My (Reality) Dream Living Room

I don't know about you...but I LOVE the show Fixer Upper. It makes me laugh, it makes me smile, it inspires me, and is the perfect me-time TV show to snuggle up on my couch, eat ice cream, and enjoy some peaceful relaxation in my seasonally-decorated living room. 

After reading "The Magnolia Story", I love the show even more. It was so great to learn their story and how they've gotten to where they are now with the successful business and TV show. I feel like I know them and if I saw them walking down the street we could chat for the first time ever but feel like old friends. They are just so endearing to me and I love what they do and how they live. I also...like everyone else who watches the show...am so in love with the homes and designs they create. Talk about dream homes and dream rooms! I told my mom recently that the next time I move its going to be to Waco so I can get a Fixer Upper home.

All decorated for spring on my piano "mantel". I love my new felt ball garland. It makes me so happy to sit on my couch and see this happy and colorful little space.

But that's truly just a dream, that's not reality. I won't be moving to Texas and I won't be getting a Chip and Joanna Gaines home. So for me, to "dream" about a house - or even just a room - like that will only cause me to feel envious, mopey, and discontent with the home and rooms I am blessed to have. From what I've read and seen, I know Joanna would agree and not want me to live that way. She would say I need to find the charm and character in what I already have and then use some creativity, resourcefulness, and effort to enhance it even more.

Always fun to fill each nook with a cute little something. Shelf from Target

And so, while I could easily make a blog post about my DREAM living room that I will never have, I'm instead choosing to enjoy what I love about my living room the way it currently is, and find a few ways that I can realistically make it the best room it can truly be.

I used Olioboard to create my first room style board. It was a lot of fun and will be useful to show my husband my overall vision for the room so he can help me make it happen. Some items were in the Olioboard library already, some are from Amazon, and the clock and built-ins are from Pinterest but I could not find a source.
Sources: Benjamin Moore Paint Color / Ladder / Striped Throw / Window Mirror / Plant / Candle / Coffee Table / Sofa / Striped Rug / Compass Pillow / Home Sweet Home Pillow / Globe / Wire Basket / Rifle Paper Co. Books / Lamp

If my living room were a bit bigger, I would love to include a cozy armchair like this one from Arhaus. It looks so comfy and inviting. They have a great selection of chair and sectionals including this option which is very similar to the one shown above.

I already own a very similar couch, a globe, and the Rifle Paper Co. books. I plan to make a blanket ladder as well as a similar rustic coffee table.This year, we are planning to make "built-in" shelves just like the ones in my mood board. Cupboards below to hide toys, movies, games, etc. and then open shelves on the sides and above the TV for pretty decor, books, and pictures. I would love to use that paint color on one of the walls adjacent to where the shelves will be to help break up all of the "white". I have aspirations to use that same paint color in two other places in our home as well.

I love farmhouse, rustic style but can't accept only neutral colors. I need pops of color to brighten and liven things up. All shades of aqua-y blue-greens (from teal to mint) and coral are my current favorites!

My original inspiration to make the built-in shelving unit was from a crafter I follow on Instagram - Katie @justaddsunshineinc. She is a huge lover of color and her feed is so bright and cheerful! She redecorates the little shelves and posts about them regularly. I'm a big fan of all her globes, mason jars, and colorful books!

Another Instagram account that I follow is Kara @kailochic. She also has a great built-in with lots of cute decor and happy colors. For our family, we will need to build something more like this one with the TV spot and cupboards below. I love the different sizes of her shelves but not sure that I can convince my husband to do this as he is already apprehensive about such a big project. 

Another super fun option for "built-in" shelves is this beautiful, rustic, barn-door style unit from Arhaus. I love that you can hide the TV when not in use. Although I don't think I could bring myself to hide all my pretty decor while watching TV so I think I'll save the barn door concept for somewhere else in my home. But I've never seen this before in all my built-in shelving searching so definitely a unique and fun idea.

I am looking forward to taking on this big DIY project with my husband this year to turn my living room into a space I love even more. Adding some sweat-equity to the great inspiration we already have is sure to create a very happy view for me when I relax to watch future seasons of Fixer Upper and smile as other people receive their dream living rooms too.