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Before and After, budget decorating, budget living room, budget living room makeover, decorating on a budget, Living Room Before and After, living room decorating, Living Room ideas, Living Room Inspiration, living room makeover, living room overhaul, living room remodel, living room reveal, room makeover
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A few months back I decided to give my living room a complete makeover, something it’s needed since we moved in almost seven years ago. My biggest challenge was making my husband understand that in order for me to completely remodel our living room I was going to have to make some serious changes, aka spend some serious money, well that didn’t go over to well since he doesn’t understand the concept of spending money on decorating or re-decorating. That meant I was going to have to do some serious bargain shopping and take on some challenging diy projects that I was a little skeptical about, but I recruited my husband, bought more decorating books and magazines that I can keep up with and started searching the internet for living room inspirations and diy tutorials. It took me a few weeks but I finally finished my inspiration board and knew exactly what I wanted my living room to look like; however it was going to take alot more work to get the furniture and accents I wanted at a price I could afford, so I was on a constant search for deals and discounts spending most nights and weekends either on the internet looking for coupon codes or rummaging through discount department stores and local consignment shops.
It was a lot to take on at once but after three and a half months our living room transformation was complete, so i’m pleased to announce that my husband and I successfully installed crown moulding, put up wainscot paneling and built a fireplace overmantle all for $300.00. In addition, we were able to find all of the furniture and decorative accents for $2,931 for a total cost of $3,331
Look for DIY tutorials on how to install crown moulding, how to install picture frame wainscot paneling and how to build a fireplace overmantle in the near future!
Living Room Makeover Before and After Photos
Here are some photos of my Living Room Before the Makeover
Where do I start….no architectural elements, bad lighting and the list goes on
Here is a view of the Living Room from the Kitchen Entrance
Here is a view of the Living Room from the Foyer Entrance
Okay, on to the good stuff….. Since Lighting makes a huge difference in the way a room looks and feels I wanted to showcase the way the room looks in both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Now without further ado, here is my budget living room makeover
The photos below were taken during the evening using artificial lighting
My husband and I Built the Fireplace Overmantle, Installed Wainscot Paneling and Crown Moulding
Close up of the Fireplace Overmantle. My biggest DIY accomplishment thus far!
This is the view looking into the Living Room from the Foyer Entrance
I love using Ceramic Pitcher Vases for Floral Arrangements
View from the Kitchen Entrance
Angled view from the Kitchen entrance
The Photos below were taken during the day time using natural lighting
View from the corner of the Living Room looking towards the Kitchen
Side view from the Foyer Entrance
I had a very hard time getting a good picture of this view due to the reflection from the mirrored plaques
These Floating Shelves are a lifesaver! They are fabulous for decorating but they are also hiding the ugly thermostat box on the wall; It’s right behind the picture frame on the bottom shelf. If you’re interested in learning more about camouflaging ugly thermostat and control boxes checkout my previous post How to Hide a Thermostat Box
Up-close view of the sofa, rug and wall art
The End….
Below you will find a cost breakdown for the entire project
Cost Breakdown
Furniture
Custom Built Button Tufted Sofa: Online custom furniture retailer, Club Furniture – $1,680
Set of Matching Wing Back Chairs: Local Consignment Shop – $200
Furniture Total = $1,880
Lighting
Floor Lamp with round shade: Amazon – $110
Torchiere Floor Lamp: Target – $59
Lighting Total = $169
Wall Decor
Set of Framed Prints (35×40): TJ Maxx – $80
Set of Mirrored Plaques: Kirklands – $50
Beveled Mirror: Garden Ridge – $69
Floating Shelves: Amazon – $50
Wall Decor = $249
Textiles
Throw Pillows (purchased fabric and used old pillow forms): Fabric – $18
Curtain Panels & Valences: Overstock – $100
8×10 Hand-Tufted Rug: Overstock – $315
Textiles = $433
Decorative Accents & Accessories
2 Candles: TJ Maxx – $6
White Distressed Candle holder: TJ Maxx – $10
Brushed Nickel Candle Holder with Crystal Embellishments: TJ Maxx – $12
Pink Flower Candle Holder: TJ Maxx – $6
5 Nesting Book Boxes in three sizes: TJ Maxx – $26
Decorative Plates (Large & Small): TJ Maxx – $27
White Vase: TJ Maxx – $12
White Pitcher Vase: TJ Maxx – $12
Dried Flower arrangement: TJ Maxx – $10
White Ornate Picture Frame: TJ Maxx – $12
Decorative Mirror Plate: TJ Maxx – $15
Tall Mirrored Candle Holder: Garden Ridge – $14
Medium and Tall Mirrored Vase: Garden Ridge – $28
Decorative Mirrored box: TJ Maxx – $10
Decorative Accents & Accessories = $200
DIY Projects
Crown Moulding – $70
Ogee Moulding – $40
Chair Rail – $60
Paint – $25
Overmantle Materials – $105
DIY Projects = $300
Total Cost = $3,331
There are a few items that I used in my living room makeover that I didn’t include in the cost breakdown above, as I already owned the items and it didn’t impact my budget; however I thought it would be helpful to share the cost breakdown for those items as well.
Coffee Table: Crate & Barrel (Clearance Sale) – $100
End Table: Crate & Barrel (Clearance Sale) – $125
Media Console: Craigslist (This console retailed at almost $800) – $100
Television: Best Buy (Black Friday Deal) – $800
Soooo….What do you think?
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Tags: Before and After, budget decorating, budget living room, budget living room makeover, decorating on a budget, Living Room Before and After, living room decorating, Living Room ideas, Living Room Inspiration, living room makeover, living room overhaul, living room remodel, living room reveal, room makeover
26 comments
August 15, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Jessica you did a wonderful job. I can see you put a lot of thought and hard work into your beautiful new livingroom. Excellent taste!! I’ve decorated many houses and it usually take me 6 month or more, so 3 month is great
August 16, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Thanks Sharon! It was alot of work, but it was worth it. So glad it’s finally complete!
August 15, 2012 at 2:01 pm
You are so very talented!! Your living room looks like a totally different room. Very, very impressive!
August 16, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Thanks Allison! I know, it completely changes the way the room feels, it feels more like home!
August 15, 2012 at 10:28 pm
You and your husband did a beautiful transformation. I love the wainscot and crown molding. Nice job.
August 16, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Thank you very much! I give my husband credit for the wainscoting but he just did the caulking, He made me do the dirty work.
Again, thank you for the compliment!
August 16, 2012 at 5:02 am
Hello Jessica! I’ve just seen your living room transformation and it is beautiful! It is clear you are very stylish! What a massive transformation.. I am a budding Home Stager in the UK and just working on marketing my business, officially launching in Sept but trying to find the best way of getting my 1st client so I can post a gallery on my website-any ideas appreciated! Kind Regards, Dawn. xx
August 16, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Dawn, thank you very much! I’d love to chat with you offline regarding your home staging. I’ll send you an email to follow up! Thanks again
August 16, 2012 at 8:14 am
Hi Jessica, Just wanted to compliment you on a job well done. You really did a fabulous job! I especially like your approach to the project. You are a “get it done’ kind of girl. The fireplace is great…the whole look is very upscale. The molding and wall panels make it look so much more finished. A +
Kate
August 16, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Kate, Thank you so much! I really appreciate the compliment!! You are right, I like to get it done
if their is a will their is a way 
Thanks again!
August 25, 2012 at 9:17 am
Great job; the overmantel and wainscoting really take it to the next level!
August 25, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Thanks Jamie!! I love wainscoting, we are installing it in the foyer now.
September 2, 2012 at 6:56 pm
I agree with jaime. It’s amazing what a difference the trim work makes and it’s not that hard or expensive to do.
September 11, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Great transformation Jessica. You stepped up the decor and made it a more adult, more sophisticated space. The breakdown of expenses shows your a savvy shopper and know where to get great bargains.
Congratulations. Now you can relax and enjoy your new living room………until you start your next project!
September 12, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Thank you so much Maggie, we love the new living room! We are finishing up the foyer now.
September 14, 2012 at 2:49 am
that was a really good job,and done in 3 months, impressive. the lighting is especially amazing.
September 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you checking out my living room makeover, the lighting gives the room a completely different feel
September 16, 2012 at 9:19 pm
I would love to know how you did your fireplace overmantle. Right now our fireplace basically has a white painted piece of wood on it, with very little detail. It needs help! My husband has a miter saw, and we just need an idea where to start. I love yours, but how did you figure out what you needed, etc? I appreciate your time, and I love your living room makeover.
September 17, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Hi Cindy, Thank you for checking out my living room makeover. I am actually planning to write step by step tutorial on how to build an overmantle. Before we built our overmantle I searched the internet for weeks trying to find a tutorial and I’ll be honest, there wasn’t much out there, so we ended up winging part of it, luckily it all worked out. I am planning to share the details for every step in the process so that it will hopefully help others that are looking to take on this project. I’ll try to post it next week, unfortunately I don’t have photos for each step so i’ll try to be as thorough as possible! Send me a picture of what you currently have above your fireplace and I can try to help you figure out where to go next
October 6, 2012 at 11:45 am
What a wonderful transformation! Looks like a totally different room! Very impressed…it is so warm and inviting and just pretty!
October 14, 2012 at 10:26 am
OK. I have to be honest. I looked at the ‘before’ pics and couldn’t figure out what you didn’t like. I thought it was a great Living Room! Then I saw the ‘after’. Unbelievable. Totally unbelievable. I’m so blown away that this gorgeous space came from the “great Living Room”. You have a gift of seeing the potential….and making it happen! Fabulous.
October 15, 2012 at 12:34 am
Dona, Thank you for checking out my living room makeover and thank you sooo much for the compliment. I sincerely appreciate it!!
October 14, 2012 at 4:46 pm
The room looks fabulous! Can you tell us your paint colors? Thanks!
October 15, 2012 at 12:39 am
Angela, Thank you so much for the compliment!! I can’t remember the name of the paint colors off the top of my head, but will pull out the paint cans tomorrow and get the exact names. Thanks again for checking out my living room makeover and the sincere compliment!!
November 2, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Great job! We are starting to get ideas for our living room. Thanks!
December 31, 2012 at 11:53 am
I love your makeover. The fireplace surround is beautiful. The overmantle and wainscoting are beautiful focal points of the room. Great job….I think almost anyone can go out with a bundle of money and put a room together, but I find it so much more interesting, challenging and fun to do it with bargain shopping and diy projects…not to mention the benefit of recycling items.