Funny story.
We bought our house almost 6 years ago when we were 19 and 20 years old (best investment we ever made and smartest thing we did as young adults given the market back then.) It was a foreclosed home and had awful builder grade paint, although the color was pretty much what I wanted it to be.
We went to Home Depot in search of a higher quality paint in a similar color and ordered like 8 million gallons of it to paint the entire house. And…the paint in the buckets didn’t match the swatch, like at all. As I said, 6 years has gone by and I still have that swatch because I am so bitter. haha. My walls were straight up YELLOW, and for 6 years I loathed them. Honestly, painting an entire house after it’s packed full of your furniture sounds like an even bigger nightmare than painting an empty house that you just bought, which is why I put off repainting for so long. But I finally bit the bullet and painted it these past few months…and I am just SO happy that the yellow is gone that I could dance through my living room every time that I think about it. It was the first of many steps on my way to brightening up my whole living room.
The first step was definitely the paint. I’m still in love with the new color (Oatbran by Valspar,) it is, I am convinced, the perfect greige. Depending on the lighting at the time, you can’t really decide if it’s grey or beige and whether it’s warm or cool toned. Which I really love, because I just can’t commit to hardcore color schemes or overly matchy themes – and pretty much everything (all of my non matching stuff 😉 ) matches it. Funny how a better color paint made everything feel different.
(I also realized that I seriously need some updated photos on my walls. I take a MILLION photos and never order prints of them! Get it together, woman.)
Then I swapped out some of my frames and wall art for lighter shades and cooler tones. I hadn’t really noticed how dark my living room looked before…despite the walls being bright disgusting yellow! I am drawn to dark accessories…but I’m working on it. 😉 Incorporating lighter wall art freshened up a barely changed gallery wall.
Also, I got a killer deal on curtains on clearance at Target (you’re shocked, I know.) Seriously though, like $12 for Threshold brand curtains. I haven’t hung curtains around the window the entire time we’ve lived here… and I was missing out for sure. They make everything look so pretty and finished! They have like gold and gray coloring which really plays into my “is it tan or is gray paint?” thing. 😀
I also added some bright summer touches by the front door. I mean what screams summer like succulents and Shock Top? I snagged these wooden crates from work and I LOVE them as a rack by the front door where our shoes and junk tend to collect.
All in all, I’m pretty happy with how things are coming along. The house has been in limbo for a few months since I was partially bedridden with nausea the first trimester. Since then I’ve been playing catch up – holy laundry.
Do you spruce things up for summer… or just because?
love thoese curtains and the photo wall. I have been meaning to do a photowall for so many years now, I just need to get my act together.
Thanks! You should do it, I feel happy every time that I see it!
love thoese curtains and the photo wall. I have been meaning to do a photowall for so many years now, I just need to get my act together.
Thanks! You should do it, I feel happy every time that I see it!
Ahh!! I love it! Everything about the way you’ve styled it, it’s so neat. I’m loving the paint color too.
Thanks so much, Leslie. I’m so happy with the paint color!
Ahh!! I love it! Everything about the way you’ve styled it, it’s so neat. I’m loving the paint color too.
Thanks so much, Leslie. I’m so happy with the paint color!
It looks so good! I love your idea of wooden crates for the shoes! And Target…who can really walk out of there with only one thing?! Love the curtains!
I got so lucky getting those crates at work (Publix!) They’ve really cleaned up out entryway. Thanks!
It looks so good! I love your idea of wooden crates for the shoes! And Target…who can really walk out of there with only one thing?! Love the curtains!
I got so lucky getting those crates at work (Publix!) They’ve really cleaned up out entryway. Thanks!
It looks great! I am forever changing up my decor for seasons or because I am bored. I love Home Goods and a great bargain. I always paint in neutral colors and let my accessories be the pops of color and my wall the art focal pieces. I’m all about doing some decorative art DIY things too.
Yes! My favorite time to decorate is Fall and Christmas, coming up fast! Neutral colored paint is my jam too.
It looks great! I am forever changing up my decor for seasons or because I am bored. I love Home Goods and a great bargain. I always paint in neutral colors and let my accessories be the pops of color and my wall the art focal pieces. I’m all about doing some decorative art DIY things too.
Yes! My favorite time to decorate is Fall and Christmas, coming up fast! Neutral colored paint is my jam too.
Love the curtains! For some reason, that’s my biggest decorating hang-up (ha!). It just seems like such a big commitment, especially because they’re so expensive.
Love the curtains! For some reason, that’s my biggest decorating hang-up (ha!). It just seems like such a big commitment, especially because they’re so expensive.
I see what you did there. 😉 They can be expensive but I seriously see them on clearance all the time!
I love how light your living room is. I could not imagine yellow walls for 6 years! Gotta love Target and their great deals!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jenn! The walls were torture. And Target is the bomb.
I love how light your living room is. I could not imagine yellow walls for 6 years! Gotta love Target and their great deals!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jenn! The walls were torture. And Target is the bomb.
It looks so good! I am in the process of re-doing a few rooms in my house!!! Love the details and your gallery wall!
It looks so good! I am in the process of re-doing a few rooms in my house!!! Love the details and your gallery wall!
Thank you! Houses are a never ending work in progress, aren’t they!?!
Looks great! Thanks for the ideas. This is definitely something I am working on in my home right now.
Thank you!
Looks great! Thanks for the ideas. This is definitely something I am working on in my home right now.
Thank you!
It looks gorgeous! Really love it. You should have taken the paint back for a refund!
It looks gorgeous! Really love it. You should have taken the paint back for a refund!
Thanks! And we totally should have. But we were young and dumb. Live and learn! 😛
So pretty! I love the light!
So pretty! I love the light!
Thanks, me too!
Love the gallery wall!
Thanks!
Love the gallery wall!
Thanks!
We’ve got a lot of darker tones in our living room so this post is exactly what I needed!
I did too, I’m just drawn to dark decor… I can’t help it! But I’m totally working on training my brain otherwise because once it’s all together I actually prefer the lighter tones.
We’ve got a lot of darker tones in our living room so this post is exactly what I needed!
I did too, I’m just drawn to dark decor… I can’t help it! But I’m totally working on training my brain otherwise because once it’s all together I actually prefer the lighter tones.
I love the feeling of walking into a bright room. And the finished details look great, too!!! Very nice.
I love the feeling of walking into a bright room. And the finished details look great, too!!! Very nice.
Me too! Thank you!
Wow, I love that color and you did a great job with arranging your photos and wall art. Such a pretty room! 🙂
Wow, I love that color and you did a great job with arranging your photos and wall art. Such a pretty room! 🙂
Thanks Cara. I love wall art!
This is such a pretty room! That gallery wall is so fun.
Thanks Julie.
This is such a pretty room! That gallery wall is so fun.
Thanks Julie.
I love this layout! It’s so cute. I really need to display more pictures and art.
I love this layout! It’s so cute. I really need to display more pictures and art.
Thank you. I really need to UPDATE my photos! haha.
Beautiful transformation! The lighter colors definitely brightened it up. I also love a photo wall — it’s beautiful!
Beautiful transformation! The lighter colors definitely brightened it up. I also love a photo wall — it’s beautiful!
Thanks Chris. Im in love with the color!
It looks soooo good! I love your curtains and the cute succulent wreath!
xo Brie
http://www.sophistifunkblog.com
Thank you Brie. The wreath is from Target (duh!) and so are the curtains!
It looks soooo good! I love your curtains and the cute succulent wreath!
xo Brie
http://www.sophistifunkblog.com
Thank you Brie. The wreath is from Target (duh!) and so are the curtains!
I adore that succulent wreath! We live north of Atlanta and in the summer, the tree growth makes our house super dark (not complaining, because the trees are beautiful) but I definitely have to spring towards lighter decor with hints of contrast. It’s amazing what a little paint and some elbow grease can do! Love it.
Thanks joy! In Florida (aka the sunshine state) we actually get a TON of afternoon rain storms in the summer that darken things!
I adore that succulent wreath! We live north of Atlanta and in the summer, the tree growth makes our house super dark (not complaining, because the trees are beautiful) but I definitely have to spring towards lighter decor with hints of contrast. It’s amazing what a little paint and some elbow grease can do! Love it.
Thanks joy! In Florida (aka the sunshine state) we actually get a TON of afternoon rain storms in the summer that darken things!