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.
Sue Farmer says
I'm also a first timer to your blog. Love the room but since you asked for help, I think changing the frames on the gallery wall would be good. Maybe black. When the tv is the only black, it really sticks out.
Heather says
So glad you chimed in Sue, and so glad you came for a visit. You are completely on point with the TV. It is the only black, and it DOES stick out like a sore thumb. I really appreciate your input!!
Cindy Keith says
The room looks so much better, really soothing and pretty, but I think I see the blank spot….. no coffee table or ottoman….so no place for your eyes to land in the middle. But that might be remedied when you add a pillow or two… Also, though I love symmetry, you have three flat surfaces with two tall things on each end…. Restyling at least one of them might help give a little more interest – for instance, if you do the basket of birch logs beside the fireplace think about putting both candle holders and maybe another one of a slightly different height and width along with staggered size candles on the opposite side for balance. By the way, I love that chair… love it love it love it.
Heather says
Excellent point Cindy. Do you see those burlap cubes under the wood/chrome table? Those were made with the idea in mind that we could wheel those out (they are on casters) to use as a coffee table/extra seating, but in reality, it never happens. I agree…the room looks like it's asking for something in that empty space. I love your ideas…so glad you posted this message!!
Beck Campbell says
BTW, I LOVE your sectional…love it!!!!