I’d like your help with my living room. It’s an awkward size and shape – 24′ x 12′ with a large window at one end and a sliding glass door at the other end. One of the long sides has an 11′ opening to the kitchen and a 7′ opening to the entry and railing, so there’s only 5′ of actual wall on that side of the room. Since the room is so long, I have it set up with about 2/3 for the “living” space and the other 1/3 for my little dining table. The ceiling is about 8′ high and there is no overhead lighting.
My style is Earthy Modern. I love clean lines and pretty much everything at West Elm, but I also like textures and grainy woods like teak or acacia to keep it from feeling too cold and stark. See this print for my color inspiration: http://www.etsy.com/listing/56622713/peacock-feather-5×7-fine-art-photo-print.
Overall, the room just doesn’t feel put together – I keep adding things and don’t feel like I’m making progress, and I still have a lot of apartment/college furniture that I need to upgrade. I think a better plan is in order…that’s where you come in :) This is my only living/entertaining space since I don’t have a separate formal living room or finished basement. I’m open to DIYing anything and everything you can come up with. I’ve probably gone overboard with the details (I’m an engineer, I can’t help it!) but please let me know if there’s anything else you need. Thank you so much!
Jen
Here’s what I came up with for Jen:
1. A dark, moody accent wall will really make the room spectacular. Try Underwater by Behr and reserve it for the wall behind your couch and extend it all the way to the dining room wall.
2. Above the couch, go for a monochromatic, oversized photo as art. Use this one as an inspiration and take one (or have a photographer friend take one) similar. I’ll link you to a great tutorial on a cheap way to blow up and hang photos.
Large photo found here.
DIY Large photo art tutorial here.
3. You said you like clean lines, which means your curvy end tables should go. I love these small ones from Ikea that double as storage.
End tables found here.
4. I don’t see anything wrong with your existing table lamps. From what I see in the photos, I really like the bases. Either paint the shades a warm teal color, or splurge on all new ones like I have pictured.
Lamps found here.
5. Ahh, the pillow round up. Pillows are going to do amazing things for your whole room. Mix and match patterns and colors. I have picked out a golden yellow, one with navys, a turquoise with bright green accents, a soft gray fox, a yellow-green print, and a bright orangey-floral.
Yellow found here.
Navy brush stroked pillow found here
Turquoise pom pom pillow found here
Fox pillow found here
Yellow-green print pillow found here
Orange Floral pillow found here
6. I mentioned an accent wall in number 1, but for the rest of your walls–I found a great warm gray like you suggested. See how Martha Stewart Sharkey Grey looks!
7. From the photos I see you are not afraid of an animal print. I would ditch the double Ikea rug and lay a large cowhide on a diagonal. There are tons of options:
One shown found here
Alternate here
And another here
8. I love the idea of a round, leather storage ottoman for this room. It will balance out all the square edges and provide plenty of extra storage for you.
Ottoman found here
9. To solve your TV situation, I’d go for a rustic-looking cart. Mount your tv, or set it on top and fill the shelves with baskets and a few other pictures in frames I see around the room.—even your inspiration photo would be a nice touch.
Console found here
10. As for the dining room side of things, I worked around your existing table because I thought it was nice! I’d start with some lighting since you don’t have any overhead. A great arc lamp can be tucked in the corner and still hang over the table.
Lamp found here
11. Underneath the table, define the space with this great, orange 5×7 area rug that’s less than $75!
Area rug found here
12. Instead of the curvy console table you currently have, scour craigslist for a great dresser to use in its place. Store spare dishes, wine and on top display a beautiful bowl of lemons or oranges.
Crazy expensive dresser found here
13. Above that dresser (on the accent wall), hang dishes. Collect them from thrift stores, check out Pier one, and even go for a couple woven bowls like the one I included.
Inspiration photo found here
Woven decorative bowl found here
The only other suggestion I have is to paint the frame of your chair in the living room (next to the plant) orange. It will really tie things together and provide a great pop! I hope you find great inspiration from this mood board and I can’t wait to see where you end up.
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
SHop all
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I love how thorough you are with everything! And I love what you’ve suggested. Great job!
You can create a moodboard for me anytime, girl.
I really like the arc lamp and that dining area rug is so bright and fun!
Great idea!! Chris is the coding mastermind behind this operation, I’ll run it past him. Thanks! :)
I love the mood board posts! If you can’t make a blog post about each one, maybe make them a part of your site where users can browse them even without breakdowns? Like an image gallery :)
Wow, it’s kinda weird to see my house on someone’s blog :) I did some shopping this weekend and picked up a few items that you suggested. I can’t wait for it all to come together!
Love the design, great job!!