living room inspiration
I've been pretty slow with getting our house decorated. Up until two weeks ago we still had an "office" full of boxes of books that I hadn't unpacked yet that taunted me every time I'd walk past the door. My sister's visit helped motivate me to check some things off the list and now I feel like I've been bit by the decorating bug!
The biggest challenge to me was our open floor plan on the ground floor. I love that our kitchen/dining/living space are all open to one another but it was hard for me to find a way to make the spaces compliment each other but still have some sort of division.
When I moved in I brought a few more pieces of furniture and then the first thing to go was the futon. It now lives in our garage (along with several other items from T.J.'s dorm room) and we're hoping to eventually make one side a sort of exercise space. We ordered a small sectional to replace it and T.J. had to finally agree that a couch is more comfortable than a futon. It's a neutral color fabric with a little gray undertone to it and I love it. But now I feel like everything in there is a little too neutral; the couch, the rug, the walls, all the many different shades of wood. It's doesn't quite make for the cozy warm space I want.
These are some of my favorite pins on my living room board.
I love that they combine several different elements in a really seamless way using rustic/farmhouse, traditional, and some modern accents throughout. Plus they're not all white, all over. I love me a good white wall and really wish we had white trim in our house but I also think there is a tendency these days to do too much white and to me it looks a little sterile and cold. I like the neutral to be balanced out with layers of color and texture and patterns. I want it to look cozy and liveable and like us.
So here's where we're at now...
- A new rug (something with color and a traditional pattern)
- More seating and some brighter pillows to coordinate (T.J. wants a leather recliner... I'm hoping to talk him in to a leather arm chair and ottoman instead)
- Curtains (I ordered long white cotton voile curtains that I think will really lighten up the room and I plan to diy some gold curtain rods)
- Fireplace "makeover" (I have this idea... we'll see...)
Can't wait to post an update soon! I want to get it all done right now! I need to exert a little self control and spread things out over the next few months so my wallet doesn't hate me. But it's fun seeing everything finally come together and move farther away from just two people's stuff thrown together, to a proper home.
its looks great. Your getting there. It takes time to get your house the way you want.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely looks so much better already just with the change in furniture! I love your inspiration photos and think you can definitely pull off the look you want with the space you have. My husband sounds very similar to your husband - he just had to have his leather recliner. I put up with it for now since we only have one living area, but when we have a bigger space one day, the leather is going on the man cave and will never be coming out. It's just too hard to decorate around, at least with the look I like!:)
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I feel like Monica from Friends when Chandler moved in. And yes, I totally think our husbands would get along nicely. I have a lot of his things that are ear marked for a future man cave lol. I just keep reminding myself that he works really hard so I guess he's earned a barcalounger if that's what he really wants.
DeleteLove the way you are going with your living area! I'll look forward to the "after" photos!!
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