Living Room Refresh | Existing Furniture

Written By Madeline Drown

A mid-Summer living room refresh was beginning to feel more and more like a great idea. Our son finally outgrew his playpen and it had been taking up a big space in the corner of our living room So, how do you refresh your living room with keeping your existing furniture? I have some tips of how to refresh your living room and I am going to share with you what I myself have done for my own Summer living room refresh!

Rug Inspiration Photo for our Living Room - Design and Photography By: Loloi Chris Loves Julia Bradley

Frames, Art & Sconces

Inspiration was sparking for me and I was getting a designer itch to change everything about our living room. But, with the sensibility of not changing the furniture. I started with blue painters tape and walked around everywhere that I had imagined placing artwork, frames or sconces. I taped up my ideal sizes for picture frames just by eye balling it. If you walk around your house over the next few days and just try to imagine having pictures, art or sconces where you put blue tape, it can help you make the decision of moving forward with hanging something there. It becomes an easier task to count up the amount of items you are wanting to include in your living room.

Utilizing Painters Tape

Placing painters tape up around my living room in spots where I had always considered placing a frame, art or sconce helped me get a visual of what it would be like if I actually placed something there.

When I was at the store I laid out all the frames that I was liking on the floor and started placing them how I imagined them to be on the wall. This helped me decide what to purchase, as it can be a bit overwhelming piecing together a picture frame wall, even for Designers.

I bought all of these beautiful matted frames from Target with budget in mind and I will link them below!

Fresh Rug & Furniture Layout

In the past I have fooled myself into thinking I could have a neutral ivory rug in our living room. The past rugs have been destroyed by dogs visiting or our current puppies we have, it just never ends well. I am switching courses and looking to purchase a dark brown wool rug for our living room, I am hoping this will hold up and be more suitable to puppies and a baby. At the end of the day, sometimes you just need to choose being practical for your home. Every time I get a new rug the space feels fresh and cozy. I will link some my favorite new rugs that have come out recently.

Layout wise, we personally have an L shaped sofa so it is not exactly the easiest to move around our living room. However, if you can I would encourage you to move furniture pieces around your living room and test out different spots for your furniture. Shifting existing chairs, ottomans and sofas around will help give off a refreshed feeling in your living room.

Plants & Pottery

I started relocating my plants throughout the kitchen and living room and just by moving my olive tree by the staircase, the living room felt so different. If you go to your local Home Depot, Walmart or Caloways they all have planters and pottery to give your plant babies a new aesthetic. I look for the planters that look more hand crafted pottery for my interior spaces.

Picture Frame Light

I moved around some artwork within my home and used it as a focal point for when you walk into my living room. The picture frame light really helped elevate the space as a point of interest.

Madeline Drown
Previous

Creating Architectural Character | DIY Discussion
Next

Coat Closet to Mudroom | DIY