Laura’s paint-and-accessory makeover shows that great style doesn’t require a big budget. Below is the letter she sent describing her living room transformation.
I enjoy reading your blog and wanted to share some before-and-after pictures of my living room redesign. I’m a first-time homeowner in a charming older house—a Cape Cod built in 1951—and since moving in four years ago I’ve taken on many projects to make the house my own while respecting its history. The living room has become one of my favorite rooms. Please excuse the clutter and décor in the “before” pictures; those photos were taken before I moved in.
To complete the update I painted the walls with Behr’s Tide Pools and used Behr’s Pot of Cream for the trim. I furnished the room using pieces from Target, Pier 1, and JCPenney, and added accessories from HomeGoods, Marshalls, and Target. The curtains are from Christmas Tree Shops, and the framed photos are shots I took while living in Spain.
Thank you for such an inspiring site—keep up the great work! – Laura
Here’s Laura’s living room before the makeover:
And here’s the same room after a few simple, doable changes—hard to believe, right?
This makeover is a lovely reminder that paint and the right window treatments can dramatically change a room. Laura’s choices—soothing wall color, crisp trim, coordinated soft furnishings, and meaningful art—create a warm, cohesive space without breaking the bank. What do you think is the best part of this redo? Thank you, Laura, for sharing your photos and showing how simple updates can be incredibly transformative.