Welcome to Mini Reni: the Living Room!
I had less than $5,000 to spend in this space on construction and had to decide between replacing the flooring OR repainting the walls to give this den an updated look.
Annnnd, I chose paint!
The existing tile floors made the room feel cold, so I picked a moodier paint color for the walls and then at the last minute decided to also paint the ceiling for a more dramatic look. I found a large area rug that not only softened the design of the room, but also helped ground the space by minimizing the visibility of the dark grout lines. I chose furniture with neutral colors to create contrast against the walls and make the space feel more casual and comfortable. Since we couldn’t update the windows, we added roman shades to give the room a subtle and warm texture. And lastly, we updated the light fixture to modernize the room and give the den a centralized focal point.
What I love about this room is that in the end, the dated tile isn’t even something you notice and by choosing to paint the room, we actually came in under budget! The walls and the texture of the existing ceiling stand out visually and make such a statement.
Here’s a more detailed look into how we transformed the space, tips on how you can do the same at home, and ways to shop the look.
More Details On What We Updated
Paint on walls + ceiling: The original wood paneling was shiny and dated the space. We debated removing the tiled ceiling because it also felt outdated, but we decided to embrace it as part of the home’s character. We buffed and prepped the walls with 250 gauge sandpaper, primed the walls with an oil based KILZ primer that has a stain blocker (to hide the knots in the wood), and then painted the walls and ceiling one of my favorite colors from my paint line, Cottage Grove (in Eggshell Finish, from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted by KILZ), and left the original beams in place to break up all the color.
New light fixture: We replaced the ceiling fan with a new sputnik light fixture from All Modern.
Furniture and Decor Details
Rug: Everly Ivory Sand Rug from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted by Loloi
Furniture: Rosetta Swivel Chair, Ford 2 Pc Sectional and Emmett Coffee Table (Natural Yukas)
Decor: Wall art, Wyland Floor Lamp, Marcel Distressed Vase, McNeil Windowpane PillowThe hutch, wood side table, and other smaller items in this room are all antique finds from Jo’s collection, Found & Collected, shoppable at Magnolia Market at the Silos!
Shop the Room
Shop our latest collection that helped bring this living room to life:
Note: The hutch, wood side table, hanging wooden mirror, and other smaller items featured in this living room are part of Found + Collected, Jo’s collection of one-of-a-kind antiques and vintage finds. This collection is available to shop at Magnolia Market at the Silos.
Explore the rest of the home:
