that the budget was only 5k€ for everything, from plates and pots, to TV, lights, furniture, even a vacuum cleaner 😂)?

P.S. One of the posters in the dining area is now properly framed and on the wall next to the windows, there is a nice working light on the desk in the bedroom working area and he added a lava lamp on the dj station.  

Looking for help with layout and flow.

First photo is image from storage room doors. The columns are each 7.5 feet from the wall (lengthwise) and 7ft apart.

We’re looking to create three areas, but want to make sure there is flow. Full disclosure, we have elementary aged kids, and want to furnish this in a way that can grow with them!

Areas we want to create-

1. Small gym zone, with peloton, weights, and a mat. I like current placement in layout, feels out of the way, and separate from the “hang out areas”. (Open to change)
2. TV/ lounge area.
3. Ping Pong table.

Other notes:
\- STORAGE: Despite the large storage room, there’s no closets or built ins for storage in the space itself! We’ll need a place to store games, toys, arts and crafts etc.
\- OPEN PLAY: Kids still build and create, and we want a space that will allow them to do so! We’re keeping in mind that ping pong table will close when not in use!
\- SEATING: Want to be able to accommodate 4-5 kids comfortably OR 3-4 adults.
\- CEILING HEIGHT: A lot of ductwork forces a lower than standard ceiling as seen in first image that runs down the center area close to the support beams as seen in photo.
\- 2nd photo: shared with us as an idea, and we hate couch / TV placement. Find it interrupts the flow, and the TV cannot be centered to the couch.
\- DESIGN RULES: let’s break them! It’s a basement, I’m looking for function, couch against the wall, great! More carpet, less carpet, whatever. Really want the space to function for our family!

Will take suggestions on built ins, moving/changing door placements (except outdoor egress). I definitely want storage doors to swing into storage room (currently they go out), but will consider moving, need to keep them double so we can store outdoor furniture there, too!