Today I am going to share my living room journey with you!  Yes, it’s been a journey! It has taken 15 years of waiting to get the piece that finally defines my simple modern style.
Don’t get me wrong, when my husband and I moved into our first home, we were on a budget and thinking about starting a family, so sage green microfiber suede sofas were fine.  Even back then I didn’t like the style but the price was right!

Here is a “before” picture. Can you tell I tried to overcompensate with tons of pillows?

After many years of baby spit up, spilled milk and accidents galore, we finally were able to replace them in 2017. Talk about a fresh start!

MY TIPS TO FRESHEN UP YOUR LIVING ROOM

Are you in a similar bind or are you ready to leap into 2017 and update your living room? Regardless of where you stand or sit, here are my tips on how to freshen up this essential space in your home.

Find a room anchor, usually the sofa or area rug. Then play off the color palette. Do you have an indigo rug with blush and red accents or is the sofa a fun print or texture like velvet? By the way, someday I will work velvet into my room, I just love the visual and tactile vibes!

Always balance the warm tones with cool. And by that I mean, if you have a fun print for a armchair, make sure the throw complements it. Even if its print on print, make sure its a large print offsetting a small print. Get what I mean? Nowadays, I am much more adventurous in my designs and styles but I still keep in mind a balanced approach. If you feel in your gut you want to throw up looking at it, BIG SIGN something is wrong.

Don’t design things just because you saw it in a Domino magazine and you think that’s it. Play with an inspiration piece, add your own vision and voila you are on your way to growing your own style!

West Elm Antwerp Sofa (affiliate)

Coffee tables, oh one of my loves to search and swoon over! It is an essential living room piece in your toolbox of designs for your living space. Recently, I was commitment phobic and frankly on a budget, so  I used my favorite pouf and guess what, the IG design world loved it! Soon I will delve into this lovely subject, but for now think of how the room is already situated. Is your sofa square and masculine? Then perhaps a round, softer table will help the room feel more inviting. Are the colors and fabrics in the room quite feminine? Then perhaps a beautiful mid mod walnut or acorn wood table will complete the look.

Create the vibe you want your guests to feel by adding lighting to a room.  I recall watching Candice Olsen on HGTV. (Do you remember her? Hahaha.) Before JoJo, she was the IT girl on HGTV. I noticed after many, many episodes that she strategically put in lighting all over her designs to highlight  key areas in the room. A literal light bulb went on in my head, aha! Lighting makes things so much more prettier and functional. Tiny spot lighting above the entry way for a statement print to  lighting above the bed or in the kitchen. It was then I realized, wow lighting is SO important in good design.

Well, I could go on and on and on. But, don’t worry, I’ll stop for now.  I have to pick up the kids from school and do the whole afternoon activities shuffle.  See you in a few!
Xoxo,

Anita