how to make a BEAUTIFUL DIY living room …
Sometimes, you can work really hard on a space, and in the end, the result still feels a little “ho-hum”. That’s reality, but it’s still the worst. Ever happen to you? Here’s one place it happened to us. Our DIY living room.
A couple years ago, we purchased an adorable 1950’s cape cod home. It had so much personality and potential. Before we bought, this was the living room. *This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy here.*
Here’s another shot…slightly different furnishings, but hopefully you’ll get the “gist” of the BEFORE space.
This is the first room you enter as you walk in the front door, so we wanted the re-make to be stellar.
And as with everything we do, it was a completely DIY living room (we’re too cheap to pay anyone to do any work for us). First thing was did was update the fireplace surround, and add some can lighting.
Burlap style grasscloth wallpaper was used on three walls to give some texture and dimension. The one we chose was by Schumacher, and I’m not sure it’s still being sold, but this one by Kenneth James, looks similar.
We updated the door, painted, new crown moulding…etc etc…
In the end here’s how our DIY living room turned out. I like it…we’re giving ourselves an A for Effort, but as far as Execution goes, I’d be hard pressed to mark us higher than a C+.
It just never really turned out exactly as we hoped. We were constantly tweaking and changing to try and perfect it. The layout of the room is a challenge with the location of the front door, the fireplace, and the room being flanked by the entry points for the kitchen and hall to second floor.
Floating around in my mind are still bunches of ideas for how to really perfect this space…one being add MORE COLOR! Two being remove the TV (but if I want to stay married, that’s never going to happen).
Anything you see that may “spruce” this room up? Leave us a comment! We love hearing new ideas!! Sometimes a fresh perspective is so helpful, don’t you think?
At the end of the day, the reality is, this room is JUST. FINE. It’s a place our family can sit and relax. We have a roof over our heads and a place to keep us warm and dry…and therein lies beauty. Grateful, grateful, grateful.
So…perhaps this room is a bit boring, but I guess in the end, it’s definitely BEAUTIFUL.
Amanda says
What a beautiful room – I love that fireplace surround and how you made it so much larger! Maybe you could layer a flatwoven colored rug on top of the cream one to add some color. It's a huge trend right now and easy to change later on!
Heather says
Very fun way to bring in some more color/pattern/interest! Thanks for the idea Amanda!
Jessica Marie says
This room is GORGEOUS Heather! I love your couch! The first thought that came to mind when you asked about sprucing up this room was … some colorful pillows and a throw. 😉 I am all for simplicity and this room is just that! Clean, simple and a beautiful place to unwind! Awesome job!
Heather says
You are so sweet Jessica 😉 When you come visit, we can chill and talk HTML on that couch 🙂
Anonymous says
Hi, Heather…as always I LOVE everything you do…someone told us to get the white birch logs in a basket for our fireplace (old porch) need it on a small scale…I think everyone commenting is an expert so a little hesitant to comment, but when I saw your curtains I thought about mine in living room…always want to turn them into side panels, felt they may look a little "tricky", but think they've been hanging too long as they are..always checking out your "heathered nest" how lovely!…margie
Heather says
As always, you are super sweet Aunt Margie (I'm assuming that "Anonymous" is you) 😉 You'll have to send me a pic of your curtains! Glad you commented…always loved your style.