A couple of people have asked for more photos of the living room. I have a few today but I’m not “done” with this room. I’m usually very slow when making over a room anyway, add to that having to unpack boxes to get to my decorating stuff….well it’s going to be an even slower process. Apparently I’m not the kind of person that can have everything unpacked and in its place in a week or two! I did just hang curtains in the living room and I’ve been working on the bookcases on the other side of the fireplace. So this area that I’m going to show you is still a work in progress, but I did want to share my new curtains and my fabulous Fiddle Leaf Fig tree that I got a few weeks ago!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.
The living room has four narrow windows, two that face out to the front porch and two that face into the backyard. This house had no curtain rods so I’ve had to buy curtain rods for all the windows and I found some nice inexpensive one’s at this new discount store that opened by us called Ollie’s. Do you have one? It’s sort of like Big Lots. The curtain rods in the living room only cost $4.99 each! They didn’t have much to choose from if you needed more than one or two, but these are metal and not plastic so I thought that was a good deal.
The curtains I found at TJMaxx. They’re white with a mostly gray pattern. I know those of you who have been reading this blog for a while are probably wondering where the toile or checks are! The basket I’ve had for a while and it has seen better days. So I painted the bottom with a sample of Annie Sloan Chalkpaint that I already had but I’m not loving it. I may paint the whole basket white and then do some aqua stripes. The tree just fits in the basket – it’s in there pretty tight. I’ll look for a bigger size basket at Goodwill or maybe find one on clearance somewhere (have you priced big baskets at stores lately -they are pretty pricey).
On the top of one of the bookcases I have a wire basket with some blue and clear jars and bottles.
I got this folded word art book for my husband for Christmas. This is kind of his bookcase – with mostly his books.
These pinecones are leftover from Christmas. I painted them with Kyron Looking Glass spray paint (you use this to make objects have a mercury glass look). I love mercury glass! I thought these pinecones looked wintery so I’m leaving them out until I feel like decorating for spring.
Like I said, it’s still a work in progress. I need to work on the bookcase a bit and I’d like to find a small side table and ottoman for this corner seating area (so I need two small ottomans since I need one for my reading area as well). But in the mean time I’ll be moving onto the area to the left of this chair. I’m working my way around the room!
I’m going to link below to the other posts that show the other side of this room. If you want to check out decorating projects in other rooms just click on the budget decorating tab at the top of the blog in the navigation bar.
Your room looks great! I really like the curtains and the READ book.
Thanks Stacey! I bought that book at Barnes and Nobles but I recently pinned a DIY where someone showed how to do it. It’s somewhere on my DIY boards if you’re interested in doing it yourself.
I admit I was (am) a big fan of toile and checks and your old decorating style, but every once in a while we need a new look. I think the curtains look fresh and pretty and I enjoy seeing you do something new. I am struggling with changing some things around my house too, and while I am comfortable with some of the old colors and elements in my house, I am so ready for a fresh look and a step or two outside my comfort zone. I know you’ll have fun with your new place and it’s going to be beautiful!
Thanks Kathy! It’s hard decorating in a new way. I know how to do my old look but this house is so different – the front rooms don’t have much natural light do to the front porch and they are sort of disconnected from the outdoors. I just feel the living room needs to be a lot of white just to get it looking not quite so cave like. I’ve always wanted a front porch (with a porch swing) but I guess I didn’t realize that it shades the front windows especially since this house sits below street level. So this look is definitely outside my comfort zone!
It is looking great! I love the red and aqua colors together!
Thanks Penny! I’m trying to use more aqua in this house and incorporate the red things I had from the old house.
You got a great deal on the curtain rods. I really like the wire basket with the blue bottles and jars.
Lots of special little touches that personalize your space.
I have not shopped for baskets in a long time, but do know they were getting pretty pricey some time ago.
I know what you mean about being slow on getting a new place decorated. We are into our 2nd year in our new place and I still haven’t got a lot of things in place. The new house is so different from our olden one of 40 yrs., and this one seems to want different things than the older house. I still am using all my old furniture but have added new things, new colors, and am really enjoying it all.
Your corner here looks great.
Ok then I don’t feel so bad about being here for 4 months and still not having everything in place! 🙂 Yes, this house is the same as yours, this one wants things different too.
Love the basket of jars! I think I’m going to ‘borrow’ this idea!
Thanks Linda! “Borrow” away!
Everything is really looking great. The bookcase is pretty with all its great touches. I have to admit I was wondering about those curtains.
Cindy
I have been in my house 16 months and am still playing with the decor. I think my built ins might be close to being completed, but then the holidays (Easter) comes around… I think everything you’ve done looks great!
That is BRILLIANT on the pinecones! I love this idea! If I actually do it, I will be sure to give you credit. I’ve been trying to dip a toe back into the blogging world. I hope that all is well with you and yours!
Oh so pretty! You certainly have an EYE for decorating:) LOVE that word art! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!
I think your living room is looking just beautiful! You think you’re slow with decorating?…I’m still working on my living room after 26 years, lol. I still have a lot of different ideas for it and I especially need a new area rug, but they’re so pricey. We don’t have Ollie’s here, but we do have Big Lots. The closest one to me is about 20 minutes away and I’ve never been in it. You got a great deal on that curtain rod. I just got one for Tim’s bedroom at Target and it was $25. Love the curtains you got at TJ Maxx – beautiful light gray and I love that pattern. Also, really enjoying that folded art book – very cool!
Thank you Melanie! I know, I need a rug for the dining area. It’s tile and that tile is so cold to walk on (especially me since I’m barefoot all the time). I need a round one and those are impossible to find in the stores. I did have some luck with finding just a plain sisal looking one on Wayfair or one of those sites. Haven’t gotten it yet since we’re doing a no spend February. You might have better luck finding one online. Target online usually has sales and free shipping and they’re quick about shipping, so try there for an area rug if haven’t already (plus you can return to a store if it doesn’t work out).
Everything looks great, but I especially love that red wicker chair with the white fur throw!
What a cozy little area. I loooooove your blue bottles/jars collection (in fact, I just ordered a wire basket similar to yours myself) and the Coca Cola crate you use to store books. What an inspiring idea!