{After I flipped the couch and TV from parallel to the window to perpendicular}
Moving and rearranging my life has become fairly normal for me. I have had to do it so many times that I look forward to the experience of unpacking and fitting all the pieces into place to make any space my home. In fact, if I have a particularly gruesome week, I will move the furniture because I find it cathartic and fresh and an opportunity to utilize my more creative intellect. The places I have lived have always been on the smaller side, except for one, so I feel that I have mastered the art of transforming a small room on an even smaller budget in order to make a large impact. I try and buy neutral pieces that would work in any space (white furniture) and focus more time on the accessories that really amp up a room and give it that touch of who the person is living in it. This spring I decided to go from a very soothing but somewhat basic grey and black palate, to a more warm and interesting infusion of some of the things I am really into now.
The overall room is very narrow. I didn't want the person on the couch watching TV to be interrupted by others crossing in front. I left a two foot space between the couch and the wall allowing just enough room to walk through. I also collected all the "quote boards" I had throughout the space and decided to create a wall of inspiration instead. Pardon the broom still standing by the door. I am also pretty much a clean freak with kids so if that doesn't seem to be a futile endeavor than I don't know what is.
From the door you can see that the dining room and living room space are connected in one open room. Originally I used the couch to cordon off the two so that they appeared separate, but I think this new arrangement does a better job of creating more space overall. I was even able to add another chair. Pops of color everywhere were the most challenging for me as balance and color matching are my downfall. I purchased clearance pillows from Target and mix and matched them. Once I was challenged to the task of adding some unexpected elements and colors, I was determined to make it work. I love the result.
Lots of personal touches always displayed. Photographs are my most prized possession, as they are moments and memories captured in time. Candles are everywhere from the windowsill to the space behind the couch, and so long as I never date a fireman, I think I am bound to this addiction. Growing up my step-mom always had a jar of M-n-M's in our formal living room, and to this day anywhere I live feels empty without them. Preferably dark chocolate peanut.
Here is the rug I purchased from Overstock. It is faux cow skin and was the most expensive piece I had purchased for this room makeover. I cannot express enough how this took the room from ordinary to extraordinary for me. Now less formal and more warm and inviting, it is a better representation of my own personality. One of my best friends got me hooked on fresh flowers in my place, and I make an effort to pick a color and bloom that is bright and cheerful. It makes such a difference, and a single variety always looks better than a mixed bunch. The basket under the window has a lucite tray from Target holding more family and friend photos and it is easy to remove them to access the array of Nerf weaponry that my son as accumulated. (Sigh) My apple picking basket from Lindz Fruit Farm holds my vast array of fashion and food magazines. You can find similar baskets at The Little Market.
A tray is a great place to organize all the coffee table needs and makes it so easy to remove them for parties and game nights, etc. On particularly stressful days, a favorite pastime of mine is walking through Target on a weekday morning and only shopping the end caps where the clearance items are located. That's where I find cute trays, bowls, candles, pillows and frames for next to nothing. Shopping that way forces you not to get all "matchy-matchy".
From this angle you can see how without moving the print I have hanging in the living room, I moved the TV to the adjacent wall. Baskets below hold video games as well as movies and other extras, while the faux wood bull skull adds that rustic touch I think the room needed. I have a weird attraction to skulls so this was my favorite find of all. The lamps are old Ikea that I have had for longer than I have been single, but I like my lighting soft and dimmer than most people. I have an aversion to bright lights and it makes me squint more than I need to. Let's keep the crows feet at bay shall we?
Here is what it looked like before. Very simple and cozy and clean with the window and TV to the left behind the two chairs. The larger basket behind the couch between it and the dining room table.
What do you think??
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