Newly Painted Living Room Reveal

Growing up, the living room was our ‘fancy’ room. I have vivid memories of the powder blue velvet brocade couch that sat regally in the living room of our house when I was a little girl. This was where we would sit when we wanted a nice photo. Or where guests would be invited to sit when they stopped by. But, even though it was definitely the space that held our nicest furniture, it was never off-limits to us as kids. We played with our dolls in there, dressed up like Laura and Mary and acted out scenes from Little House on the Prairie and I know my mom would work on her sewing projects in there because one time I stepped on a pin that had sunk down into the shag carpet. It was easy for things to get lost in shag carpet. It also conveniently disguised any blood that came as a result from stepping on a pin. Just sayin’.

So, when I hear people saying that formal living rooms are outdated, I can’t help thinking how much I loved that room growing up and how much I love our living room now. Yes, it’s a tad bit more ‘fancy’. But, it’s also been the scene of so many of my most cherished memories.

And it’s come a long way in terms of style. Most recently, after 9 years of living in this house, it was given a fresh coat of paint.

Here’s how it looked before…

And here how it looks now with our new color (China Doll by Sherwin Williams).

Softer, lighter and just so fresh.

BEFORE

AFTER

I absolutely love how the color kind of changes with the light throughout the day and just how more crisp and clean everything feels.

Yes, I suppose this room might be a little formal for some tastes. But, we really do LIVE in it. Not quite as much as we do in our family room, but this is my favorite place to curl up with a good book.

It’s where my husband and I like to sit with a cup of coffee on Saturday morning and debrief about the week and see how long we can be there before the kids find us.

It’s where we open gifts on Christmas morning.

It was part of the loop my kids made when they would run through the house when they were little.

And I wonder if someday my kids will look back and remember the couch with the damask pattern on it that we’ve had since before they were born.

In a world that seems to be becoming increasingly more casual, I think there’s just a small part of us that enjoys spaces that hint at something with a little more special.

Rooms that are perhaps a little less used but are certainly not less welcoming.

Where you can wear high heels or flip flops and feel equally at home.

And, thankfully, rooms where there isn’t thick shag carpet hiding a rogue sewing pin just waiting to be stepped on! 😉

What are your thoughts on formal living rooms? I’d love to chat with you!

Thank you so much for meeting me at the fence today,

Before you go, take a look at my newly painted dining room!