While we talked earlier this week about creating ambience through adding affordable architectural detail, did you know you can also create an inviting environment simply by the way you arrange your furniture? That means you don’t have to spend a dime.
Emily of Remodeling this Life contacted me awhile back and said she felt like her living room was ready for a new look. She is a busy mom with two little kids and has done a fabulous job at remodeling her home. We decided to take the quick makeover approach (this was just for a fun, mind you, not an official consultation) for her living room to jump start her project. By re-arranging some of her furniture, she could create an inviting room in a matter of minutes.
Here is the living room before.
The first thing we decided to do is to have her move the furniture away from the walls and bring it closer to the middle of the room. Emily pulled up a chair to create a more natural conversation area, gathering all the furniture around her coffee table. This new arrangement allowed for better traffic flow through the room, a much cozier conversation area as well as made it more practical for family movie nights as you can now watch the TV without injuring your neck!
Emily also brought in a couple of lamps to make the mood more inviting. She has more to work on but this gave her a great start.
Cost for this makeover? FREE.
Here are the after shots (after moving some of the furniture, that is.)
In addition to rearranging her furniture, she painted her coffee table and end table a nice chocolately brown as a weekend project!I It pulled together her room and freshened up the old tables. I love how cozy her furniture arrangement is — it just makes you want to sit down and have a chat!
So, go right now and look at your living room or family room to see if you have a comfortable conversation area!
- Is your furniture so spread out that you have to shout to carry on a conversation?
- Is there a comfortable chair near your sofa for a guest to sit?
- Do people have to walk through your conversation area to get to another room?
- Do you have a coffee table and/or end tables near your seating to set down a drink?
- Do you have enough lamps in the room to be able to read as well as avoid using harsh overhead lighting?
If your room needs a quick makeover, a better furniture arrangement can transform a room and how you live in it!
What have you been doing lately to create a more beautiful home?
Nesting Place is hosting 10 minute makeover Mr. Linky at her place tomorrow, feel free to check out all the great ideas from readers!
And, don’t forget, every Friday here at The Inspired Room you can link up your weekly post on how you are creating a beautiful life! Whether you rearrange the accessories on your coffee table, hang up those prints that have been sitting on your floor since you moved in, or bought yourself a bouquet of flowers to put yourself in the mood for spring, or celebrated Valentine’s Day with your hubby, it is all a part of motivating ourselves to dwell on what we CAN do in life, by creating beauty with what we have!
I hope you’ll join in on Fridays to make something beautiful a part of every week.
Thanks, Emily, for letting your living room be the example of a furniture rearranging makeover!
Photos: Remodeling This Life
I love the wall color and that big piece of art. Thanks for showing a quick, inexpensive way to make a room look fabulous. I could use that these days!
Kristens inspiring blog post..The Grandest Opening of All
Great ideas! I love the repainted table…I’ve been looking to paint some furniture!
Jennifers inspiring blog post..We Win!
Thanks for those great ideas!! I loved what you did in your old home, especially with your kitchen. Can’t wait to see what you do with your new home!! So, please bring on some pictures and give us a glimpse into your new place.
Kims inspiring blog post..Love is in the Air
Aww! What a surprise to see this this morning! Thank you for your help on this project, Melissa. It’s really made the biggest difference in our living space.
Emily@remodelingthislifes inspiring blog post..Link Love: Baby, It’s Cold Outside Edition
You made this look easy! It really brought a good feel to the room, doing something so simple. Emily, beautiful room!
Robin Rane’
All Things Heart and Home
Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Heart & Homes inspiring blog post..Works for Me Wednesday…Decorating on a Shoestring
I LOVE rearranging furntiture for a new look and for adding ambiance! Great post, and thanks for the visual!!!
Suzanne
suzannes inspiring blog post..Sharing the Carrot cake love……
Wow! Can you come to my house?
Suzanns inspiring blog post..
This looks great! The coffee table is amazing! The room looks so inviting and cozy.
BlueCastles inspiring blog post..Just Call Us Tightwads
I WANT YOUR COUCH!!! I love it!!!
Tracis inspiring blog post..21 Years of Marriage and He is Still HOT for Me!
Wow, what a difference just moving the furniture had. This has inspired me to work a bit more on my living room. I also think this is a great tip right now because it costs little to no money, which is great right now with the current economic situation.
Taylor at Household Management 101s inspiring blog post..Feb 18, Use An AR Reading List To Find Books At Your Child’s Reading Level
Great tips! Such a simple fix – so simple I think it just wouldn’t have occurred to me!
Dianas inspiring blog post..A Different Perspective
Emily’s room looks so great! I really, really need to pull my furniture away from the walls. I keep finding the excuses of we need another chair or need a better coffee table. We definitely need to do something. I’ll think about it. LOL
Lindsays inspiring blog post..Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!
Melissa-
Thanks for sharing that make- over. It is amazing what moving furniture around can do for a room. I have a room that I’m constantly moving the furniture- I hope to someday figure it out. Every wall in the room has a door or window! {What was I thinking when we built this house?} I just need to you move in next door then I could hire you to come and help :}
Have a great day-
Thanks so much for sharing a great way to change to a room. I grew up with a mom who changed the furniture almost monthly and now try to do the same at our home. Our only problem is that we have a sectional-I’m always stumped by what to do differently!
Ginas inspiring blog post..An Undivided Heart: Motivate Me Monday
We just redid our living room. Made things cosier by adding floor to ceiling bookcases and pulling the furniture out from the walls. We also added an area rug and wallpaper. The difference is astounding.
Jens inspiring blog post..Living Room Reno Teaser #2
I’m always moving things around to make new seating arrangements. I’m luckt to have a room where quite a few really work well. Son just stated Saturday that every time he comes home things are in a different place. HA!
Rosie’s Whimsys inspiring blog post..A family gathering
Moving this around is a great way to change a room. My living room is super tiny and I feel can’t be changed. You have such wonderful posts on home decorating. I moved into my house 2 months ago and have been trying to decorate it. (I’m a regular reader and a horrible commentor).
I am giving you a blog award. Please come on over to get it!
Nicols inspiring blog post..To love a pear
I did this recently and love it. It’s a great way to “renew” a space!
This is a beautiful room!
Pats inspiring blog post..~The Island Project~
So cozy nice job…I move things around ALL the time, my family knows enough to put a light on before entering a room..:)
It makes such a HUGE difference moving things around, I bought those little slippers to put under the pieces and my furniture moves like butter now….
Kathy :)
Oh how I’ve missed you my friend! Great post. I rearranged my furniture again after Nesters living room post. I’ll be linking up tomorrow.
My mother was queen of arranging furniture. The woman had an obsession. Well, rather, she had 6 kids and no money to spend on decorating, thought he pieces she had were beautiful. I can remember coming home from school and thinking, “Does mom arrange furniture all day long?” We could never have had a blind child. Things were always different… that’s how mom kept her sanity. She’d mix things up regularly and pretend she had a new house… and she still does it. When we go visit I always hear my kids say, “Grandma, you moved the couch and where’s that chair that was here?” Hooray for free pick-me ups! Super post and EARLY… SMART BLOGGER. I need to make some smart efficient blogger award… you think there’s one out there?
Love ya!
Pretty Organizer
Pretty Organizers inspiring blog post..A Laundry Routine
That was great, FREE!, makeover. The ones you get done with items you already own are always the most rewarding!
Lazy Mom Leslies inspiring blog post..Guest Post by Patti
Great redo. But I must admit, I’m still swooning over your gorgeous kitchen photos-lol.
Take care!
Lisa from celebrate CREATIVITYs inspiring blog post..Savvy Stenciling
I think it is all about getting the furn off the walls that makes the difference!
Taras inspiring blog post..Ina Garten’s Fave Bakery in The Hamptons
Love what you highlighted in the bullet points. Why is it that we forget to think about basic things like “where’m I gonna set this drink?”.
Well done. And I love Emily’s dresser!
The Nesters inspiring blog post..Make Your Home Beautiful to You :: A Guest Post
I love rearranging furniture–I got it from my mom. my family thinks I am crazy, but it sure helps to freshen up a room without spending any money.
Beckys inspiring blog post..Bittersweet
You’re a miracle worker. Why do you have to live clear on the other coast??
Debs inspiring blog post..Hot Mocha Mola
What a great new look she got! laurie
This is a great post Melissa. You are really full of great decorating tips. Emily’s room looks so much better. You can really tell that it “feels” better too. More inviting! Superb!
Wow. You are amazing. You did a great job. So very, very informational and mostly….inspiring!
In the famous words of Mr. Rogers….Oh, won’t you be my neighbor?!
Karol :0)
Karols inspiring blog post..10 Minutes To My Bathroom That I Love (Now)
What a difference that made. Great job.
The room looks great! I love to see how rearranging furniture makes a big difference in a room.
Junes inspiring blog post..10 Minutes To A Room You Will Love
Thanks everyone for your comments and compliments on our little living room! And thank you the most to Melissa for helping me make it the cozy and comfortable spot my family now loves being in.
Emily@remodelingthislifes inspiring blog post..Link Love: Baby, It’s Cold Outside Edition
What a difference!
Jen R Sanctuary Arts at homes inspiring blog post..10 minute make-over
You know I love a great painting project and an awesome room redo! Thanks for sharing~ wish I had the large round artwork. NICE!
~Misti
Misti @ Studio M Designss inspiring blog post..Weekly Dusting: Perfect Time to Rotate Accessories
These are great tips! Thanks so much for sharing them! :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
Wow – what a difference just rearranging makes! It looks so cozy and home-y. Thanks for some great ideas!
Amandas inspiring blog post..Bathroom Re-Do ***UPDATED***
What do you paint the furniture with and can you use it in oak cabinets?
Good job pulling the furniture away from the walls. Now it’s a cozy room that invites you in!
Leilas inspiring blog post..Thrift store finds.
Looks great!
Amy @ Living Locurtos inspiring blog post..Leather Card Holder Tutorial
Hey there girlie, it is so wonderful to see that your gifts are being used in such a completely fabulous way!!! You rock it girl!
xoxo,
Melissa
Melissa in Mel’s Worlds inspiring blog post..One week until Praise & Coffee Night
I so want to rearrange my living room! It’s an odd shape though and one HUGE Entertainment Center that has one ‘workable’ spot. Love this makeover and painting the table!
Sherri Ss inspiring blog post..10 minute makeovers
Isn’t it amazing what different furniture placement can do? It completely transforms a room. Great job!
Jen
jenjens inspiring blog post..Nesting Place: I did it in 10 Minutes (bedroom) Finale!
I am forever moving furniture around… I love your new set-up.
Carries inspiring blog post..Bitten
Ohhhh, Ahhhhhh… nice changes!! My living room is so small, and I have such a hard time moving it around. I’ll take some lessons from this, though.
Wendy @Sun-Kissed Savagess inspiring blog post..Ballet Workshop
I love this! I have been trying to figure out how to make our living room a little more cozier with conversation areas too, but haven’t figured out the best way. Do you help others too?? I could use it!
OK, I’m dying to know about the plants growing by the windows. What do you have growing there? Are those French Doors or sliding glass doors, or windows? How do you have the shelves suspended there? If those are doors, how are you able to open them with the plant shelves there? How did you make that???? :)
L – It’s technically a french door with 4 panels – 3 are just windows and one is a door – just the one on the right that is open. The shelf was built by hubby to go there and those are coffee trees – really baby ones :) The shelf is a pretty neat design – I will try to do a post sometime on how he made it.
Emily@remodelingthislifes inspiring blog post..Living Room Makeover
Rearranging furniture has always been one of my favorite ways to “redecorate”. Hubby jokes about being afraid to sit down without the lights on for fear that the furniture has been moved…again! Great job on the quick room redo.
Angelas inspiring blog post..Be strong and courageous!
I love the coffee table! I have to ask where I can find a solid one just like that? My husband wants something sturdy and rough so that he won’t feel like he’s braking it:) And I want something that still looks great!
Thanks so much for inspiring a great way to make your house beautiful without expense!
I too love pulling furniture away from the walls. But here in Texas most of our homes are on concrete slabs, without basements. So, unless the floor was wired with outlets from the beginning, getting away from the walls is challenging. It’s not safe to run electrical cords under rugs or carpet. Covering the cords with tape or those utilitarian cord covers makes them safe, but not pretty. I’ve been able to angle one end of a sofa or loveseat away from the wall in some houses. I know that battery-powered lamps are available now, but they can get pricey.