thebeckybug

While hanging the last shelf in our living room, I’ve decided that this room is officially re-did. Over the past year or so, I’ve been attempting to make our living room more “homey.”

Because we rent this duplex, it was difficult to conjure the energy to put any work into it, at first. We ended up living in a bare space, except for the loads of couches, and how there were loads of couches! I think we ended up giving away 3 couches and 1 oversized chair with matching ottoman.

The living room was difficult to tackle because the shape and size of the room. The room is more like and oversized hallway, being much longer than it is wide. Some other challenges we faced were: getting ample amount of seating for the gatherings (where someone always brings a keg) we tend to host; the fish tank we swore we would never move until absolutely necessary; the large-in-so-many-directions TV; the placement of the front door, and lack of natural light. I added the additional pressure on myself to make the room into the most use-able space in the house.

It took months to come up with a layout that had any potential, it took even more time to find furniture that could fit. Ikea showed the most promise, being able to cater to the small, unique space we have. Once I found/customized the couch to fit, everything started falling into place. Once I got over my fear of putting holes in the walls, the place gained some real character.

Here are some random pictures that show what the room looked like before, through a few re-arranges (I forgot to take formal pictures, so don’t mind the people in the ‘before’ shots.) Today I took pictures from about the same angles.

Before: Yes, I purchase that painting, and paid for it, with money. And no, I didn’t like it, it just went perfectly with that ugly couch. Yes, that is an inflatable corona bottle hanging from the A/C vent.

After: The painting is replaced by some tasteful rodeo art drawn by my brother.

Before: Same wall as before. This picture screams: “we need storage!” Also of note: how to turn your TV antenna into wall-art.

After: We have storage! I’m thinking about taking the middle door off the cabinet. Option A: deal with big white panels throwing off the symmetry. Option B: have an open-shelf that acquired dust. I think I’ll take Option A. I don’t like dusting.

Before: Notice bikes in the background, and lack of place to put beers (besides own crotch.) This is also before we acquired a million couches.

After: Places! to put drinks! And who knew the back wall was useful for things other than a place to lean bikes. Artwork on back wall also by my brother.

Chairs purchased for $140 from Room Service Vintage. Table purchased for $20 from Room Service Vintage. The desks and bookcases are from Target, purchases from college.

Before: Here is when we had a long room full of couches. Only one made it into the picture. Also note coffee table in the middle of the room, yet we still put our bud light on the sofas. That corner with the TV was so dark, like our own little black hole.

After: Couch from Ikea. Wall shelves from Ikea. Lighting from The Home Depot and Ikea. It took lots of little lights, but that corner is now less depressing.

Before: Yeah, we really needed some storage. and some stuff on the walls.

After: Viola!