Let’s talk about the living room. In our old house it was red and turquoise, and I really loved it! The room was long and narrow, with the entryway in the same space, which made it tricky to work with.
I didn’t want the TV above the mantel, but I wanted the mantel to be the focal point from the couch. So I came up with this setup, and it worked very well. I truly loved my living room and it just worked. But this time I’m going to do things a bit differently…
These pictures were obviously taken at Christmastime.
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| Realtor photo |
I’m going to get rid of nearly everything in the living room. I’m selling the red couch (it’s an IKEA Ektorp; it’s definitely worn and has lumps … but for less than $500, what did you expect?) and replacing it with this couch from Pottery Barn:
I’ve heard great things about the PB Basic sofa collection. It’s pricey, but I expect it to last a long time. It’s also slipcovered, so it can be washed when it gets dirty from grubby little hands. Several blogs I follow have this couch, and they all say it cleans up well. I want the couch and the loveseat.
I’d also like a new area rug. My current rug is from Home Depot and it matches the brown and red theme, but I’m getting rid of it too. I’m hoping for something more neutral, like this one from Pottery Barn:
Our TV is currently sitting on the Avington TV stand from Target.
It’s a great piece of furniture, but I’m worried that A is going to knock the TV off since it sits so low to the ground. She can reach the DVD player and push the buttons. So I think it’s time for a taller TV stand that little hands can’t reach. I’m thinking of something like a buffet, similar to a piece I spotted at a local store.
I’d like to keep the larger pieces neutral and bring in pops of color with pillows and accents. That way I can change the look without buying a new couch (tip: don’t buy a red couch).
I still need to find two chairs for the room, and I need curtains.
Here’s my living room from the online listing when we bought the house, looking from the front door:
The TV will go on the right wall, and the large couch will face it. The loveseat will have its back to the front door, and the chairs will sit in front of the fireplace. I’d like two bookcases flanking the TV buffet, but we’ll see. It’s a huge wall, so it needs some big furniture!
This is what it looks like right now:
There’s a lot of work to do! I’ll post updates as I add pieces and make changes. I’ve already changed the mantel, and I’ll share more about that soon.
Take a look at the Living Room Reveal here!
And see my Navy Living Room in our current home!
