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.
Diane Amick says
Have to agree with everyone – a splash of color in either rug, drapes, throw pillows, afghan, contemporary artwork – would make a huge difference. Loving, loving, loving your FP transformation! Need info on what – how long – how expensive. I think it is exactly what my all brick to the ceiling FP needs.
Anonymous says
I think you've got a great start. I love the entry table, art, and lamps. The fireplace is very nice too. I agree with the majority suggesting pillows for color. You have a lot of the honey/taupe paint color and I really like the paint behind the entry table – could you use more of it, especially on your gallery wall. I would also change up the gallery wall, maybe using some different sizes, and also using the dark wood color in your chair and mantel. I also tend to like gallery walls with things besides pictures, like your family initial, number of people in your family,"&" sign, or perhaps a clock.
Heather says
Great ideas…especially jazzing up the gallery wall a bit with some other items of interest 🙂 Thanks so much for all these great thoughts!!
Suzan Sweatman says
I love it just the way it is !!!
Simplistic elegance – really everything you've done is just perfect
xoxo