Living Room Makeover In Our Very First Home
After we purchased our very first house, we were on a tight budget. I was so anxious to decorate my whole house with new furniture and new decors, bedding, etc. Soon I came to realize that it is not going to be as easy as I was thinking. When I was in Pakistan, I was able to buy everything new but things were little different here. My love for interior decoration was still there though, I just had to find ways to make things happen.
Our house was a 1970s Ranch Style Home, but the interior was very flat and the old homeowner was a retired lady so everything was according to her taste. Old carpet, very dull wall color. Overall pretty boring, boring, and boring period.
Having A Plan Make Things Easy For Your Living Room Makeover
I went to Ashley Furniture to buy this couch set and it was over $3500 including a loveseat and coffee table and that was just for the whole sofa set. I couldn’t afford it. I didn’t want to add any debt to me by purchasing furniture on my credit card. I hate to be indebted.
I started to look on Craigslist, as I buy and sell a lot on this site. It was almost two weeks of looking every night and finally one lucky night when I was about to go to bed, I thought I should take a look again and my eyes totally forgot to blink. Someone was downsizing from almost 4500 sqft house and they listed the same couch for sale the whole set. The whole freaking set! But she listed it for $2500 because it was barely used.
I emailed her asking if she can accept $1000 for that. She countered back at $1500 but a few more emails and I got everything including couch, loveseat, coffee table and side table for only $1100. The couch and loveseat are super comfy. I was so glad that I didn’t lose that sale by going any lower than that. She gave me the receipt and throw a few more goodies with the furniture.
Okay, here we go with the before listing pictures in 2010
This is how it was before… pretty awful (new in the listings) carpet. Ugly and boring paint color and just very plain and flat. Looks so dark.
Here is the side wall. The front door is a few feet to the left of this fireplace on the same wall.
Here is a final look. We replaced the flooring in the whole house in 2016. It made a whole lot of difference. I was going to paint the cabinets on either side of the fireplace white but never found time to do it.
This half media center is opposite the fireplace. See the darkness everywhere!
The coffee table is another DIY by my husband. It lit up with LED’s at night.
My husband built this media center as you saw the bottom cabinets were already there. We decided to take it up to the ceiling and he did an amazing job with it only under $150. Let me know if you need a free plan I might have it somewhere buried in my files. He drew it before he built it.
This is how he started it.
That’s how it looks behind the love seat. My husband built this industrial bench as well. I liked something similar to this on Etsy and it was $700 and I was simply not going to pay that much. Our version is probably $120 or less. I am so proud of him, It looks so pretty. You can find these stunning Better Home and Gardens Lamps here!
That little Console table is also built by my hubby and it sits behind the door. You those little-weird places hard to put something else. Only custom made stuff looks good on those place. The mirror is from Hancock Fabrics, I purchased it when the store was closing out. I spray painted the clock to match it.
53 thoughts on “Before And After Living Room Makeover”
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“Tons of D.Y.I.’s means a lot of sweat equity, huh? Great job!
Thank you!
LOOKS GREAT!
Thanks!
I really like how you have lightened up the room! The blue really looks nice on the walls and the curtains are terrific! So nice to have such an artist for a husband. Everything looks great!
Hahaha, He just turned out to be an Artist out of the blue Sarah. Otherwise He is a computer engineer who has nothing to do with DIY. Hey come join our facebook group. We have been getting memebers from around the world there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggershangoutplace/
Bushra, I have to ask….did you sew the curtains? They are so cute and coordinate so well! I will check out your facebook group 🙂
Yes, Sarah my mother is a great seamstress and she made them for me. She made the matching pillows with the curtains as well.
the interior looks so impressive.. tight budget but it’s very nice.. good one.. so fantastic..
Looks great. The differences are very clear
I love the center table. Very rustic and has a lot of character. I bet it’s a conversation starter. 🙂
Bushra..you sure are a creative person with eye for details and lots of patience…making every penny count is not everybody’s cup of tea…you have really done your house so well in a tight budget..
God bless you..
Thank you so much Krish!
You are welcome Bushra ??
Your husband is so Handy! and you are very creative. Love the after pics.
Thank you! Yes, He became Handy out of the blue….LOL
Would you mind leaving me a link a to your blog please. Can’t somehow get to your site. Thanks once again.
Love the make-over, super cute. I especially like the built in shelving that you continued all the way up the wall. Great idea.
wow- that looks gorgeous! I love the lamps! they look so comfortable where they are placed! I followed you back!
Sophia xo
Thanks! The lamps are built in the media center my husband built. He love lighting and go crazy about lighting around the house. We both like steam punkish look so there we have it.
I LOVE THEM! I would have them in my room lol. looks great!
I just love how you decorating. You did such a great job. I’m a tight budget too, so it’s good to know it can be done.
Thank you Amber!
Wow your living room is absolutely AMAZING! I love what you have done with it and how you have brought in those awesome little touches!
Thank you so much Sarah!
This came out so good! Your redo is beautiful! I especially love how the fireplace turned out!
I just love the space. It looks so inviting and a wonderful place to just chill out or visit with friends and family. You did an amazing job!
Wow, you did such a fantastic job! I love all the DIYs, I’m a huge fan of that as well. I can’t wait to do something like this once I buy a home!
May from http://www.lavieenmay.com
The interior looks so impressive… You have done a great job with a tight budget… Awesome.
Thank you so much, means a lot to me.
It all came out so beautiful! I cant wait to own a house and remodel.
Thank you so much!
Hey, if you are a blogger please leave me a link so I can visit you back. I clicked on your name and it takes me nowhere. I would love to see your blog. May you get a house soon!
I love the media centre. It looks incredible and adds so much storage to the room. I prefer the dark colour on the mantle. But I do love how the colour you chose lightens up the room!
Thanks Stephanie!
Wow, you all an amazing job updating the look of your house. It doesn’t even look like you all had a budget because everything is so nice! Good job!
Thank you so much!
Wow. The changes are amazing. Great ideas and DIYs suggestions. It doesn’t look like a tight budget update.
Thank you so much!
Love the transformation! You did a really amazing job. Can’t believe it was a tight budget update. Thanks for sharing your tips
The difference is very clear and am loving all the pictures
Wow, you made some amazing changes, between the before and after pics! I love how you lightened the overall appearance and enhanced the aesthetic appeal. It’s great you got such great deals, too, on your furniture, AND have a “handy hubby” who could make some of your pieces.
My mum keeps watching shows on Travel XP and TLC that deal with the same makeover in a budget. Totally loved your work!
Wow..I love the way you lightened up the room. This is really wonderful you done this on a tight budget. I can’t believe it! I am waiting to remodel my house on a less budget.
Your blog is wonderful and
I have nominated you for the sunshine blogger award ..
https://innervoiceactor.wordpress.com
Night and day difference, look how open and inviting that media center is compared to the old, tell your husband that he did a great job on there 🙂
You’ve really opened up the space and made it look lighter. It looks fantastic.
Great work, would it be much different from 1980?
Not really as you know those houses were pretty similar…Not bad but totally out of style though. They do need some love….LOL.
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This is an amazing transformation. Wow! Now I want to do some DIY projects for my home. Thank you.
Hahahaha, I am glad it gave you an inspiration!