I’ve been thrilled at the response on Instagram to our front room reveal, so I also wanted to share a blog post! When we moved into our new house, I had no idea what to do with a formal living room. Trust me, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest brainstorming ideas. We didn’t have an unlimited budget, and I’m super happy with how it turned out with the money we spent.
The Before
The previous owners of our house used the front room as a space for their kids. I loved the concept but didn’t want all of Nora’s disaster of a playroom to be the first thing people saw walking into our house. We also contemplated making it another home office, but we would need to spend significant money enclosing the space. After that, a formal living room was the only thing that made sense to me. I think of furniture you’re not allowed to send on when I hear “formal living room” — anyone else?! That wasn’t the vibe I wanted, so we got to work on a space that felt cozy without sacrificing elegance.
First, our painter covered all the yellow with Hunter Green by Benjamin Moore. All the green paint options were overwhelming, but I’m so glad this option won. We also hired a professional to remove the carpet and replace it with vinyl flooring. We got our flooring from Floor and Decor. It was then time for my favorite part — decorating the room! Rifle Paper Co. and Loloi Rugs gifted me the gorgeous Palais Luxembourg Black Printed Rug. I decided to center all of my decor choices around it.
Stunning transformation! Elegant, livable and simple at the same time.
Your Lilly Pulitzer print guide is a great resource!
Thanks so much, Cathy!
Appreciate the insightful suggestions on what to do with a formal living room! Thanks for sharing these practical and inspiring ideas, from creating a cozy reading nook to incorporating multifunctional furniture. Great job! Thanks for sharing!