*This post was sponsored by World Market, however all thought, opinions and hard work are m own #worldmarkettribe *
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We spend the most time of any room of our house, in the living room. Yes this space was the one I could never get quite right. Between hand-me-down furniture and a small budget, I could never hit a home run in here. I started thinking I needed to go bold like I have in other rooms of our house. I mean, our dining room is black and white, the hallway is white with pops of black. I love a good high contrast space. But for whatever reason I had been holding back in this room. But I decided enough was enough and came up with a plan that World Market graciously helped me make happen.
Let’s take a look at the before photos first. They’re kinda scary and a little embarrassing, but everyone starts somewhere, right?
I started this affordable, budget friendly makeover with $1500 and by picking out a sofa and chairs online since I don’t have a local World Market. This is where the fear sets in as a Mother of 3 kiddos, 2 cats, and a well-meaning but sometimes messy husband. They spill things. And they hit each other with my pillows. And they jump on the couch. Generally, they go nuts in this room. So I worry about plunking down a year of college tuition on furniture that will inevitably get mistreated. That’s just not where we are in life right now and I’m okay with that. But I still want nice things, darn it! So I scoured World Market until I found this sofa that I love but was also affordable and sturdy. It’s the Apel Sofa and we are besties now. She doesn’t mind if a few of the tears I cry while watching ‘This Is Us’ drop on her. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Of course the perfect sofa needs a couple chairs to keep it company. Have you noticed I treat my furniture like they have feelings? Hmmm. I loved these Xander Armchairs so I pulled the trigger on two! They are super comfy and the minimal, mid-century shape is soooo my jam.
Once I found such affordable finds in the living room furniture part of World Market I figured I might have the same luck with decor and I was totally right (as usual!). I wound up getting curtains, a couple of sconces, a terrarium and a super fun piece triangle wall art.
These curtains are light and breezy. I really debated, as you can see on Instagram, about whether I should add curtains to these windows at all. After I painted the window mullions black, I was kind of sad to cover them with blinds and curtains. You can see there were plenty of opinions about it. In the end I decided to try the curtains. I do think they add a nice softness to the room.
Once I had all my living room furniture and decor, I started brainstorming a few DIY projects to really take this room where I wanted it to go. After talking to some of my best blogging friends, I decided on a raw wood shiplap above the fireplace. I actually wound up splurging just a tad on this project. I bought Cedar V-Groove Planks. I originally had planned to get plywood ripped down at the home improvement store but I wasn’t crazy about the wood color or quality so I spent a few extra dollars for these planks. They went up SO EASILY. Joel and I had them measured, cut and nailed in about an hour. That’s my kind of project! Less more, more impact 😉
Of course, the big elephant in the room…the black fireplace. It was painted white and that was one of the first projects I wrote about here on the blog. But I was never so happy as when I put that first brush stroke of black on. It just makes my heart siiiiing! The color is by Sherwin Williams and is the same black I use every where else in my house, it’s called Tricorn Black and it’s PERFECT.
I also added a coat of white spray paint to the top of my box frame coffee table. That was an easy fix too. All in all, this was a very EASY makeover and very affordable. I’m relaxing on that sofa from World Market as I type this post and I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.
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It looks so good girl!!! All that hard work totally paid off. Love the new furniture and of course that gorgeous new mantle and fireplace area!
Thank you Bre!!
This is gorgeous, I would replicate all of it in a heartbeat! Those chairs make my heart pitter patter. And the pine with the black bricks are SUCH a good combo. AGh! I’m obsessed with it all!
Thank Karisa!! you’re so sweet! And yes, those chairs right? So perfect!
Leigh Anne this looks great. You did an amazing job.
Your choice on the sofa was spot on and I love the fireplace area.
I wish you lived back in Louisiana I’d have you do my finishing work in the houses I remodel and repair.
Again, Great job
Thank you!! I’m glad you like it. I’d love to do that kind of work in other people’s houses.