Do you ever feel confused about why your room is just not working?

Do you have trouble knowing where to start with a room makeover?

After THIS POST I decided I better answer the reader question, “What EXACTLY do you do first in a room, after you do a double take and say “MEH.” {lol} Honestly, every room might have its own unique problems and solutions, but let’s make sure we at least cover the basics. It always is a good idea to start at the beginning rather than jump in the middle.

We are going to use my living room as an example today, but the principles are a good jump off point for any room.

Let’s try breaking the process down by baby steps: start by defining your room’s purpose and focal point.

A “living room” is not specific enough. Don’t just label the room. Think about how you want to USE the room and what would draw you in. If you are working on your bedroom, don’t just say it is a place for sleeping. Think about it as a retreat at the end of the day, an escape from the pressures of life, or a place for quiet study and reflection — whatever suits your needs. Once you define the room and all you need it to be, you can start to visualize what you want to see in the room.

My own living room was under used. We moved in and just sort of put things around the room at random and that was the end of the story. I moved on to other things. We didn’t need a room to live in. We live in our family room. No one ever went to sit in the living room. Not because it was too formal, as if often the case, but because it had no real purpose.

Where did I start?

I knew this room needed some help, but instead of fretting about the accessories or getting out my paint cans just yet, I decided to start by redefining the room’s purpose. What I really wanted for this space was a quiet corner to read. My family room is SO LOUD most of the time and I like to have a place to escape.

Once I decided what the purpose of the room should be and how I wanted to use the space, I was able to remedy the lack of purpose fairly simply by bringing in a bookcase from the entry (who reads in an entry way? yeah, no one).

Of course, I HAD to move the bookcase the minute I was inspired.

I’m impulsive like that.

NOTE: Do you have these little moving thingies (above)? They have plastic on one side and a spongey pad thing on the other side. Actually, I think these are upside down, I must have taken the photo before I remembered how to do it. The smooth plastic goes on the bottom and it just glides along the floor with ease.

Here is the little reading area I created with my bookcase. NOW it is a room with a purpose!

I would love to have a wall of built-ins, that is my dream, but this is a great start.

Don’t let the IDEAL stop you from moving ahead right now with what you have!

Now this is a room with comfortable chairs and my books. I will actually want to spend time there now!

A focal point could be a fireplace, but it can also be a taller piece of furniture, a beautiful bed, or maybe a large striking painting. The “living room” in my house really didn’t have a great focal point. There was no fireplace or WOW piece that drew you in.

The addition of the antique bookcase not only gave this room a purpose, but it gave it a focal point that makes you want to settle down with a good book and spend an afternoon. That ONE piece of furniture solved both the issue of the purpose, and the focal point. I’m not always that clever.

Is it a perfectly decorated room now?

No. It won’t be DONE for a long time (like, maybe never)! I can see lots of things that need improving. But that is not the point. It looks better, in great part because now the room has a clear purpose and a focal point. From here, accessories can be added, paint can change, and things can be rearranged as needed. Rome wasn’t built in a day, non?

I might still walk by and do a double take but the next time I can improve the room in some other way!

Baby steps.

This process is about bringing a house to life, about making it a comfortable and attractive place for your family and that can happen little by little using what you have and adding affordable things over time.

I’ll share a funny story about that bookcase…

Do you notice a missing drawer in the cabinet? This is a beautiful piece of furniture that belonged to my grandmother. Definitely not the kind of piece you do a makeover on, it has gorgeous details that deserve preserving.

It traveled the world, coming all the way from Thailand to the United States in one piece. It moved from house to house across the country with my grandparents. Children and grandchildren and great grandchildren have played with it.

But somewhere along the way in our possession from Oregon to Washington, its right drawer went missing. Hate us, leave it to me to unintentionally destroy a family heirloom. But, I am pretty sure it is in our black hole garage in a box somewhere. If not, I’ll have a new one made. {shakes head at self}

Update: I found a solution for the missing drawer, AND, this same cabinet became a focal point back on the wall it started on! Funny how things evolve, huh?

Does your room have a clear purpose and a focal point?

If not, what are you waiting for?!

Reclaim your space and make it a room you’ll LOVE.