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Light + Bright in the Living Room

July 11, 2016

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.

Light + Bright in the Living Room

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.

Light + Bright in the Living Room

Light + Bright in the Living Room

(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.

don't mind the SUPER old picture!

Light + Bright in the Living Room

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. 😀

Light + Bright in the Living Room

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.

Light + Bright in the Living Room

Light + Bright in the Living Room

Light + Bright in the Living Room

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?

sigA

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in DIY, House+Home # bright, DIY, home decor, paint, summer

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Comments

  1. The Belly Rules The Mind says

    July 11, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      Thanks! You should do it, I feel happy every time that I see it!

  2. The Belly Rules The Mind says

    July 11, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      Thanks! You should do it, I feel happy every time that I see it!

  3. Leslie Nichole says

    July 11, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    Ahh!! I love it! Everything about the way you’ve styled it, it’s so neat. I’m loving the paint color too.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks so much, Leslie. I’m so happy with the paint color!

  4. Leslie Nichole says

    July 11, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    Ahh!! I love it! Everything about the way you’ve styled it, it’s so neat. I’m loving the paint color too.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks so much, Leslie. I’m so happy with the paint color!

  5. Terryn Winfield says

    July 11, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    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!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      I got so lucky getting those crates at work (Publix!) They’ve really cleaned up out entryway. Thanks!

  6. Terryn Winfield says

    July 11, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    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!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      I got so lucky getting those crates at work (Publix!) They’ve really cleaned up out entryway. Thanks!

  7. Sheila says

    July 11, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Yes! My favorite time to decorate is Fall and Christmas, coming up fast! Neutral colored paint is my jam too.

  8. Sheila says

    July 11, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Yes! My favorite time to decorate is Fall and Christmas, coming up fast! Neutral colored paint is my jam too.

  9. Abby says

    July 11, 2016 at 11:18 pm

    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.

  10. Abby says

    July 11, 2016 at 11:18 pm

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:45 pm

      I see what you did there. 😉 They can be expensive but I seriously see them on clearance all the time!

  11. Jenn Slavich says

    July 12, 2016 at 10:04 am

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks Jenn! The walls were torture. And Target is the bomb.

  12. Jenn Slavich says

    July 12, 2016 at 10:04 am

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks Jenn! The walls were torture. And Target is the bomb.

  13. Brittany Ashmore says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:17 am

    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!

  14. Brittany Ashmore says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:17 am

    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!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Thank you! Houses are a never ending work in progress, aren’t they!?!

  15. Learning2Bloom says

    July 13, 2016 at 3:04 am

    Looks great! Thanks for the ideas. This is definitely something I am working on in my home right now.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Thank you!

  16. Learning2Bloom says

    July 13, 2016 at 3:04 am

    Looks great! Thanks for the ideas. This is definitely something I am working on in my home right now.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Thank you!

  17. From Pennies to Pounds says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:26 am

    It looks gorgeous! Really love it. You should have taken the paint back for a refund!

  18. From Pennies to Pounds says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:26 am

    It looks gorgeous! Really love it. You should have taken the paint back for a refund!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks! And we totally should have. But we were young and dumb. Live and learn! 😛

  19. Suzanne says

    July 13, 2016 at 11:31 am

    So pretty! I love the light!

  20. Suzanne says

    July 13, 2016 at 11:31 am

    So pretty! I love the light!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks, me too!

  21. Lifestylequeenbee says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Love the gallery wall!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Thanks!

  22. Lifestylequeenbee says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Love the gallery wall!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Thanks!

  23. Jesseca says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:37 pm

    We’ve got a lot of darker tones in our living room so this post is exactly what I needed!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      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.

  24. Jesseca says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:37 pm

    We’ve got a lot of darker tones in our living room so this post is exactly what I needed!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      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.

  25. Alison says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    I love the feeling of walking into a bright room. And the finished details look great, too!!! Very nice.

  26. Alison says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    I love the feeling of walking into a bright room. And the finished details look great, too!!! Very nice.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      Me too! Thank you!

  27. Cara Owens-Kindly Unspoken says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Wow, I love that color and you did a great job with arranging your photos and wall art. Such a pretty room! 🙂

  28. Cara Owens-Kindly Unspoken says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Wow, I love that color and you did a great job with arranging your photos and wall art. Such a pretty room! 🙂

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:58 pm

      Thanks Cara. I love wall art!

  29. Julie Bonner says

    July 13, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    This is such a pretty room! That gallery wall is so fun.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:58 pm

      Thanks Julie.

  30. Julie Bonner says

    July 13, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    This is such a pretty room! That gallery wall is so fun.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:58 pm

      Thanks Julie.

  31. Christine Martinez says

    July 14, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    I love this layout! It’s so cute. I really need to display more pictures and art.

  32. Christine Martinez says

    July 14, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    I love this layout! It’s so cute. I really need to display more pictures and art.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Thank you. I really need to UPDATE my photos! haha.

  33. Chris Huston says

    July 15, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Beautiful transformation! The lighter colors definitely brightened it up. I also love a photo wall — it’s beautiful!

  34. Chris Huston says

    July 15, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Beautiful transformation! The lighter colors definitely brightened it up. I also love a photo wall — it’s beautiful!

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Thanks Chris. Im in love with the color!

  35. Brie @ Sophistifunk says

    July 19, 2016 at 12:31 am

    It looks soooo good! I love your curtains and the cute succulent wreath!

    xo Brie
    http://www.sophistifunkblog.com

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Thank you Brie. The wreath is from Target (duh!) and so are the curtains!

  36. Brie @ Sophistifunk says

    July 19, 2016 at 12:31 am

    It looks soooo good! I love your curtains and the cute succulent wreath!

    xo Brie
    http://www.sophistifunkblog.com

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Thank you Brie. The wreath is from Target (duh!) and so are the curtains!

  37. Joy Lynn says

    July 19, 2016 at 10:37 am

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:39 pm

      Thanks joy! In Florida (aka the sunshine state) we actually get a TON of afternoon rain storms in the summer that darken things!

  38. Joy Lynn says

    July 19, 2016 at 10:37 am

    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.

    • Amanda Rinehart says

      July 20, 2016 at 11:39 pm

      Thanks joy! In Florida (aka the sunshine state) we actually get a TON of afternoon rain storms in the summer that darken things!

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