So we have a living room that we were not using – you read that right. We have a TV, Couch some bare decor. We never hung out there. Every night after the kids went down J and I would go up to our bedroom to watch TV, sometimes eating our dinner there as well. At one point my brain started tinkering about the walls. The walls were bland. Boring. Made the space feel large and not a cozy place to hang. But what to do with the walls? I contemplated paint (I can screw this up as I have in the past, painting is not my strong suit). 

*Rug pictured was replaced a year ago after a new puppy at the time had a GIGANTIC accident on it. 

 

I decided I was a glutton for punishment and peel and stick wallpaper would be for me (if you follow Nesting With Grace, I feel like Peel and Stick is her life – and a beautiful one, I might add). I started on the bigger websites to be discouraged with the pricing – I had a budget of next to nothing as J had no idea I was going down this path and he is not one who is into change or home projects. I went with a very bright, very busy, very BOLD wallpaper that I scored on Amazon, I  thought J for sure was going to lose it with me over (nothing says manly man like a light pink backdrop). I began with one wall which I completed in a little over an hour – this was with breaks to sit down and scroll through TikTok – I am ADHD in my own special way. While many can tell you what a tedious process it is to hang up wallpaper, it is one that I find very cathartic and relaxing – I think because It is pulling my brain to work in a different way. What was slated to be 1 wall, turned into 3. It gave the room a feeling that it was still large but like it almost was giving you a hug to be in it. 

 

The fourth wall sat gray for a while until I made up my mind on what to do with it. I continued the pink from the wallpaper (you are welcome, J) but then decided to shift to a bolder step for the fireplace. It was white and I changed it to be one of the blues that was found in the carpet and wallpaper. This began to tie the room in together a bit. 

Next I moved onto rearranging decor that I already had in the house. I had mustard yellow pillows sitting in my closet from an old bedspread ensemble, faux plants (I know, but I have not figured out my green thumb and the fake ones you do not need to water), and baskets (I am a sucker for baskets). As I sat in the room with the items I began moving them to where they were feeling good. I am not a professional. I have ZERO training. When I got one corner of the room right I would move on to the next only to realize that a better combination was out there to be made. 

All in the project cost me around $400 but made a huge impact on the room. It is now a space where we entertain adult guests (it is nice to talk to someone that is not obsessed with Blippi every now and again) snuggle up to watch a rated R movie, or a place where I can just sit down and write this blog in peace. A full walk through to come!

 

Links:

Wallpaper (Amazon)

Green Accent Chairs (Wayfair) *I Purchase years ago, pricing has gone up dramatically since then

Couch (Purchased from Rooms to Go in 2014 – no longer avail – here is a similar ones)

Couch Cushions (IKEA)

Bar Cart (Amazon)

Curtains (Amazon)

Curtain Rod (Amazon) 

Flameless Candle (Amazon)

Baskets (HomeGoods but IKEA has great options linked here)