When Ashley excitedly sent photos of her living room after our mood board makeover, we were eager to share them. Here’s the note she included:
Here they are — our AFTER pictures! We love the mood board you created; it helped us achieve the look we wanted. We replaced most of our hand-me-down furniture with more modern (but affordable) pieces. My hardworking husband repainted, installed new baseboards, had new floors put in, and together we used your guidance to bring our 1968 ranch up to date. We’re so happy to share the photos with you and your readers. Hope you enjoy. – Ashley
First, a quick reminder of the before photos so you can see the full transformation:
Below is the mood board we put together to help Ashley update the room with clean, contemporary furnishings and accessories:
And now for the reveal — here’s Ashley’s living room after the makeover:
The difference is striking. New hardwood floors and freshly painted cream walls open up the space and provide a neutral backdrop that elevates the furnishings. Introducing rich leather and dark wood pieces alongside lighter upholstered items, a textured rug, and colorful accents like lamps, artwork, and glass vases on the mantel brings depth, contrast, and personality to the room.
It’s worth noting that the fireplace had been painted white in the before photos but didn’t feel fresh until the surrounding updates were completed. With the new finishes and furnishings in place, it now blends in beautifully. Even though the room includes a large dark entertainment unit and two deep-toned leather sofas, it still feels airy thanks to the light walls, pale ottoman, and the bright accent chair and rug. The balance of dark and light elements, paired with lively color pops, creates a welcoming, well-composed space.
The oversized ottoman is a great focal point — practical for entertaining with trays of food or as a casual surface for family games like Monopoly. Overall, the room feels cozy, functional, and inviting.
We’re so grateful to Ashley for sharing these gorgeous after photos. She and her husband did an excellent job bringing the mood board to life. Our favorite details are the colorful table lamps and the art that inject a cheerful touch into the room. Please join us in congratulating them on this beautiful transformation — and we hope to receive more Design Dilemma after photos in the future.
Update: We no longer have time to take on commissioned mood board projects; we now create general inspiration boards instead. If that ever changes, we’ll announce it here on the blog.