It was time. My living room was needing a refresh.
When we moved in 4.5 years ago, I wanted an affordable hack for living room wall art, so I created an extra long shallow shelf and hung a ton of pictures from our travels. Here’s a link to a video of the project – starts around the 3 minute mark.
I still like that project and will use the pieces of it in different places around my home, but it was time for a change.
- I wanted to add in fresh artwork. I got two new prints for my birthday that I thought would add a great touch to the space.
- I needed something to add some more interest to the sides of the couch. Did I need a different tree? Did I need a big mirror?
- I wanted a quick turnaround and a minimal budget for the project.
So what could we do?
I started by removing the shelf from the wall and adding in the new artwork. Fear and doubt crept in. What have I done? Things are so bare!
I hopped on marketplace and started doing a quick search for bookshelves. I was thinking of getting an arched cabinet or something with glass doors, but I ended up going with a super simple $35 shelf. I went and picked it up that afternoon, and grabbed a couple wooden appliqués from the craft store on the way home.
I glued on the appliqués and painted the shelf black. It really started to become a statement piece in the room right away. Then I added in some decor to fluff the shelves – a few books, a couple frames, some glass vases.
Then I went shopping in my house – switching out one lamp for another and one tree for another. It all came together and started feeling so cozy.
I’m really glad I added the bookshelf – it added some height, and the pop of black complements the black office doors in the hallway behind it. Plus, it’s another area to add some unique items around the room.
I’m so glad I started the project! My living room feels upgraded and cozy. It’s a good reminder that even with a strict budget and a short timeline, it’s doable to create something that feels fresh and special.
Thanks for checking out this project! My content is all about creating a home you love on a realistic budget. If you’re ready to get your space feeling fresh, start by taking my free 4-day challenge!
