Emily A. Clark

design. simplified.

My Living Room To-Do List

Nov42010

Sometimes I feel like if I post about projects I plan to do, it will make me more motivated to get them done.  We’ll see if it works this time around. . . . It’s been a while since I’ve posted about our living room.  You know, the space you swear you’ll spend hours lounging and reading in when you first buy the house.  Then, it slowly but surely gets neglected until it’s almost completely unused. 

I bought a huge abstract painting (from Craigslist) before we moved in and it quickly became the centerpiece of the room.  Besides that, this room has somewhat stood still.  Even worse, it has actually regressed.  Here’s what it looked like initially:

I quickly assembled it, and then started picking it apart bit by bit.  The rug found a new home in our dining room.  The accent chairs and one of the end tables also went elsewhere.  Basically, I’m left with beige walls, no pillows and a big case of the blahs. 
So, I thought it would be fun to put together a small idea board with some initial changes I plan on making. 

  • I’m going to start by painting the room the same mocha shade as my dining room.  (These two rooms face one another across our entryway, and I want them to feel like one big space.)
  • A big loop rug that currently never sees the light of day under all of the toys in our playroom is moving downstairs.
  • The round wood/glass coffee table that previously got the boot gets to come back.
  • I’m (make that, my husband, is) installing green curtain panels (from IKEA). I recently hung the same ones in our dining room.
  • Our living room currently houses a big armoire that has become art central for my kids’ crayons, paint, paper and other supplies.  It looks very traditional in a cherry wood tone right now.  I’m considering painting it black and updating the hardware.
  • My sofa needs pillows–and lots of pattern!
  • And, finally, I would like to add two small sunburst mirrors above each of the two lamps.  Unless I find a dirt cheap source for these soon, I think I’ll give Janell’s DIY sunburst project a try.  (She always makes it look so easy!)

So, that’s the plan in a nutshell.  Now, where’s the time?

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Comments

  2. I like the way it is. I think the new picture looks kinda cluttered.

    But your home is gorgeous and I love your taste. So I bet when you finish I will be surprised. Must say the bamboo coffee table really works!

    Reply

  3. This is goint look fabulous. You are so talented to understand what a room needs.
    When I need motivation to get projects done, I invite people over. Knowing company is coming lights a fire under me to get moving.

    Reply

  5. Ha, I find it very effective to post what I plan to do, definitely motivating. Your living room looks great already, it will be divine with these changes…great looking sofa and canvas!
    Thanks for the shout out, let me know if you have any questions about the project when you get started!
    Janell

    Reply

  15. Sounds like it is going to be great! I really like all of the pillows. {I chuckled a little when I saw how you do your concept board, because that is exactly how I visualize a space… cut and paste ;)}

    Reply

  17. I really like the idea of painting the walls to be more seamless with the dining room. Smart. And isn’t shopping for throw pillows the best?

    I try to use my blog to keep me accountable, but it still takes me months to finish something up in our house because my decorating budget doesn’t grow as quickly as my vision for a room!

    Reply

  22. I love it and I also like the before. The green curtains are fabulous – do you know what line they are from? I’d love to get something similar for my living room.
    Karla

    Reply

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