Before and After: Our Living Room Makeover Reveal

As you can see from the photos, our living room has undergone a major transformation. We started with a seriously outdated space – with good bones, but in need of some TLC. The first step was to demo. We got rid of those crazy metal wall & ceiling tiles, built-ins, carpet, and that interesting wall of mirrors. Then we opened up the wall from the entry into the living room. This brought some much-needed light into the entryway. Once demo was complete, we let the guys from Heritage Builders take over.

Under Construction

They took care of refinishing the ceiling and the drywall, adding new doors and trim, and of course the painting. Along with completely redoing the electrical in the home, they also added in some can lighting, a new media port for the wall mounted TV, and installed our new fan and fixture.

Next up was to choose a color scheme that would set the tone for the entire space. After a little deliberation, I settled on a warm and inviting palette of muted, earthy neutrals. The pops of blue and green added some interest to the space without being overwhelmingly colorful. I went with a warm, light gray for the walls & a warm white for the doors and trim.

For the flooring, we had them add in 2″ oak in the living room area to match the rest of the oak on the main floor. Once it was installed, they sanded and re-stained the entire main level to match.

Can you even believe the difference in this entry!? Initially this entry wall didn’t have any wainscotting, but I felt it needed something more. So, after purchasing my first miter saw off Facebook marketplace, I tackled this as my very first DIY project. It might not be perfect, but I love the way it turned out!

The Furnishings

Next, we tackled the furniture. We wanted pieces that were both stylish and functional. To encourage conversation, we chose two cozy sofas facing each other. These sofas are so comfortable and great quality. Eventually, we will add a couple swivel chairs to the end of the living room facing the TV to add more seating for guests. These are the chairs we are looking at purchasing. Linked HERE.

We chose a large buffet for under the TV to provide some much-needed storage space. This is home to all of Sutton’s arts & crafts toys, along with some of my work items. For more hidden toy storage (which is a must have when you have kids), I found this great wooden box. It doubles as a side table and to keep unsightly toys hidden away.

My long-term plan for this wall is to add some bookshelf built-ins and an electric fireplace. However, I’ve got a few other projects on my list before we tackle that.

Finally, we added the finishing touches – the accessories and decor that really bring the room to life. The majority of our decor was purchased from Target, Amazon, Wayfair, and thrift finds. I love being able to mix old finds with new purchases. Combining the two can really create that cozy, real home look.

After photos by Emma Highfill Photography. 

Here are the links to materials and products:

blue sofa (in white, blue is no longer sold)
leather sofa
white boucle throw pillows
green throw pillow
throw blanket
glass vase
faux leaf stems
marble coffee table
table tray basket (similar, the one I purchased is out of stock)
coasters
hidden book storage (different color, mine are sold out)… these are the best for hiding remotes!
floating shelf
picture frame
table lamp
coffee table book 1 & book 2
wall mirror
curtain rod
mercury glass jars
coat hooks
plant basket
runner
area rug (similar, mine is no longer sold)