Living Room Revamp

About a year ago I decided I had had enough of my dark, red and gold so five years ago Living Room. I tried do different things to change it up.  I added curtains, then I added a trim on the curtains- I never liked the curtains in the first place so the trim didn't do much... took them down.  I changed my pillows and that helped but I needed something else.  I emailed my cousin, Kirsten who has an amazing interior design business and is a genius with designing a room even with the tight budget.  She gave me some suggestions which made all the difference.

Here are a few pictures of before and after.....

Living Room BEFORE
Dark and heavy, out of style, uninviting, cold and gross.

BEFORE
You might think I am crazy but I still love that zebra chair it just didn't fit in my new living room so I made a cover for it.  That way if I ever get the urge to bring it out again all I have to do is take off the cover.

AFTER
First thing I did was change up the pillows.  All these pillows are for sale in my Etsy shop.  I also got the idea from Kirsten to cover books with some fun paper.  I bought this paper from here .  I found that dragon from T.J Maxx and just had to have it.  It looks great with my Chiang Mai dragon pillow in the back!  I also got that flower from T. J Maxx

AFTER
Kirsten suggested we paint the walls cream.  I was hesitate since I thought it would take away from the cool woodwork we have in our 1920's bungalow.  We decided to do it anyway and it lightened up the room a lot.  She also suggested I needed artwork and told me where to get a calendar with bird prints which you see framed in the back.  One thing I added in this room that it didn't have before is a bookcase and a lamp.  I feel like that made the room feel more welcoming and warm.

AFTER
Kirsten suggested I needed some type of artwork over this bookshelf and mentioned doing some type of subway art.  I had this made on Etsy.  It is just a few of the places Enrique and I have lived.  I love how it turned out and how it adds a personal touch to our living room.  We also added those bamboo shades.  I love them.  I love that we still have privacy but I don't have to have curtains that cover up the wood work.  * Note: those bamboo shades were completely see through at night until I lined them.  If you ever buy them, get them lined!

AFTER
Just another view.
This is a $60 Ikea rug that I painted.  A rug this size would have cost me a fortune so for $60, you can't beat that!
Kristen also recommended I paint the black furniture I had in this room white.  I painted the coffee table and side table white and it lightened up the room a lot.  She also mentioned adding the mirror, glass vases and artwork in a white frame over the mantle.

AFTER
These silly little birds might be one of my favorite touches in the room.  I bought them at the dollar store and they were ugly yellow and brown.  I spray painted them white and I love them!