When Amy sent us photos of her living room just weeks after we created a custom mood board for her space, we were thrilled to see the results. Her transformation is a great example of thoughtful design, practical DIY, and a little bit of courage with color. Below is the note she sent along with her photos:
I’m so excited to share my “after” pictures with you! I absolutely LOVE my new room and so does everyone else. I had a party Friday evening and the changes were a big hit. Funniest comment was “now that you’ve changed it, I just have to tell you that the brick was horrendous!” That cracked me up because I had to agree! Using your inspiration I was even able to save money and repurpose some things we already had. We already owned round coffee and end tables, so I used them. I also followed advice from your ‘How To’ section and spray-painted the existing fan with Rust-Oleum for a refreshed look. I love the wall color you picked so much (BM Sepia Tan 1116) that I painted the entryway the same color and I’m about to paint the hallway too. We also liked the idea of a darker accent wall near the kitchen and chose one shade darker (BM Classic Caramel 1118). I haven’t hung any artwork yet, but I plan to frame some of my photography soon. The makeover was a lot of work, especially the brick, but it was totally worth it. I’m actually on the sofa emailing this while watching a movie. We never used this room before because it didn’t feel cozy or welcoming. Now we want to be in here and my husband keeps saying how awesome it looks—he didn’t even want the brick painted at first! Thanks again so much. You’ll be hearing from me soon about my kitchen! — Amy
To refresh everyone’s memory, here is Amy’s living room before the makeover:
And here’s the same space after our custom mood board makeover:
Amy’s results highlight several design principles that can help anyone refresh a living room:
- Choose a warm, cohesive paint scheme: The BM Sepia Tan on the main walls creates a soothing, neutral backdrop, while the slightly darker BM Classic Caramel accent near the kitchen adds depth and visual interest.
- Make the fireplace a focal point: Freshening the fireplace can instantly shift the room’s energy and draw the eye to a central, welcoming feature.
- Use textiles to add warmth: A cozy patterned rug and warm-toned curtains bring texture, pattern, and the inviting feeling Amy wanted for her family space.
- Repurpose what you already own: Reusing round coffee and end tables saved money while preserving useful shapes and proportions already suited to the room.
- Small DIY updates go a long way: Simple projects like spray-painting a dated fan can modernize a fixture affordably and quickly.
What’s especially rewarding about Amy’s story is the balance of smart planning and hands-on effort. She followed a curated plan, but she also made economical choices—repurposing furniture and tackling DIY tasks—to bring the vision to life without overspending. The result is a room that now feels warm, inviting, and comfortable enough that the family naturally spends time there.
We love the way the golden wheat tones in the curtains and on the walls create an atmosphere of warmth and how the accent wall ties the living area to the kitchen visually. The patterned rug grounds the seating area, and the refreshed fireplace gives the space added personality. The overall effect is cohesive, welcoming, and timeless.
So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite element of Amy’s living room refresh or any encouraging words to share with her for sending these fantastic after photos? Let’s give her a round of virtual applause for embracing the change and doing such a lovely job.
Update: We no longer have the availability to take on commissioned mood board projects (we now focus on general inspiration boards), but if that changes in the future we’ll make a public announcement.