Living Room Redesign

While I was staying at my parents place in SoCal, I insisted they be my guinea pigs.  They are not selling this home, so instead of staging it for such, I did a little redesign work in their living room.

This picture is taken from the entry way.  Its a nice space with great windows.

The way it is set up now is functional, but the point to redesigning your space, is to make it interesting, beautiful, AND functional ... and those are in no particular order.

The sofa & chair are facing a brick fireplace and a fairly large entertainment center, and that means those big pieces are not moving anywhere.

Although there is not much leftover to change, a little bit goes a long way.

This photo is taken from the same spot (the entry) but I've taken a few steps back so you can see where the wall begins, as well as, the vaulted ceiling.  Go look at that first photo again; makes a difference, doesn't it?  I will have to make it my goal to get the same angle shot when doing these before and afters.

I switched the placement of the sofa & chair, but put them at an angle, aligning the rug too.  Angles can eliminate the boring and predictable and instead create interest.  I ultimately chose this angle to work with the vaulted ceiling.  Your eye tends to scan the whole room, ceiling included.  Redesigning it this way creates more a natural flow with the house.

This seating arrangement still allows perfect viewing of the fireplace and the entertainment center, but I think having them BOTH at an angle helps to create more of a conversation area.  My parents do not do much entertaining with guests over, but still, good design is good design!

You may also notice I took down the mirror that was over the sofa.  There was no point to it.  It did not reflect the fire, it was not in a good place to use it for personal use, so, it had to go.  The Italian Villa print that is there now, which was originally over the fireplace.  Having switched the 2 pieces, the mirror over the fireplace can reflect candle lights on the mantle, while this print creates a nice focal point on the opposing wall.  A new purpose for both pieces!

I also broke up the set of floor lamps and brought in a Tiffany-style lamp on the side table.  The 2 matching floor lamps were on the boring side, and that new lamp brings in new lines and more color.

(Next time I will take more pictures.  Although nothing on the opposing wall was moved, it can/will make a difference on perspective of the room as a whole.)

Not a penny was spent.  Not a wall was painted.

I love this stuff!

What do you think?

Do you see the difference?