As you may have seen from the hints I’ve been sharing on Instagram, this project holds a special place in my heart because it’s my living room. Therefore, I decided to dedicate a whole blog post to talk about how we transformed an outdated and unbalanced space into a complete harmony of elements, making this room the perfect place to be!

If you’re all about incredible before-and-after transformations, keep reading because you won’t want to miss the exclusive insight into this design journey.

So, in order to get started and modernize the space, we decided to upgrade the room by taking three essential steps:

1. Our wants: We wanted to add some personality to the walls, something that would invite you to stay in the room. 
2. Our lifestyle: We’re big readers in our house, and naturally, we own plenty of books. So, we needed a place to house them without looking messy or cluttered. 
3. Our needs: The lighting needed to be updated. I wanted to change that old-fashioned ceiling fan for something more modern that could add to the room’s feeling.

With a plan in mind, it was time to start making changes. 

Our Design Journey

I like to start all my designs by focusing on the challenge. That way, I can get to the root cause and find the best solution for a space. You’ve heard before how this room was outdated and lacked personality, so the plan was to inject a touch of modernism and make it more functional for our family.

One of the main challenges of this project was designing around a new baby grand piano. We wanted to incorporate this element seamlessly into the space while having comfortable seating and a welcoming atmosphere for chilling or reading.

First, we worked on the floor plan to figure out the ideal placement for the piano. We knew this element would take up a lot of physical & visual space so we installed built-in bookcases to house our family's collection of books and accessories. These bookcases added storage and served as a stylish backdrop for the room. Built-ins are one of those pieces that create a timeless design while adding a modern touch to a room.

These shelves house our books and other special pieces that speak to our family allowing the room to be inviting and reducing clutter.

Next, we carefully sourced custom furnishings to provide seating for reading or relaxing after a long day at work. They’re perfect for a house full of kids and pets, as performance fabrics are easy to clean and maintain. The custom pillows add a fun pattern as well.

Another important element was the lighting. I’ve always said that lighting can either make or break a room. So, for this case, we went with a statement fixture with touches of gold that complement the design style. It gives the room a sense of sophistication while inviting you to stay in and hang out. This chandelier has a dimmer switch so that you can control the room’s mood.

Design Elements

Creating a perfect design is no coincidence; it’s about adding the ideal elements to create a cohesive look. My main goal for the space was to create something elegant yet playful and sophisticated. So, without a doubt, we decided to include wallpaper. This blue wallpaper, which adds a subtle pattern and interest, combined with the abstract art and pink lamps, creates the vibe we were going for. 

We’ve talked about the chandelier, but since lighting is a significant element in every design project, we decided to incorporate different layers by adding some lamps for reading. That pink adds softness to the room and invites you to stay over. 

Now for the star of the room. The piano takes up a chunk of space, and I wanted to ensure we could move quickly through the room, so I sourced a coffee table that serves its purpose without taking up too much space. Notice how the curves mimic the shape of the piano. That was an intentional decision.

Every design element has a reason behind it. That is the difference between doing it yourself and hiring an interior designer who can save you time, stress, and money by designing your room with intention while focusing on your wellness and lifestyle, as we mentioned before in our Neuroaesthetics post.

Because our family also loves music, and everyone plays the piano at some level, we wanted to add this element to create family memories. When my college kids are home, my son sits on the sofa and plays the guitar while my daughter plays the piano, and I just love to listen to their jam sessions.

Additionally, the piano is large and visually heavy, so I ensured the other design elements would not compete. 

Lastly, I added light drapery panels to the window at the bookcase wall for some softness and touches of gold throughout the room, including a gold mirror in a sophisticated yet fun shape.

The result is a living room that invites you to stay while creating quality family and bonding time. I can't wait to see what memories we will create in the future!

Comment below with your favorite element about this design. If you have any questions about how to proceed with a remodel project, download my FREE Pre-remodel checklist here.

Shop the Look

If you loved each one of the elements in this room and would love to add some to your house, check out my favorite picks here. Please note when you purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost on your end.

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