Looking to revamp your living space without breaking the bank? This article outlines the key steps and ideas for achieving a stunning living room makeover on a budget, focusing on earthy and organic aesthetics.
This upstairs loft area features old furniture from a first apartment. The goal is to transform it into a multifunctional space. The aim is to create a gathering place for games, a designated work area, and a comfortable overflow guest room.
Clearing the Space and Adding Curtains
You have to donate the old sofas to a local thrift store. Curtains should be added to the window to make it appear larger. Natural light is the only light source in this space, so expand it with curtains.
Hang the curtain rod as high as possible. Frame the window with curtains on both sides. This creates the illusion of taller ceilings and a wider window. The Matilda curtains from IKEA are affordable. They offer a light, organic feel and texture.
After cleaning and clearing the living room, it’s important to pick the right sofa.
Sofa Selection
The initial plan was to assemble a sectional sofa from Target. However, after assembly, the sofa proved uncomfortable.
The sofa was returned due to the great return policy at Target. The decision was made to look at outlets, where a downstairs living room sofa was previously acquired for an amazing deal.
At the Pottery Barn outlet, there are mismatched sofa pieces for a great deal. The only downside is having to order the other section full price and waiting for it to come in. There wasn’t time for that this time. They decided to wander over to the Creighton Barrel outlet.
With the sofa, it was decided to pivot and be open-minded to the thought of one smaller sofa accented with comfy lounge chairs.
A Mad Great sofa was found for only a thousand dollars. It reminded them of the Portola sofa from Lulu and Georgia, which costs almost four thousand dollars. This sofa had a little stain on the side of the arm, but it was removed.
The sofa is spacious and deep. It can serve as an overflow guest sleeping area if needed. The overall look of it is appealing.
After choosing the sofa, it’s time for a nice rug and suitable furniture.
Rug and Furniture Placement
The rug has the perfect amount of detail with a slate gray color. Always size up when choosing a rug size. You can always hide it under more furniture. The rug is soft and will hide dirt well. It is 100% propylene and was made in Turkey.
The coffee table was reused. Faux leather swivel chairs were found at Home Goods for only $250 each. The cognac color contrasts against the blue-gray tone of the rug. They swivel to allow people to be part of the living space or the game space. Decorating with leather or faux leather accents creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Shuffleboard and Built-In
The wall was bare, so it needed some height and visual interest. The first thing to do was mark out the space where the built-in would be with a level. The wall was given a coat of primer, because the wall was going to be lime washed.
The lime wash was diluted with water. A brush specifically for applying lime wash paint was used to apply it to the wall.
Work in sections or clouds. Apply the lime wash on the wall and spread it as far as it will naturally go. Crisscross strokes for added texture. This is a simple way to add texture to a wall. It’s also easy to paint over if you want to change it up in the future.
Shelves were built to sit on top of the cabinets. Plywood was used for the frame, and MDF strips were used for the decorative faces, so the shelves had an overall thicker appearance. The built-in design doesn’t feel too blocky or heavy. It’s still very functional but feels very light and decorative.
The cabinets were attached to the walls. A decorative trim piece was added along the top. A desk surface was installed in between the two cabinets. The desk was constructed out of plywood with a decorative trim piece along the edge. A half circle was cut near the outlet for all of the cords.
When styling the shelves, light taupe colors were used with dark brown accents. Lots of different natural textures, like sea grass, wood, and stone were mixed up. Keeping a cohesive theme throughout the shelves gives off a visually pleasing, organic, and calming feel.
to finalize the living room preparation you need some final touches of art.
Art and Final Touches
A simple digital download was purchased off of Etsy. The calming look of this image has a coastal feel while still feeling very muted and earthy. The dark browns, greens, and clay colors in the earth help pull some of the colors and keep an overall organic tone while still adding a little pop of color.
This empty corner was judged up with some functional and aesthetic pieces to help enhance the overall design of the room. A side table was found at a target salvage warehouse, and a statement table lamp was layered in. Cozy accent chairs were found at Home Goods.
Accent pillows were added. They are muted and natural looking. A pop of contrast was added with something a bit more vibrant to pull those orange tones out of the painting. Genuine leather pillows were found at Home Goods. An orange vase was added to help accentuate that sandy burnt orange accent color.
For the bigger sofa, a fringe checkered throw blanket was added. A square size leather pillow was also added. A lineny black and white ticking stripe pillow was used to accent that. These simple textiles help warm up the space and keep it feeling really earthy and casual at the same time.
To add some softness to the coffee table, a black tray from TJ Maxx was used to tie in some more black accents. It was topped with some aesthetic practical pieces. A vase was popped on there that ties in those black accents but also has touches of those clay and terra cotta tones.
In summary, this boring living space was transformed by adding some much-needed versatility and functionality and creating an earthy, organic, and homey atmosphere.