While updating our house’s before & after page and paint color/source page, we noticed some photos were already out of date. One space that’s changed a lot is our upstairs family room. We first shared it in July (here), and since then it’s received several useful additions. Can you spot them?
The biggest change is this oversized capiz globe light from Serena & Lily that Sherry has been pinning for years. We’d never had a place tall enough for it until this living room, which has vaulted ceilings that peak around 10′ high. Once we measured and visualized the scale, it was an easy decision to go big.
The fixture comes in three sizes (10.5″, 22.5″ and 29″ diameters); we chose the largest. It’s hard to show scale in photos, so we took some shots during installation that give a better sense of how substantial it is. We even celebrated with a silly photo of Sherry reenacting a wrecking ball moment — purely for scale and for fun.
Getting the light upstairs was a bit nerve-wracking. Our stairway is narrow — the same stairs that made getting the couch upstairs an ordeal — so we were relieved when the globe just barely fit through on its side. We considered hoisting it from the deck, but maneuvering it up the stairs was much easier once we realized it would clear the opening.
Once installed, it felt like the room finally had the vertical presence it needed. It’s the only overhead light in the space, so it’s both functional and a strong visual focal point in this very long, open room — it helps balance the empty upper plane of the 25′ room. Note: this light wasn’t gifted or sponsored; we bought it ourselves and have been really happy with it.
One question we expected was whether tall people can walk beneath it. I’m 6′ tall and there’s nearly a foot of clearance above my head, so it’s not an issue for everyday use.
Sherry put together a quick video walk-through of the family room so you can see the layout and scale in motion. It’s a silent tour that helps show how the new pieces live in the space and where other updates are located (hint: most of them are on the TV side).
Note: You can view the video on YouTube.
On the seating side, we upgraded from bean bags to a more functional arrangement. Our sofa is long (93″ without large arms) and seats the whole family comfortably, but we wanted better overflow seating for visitors. We picked up a woven bench at HomeGoods and added upholstered ottomans from Target. The ottomans are tidier, make great footrests, and can double as extra seats when needed. Bean bags were fun, but they made poor coffee tables and didn’t serve well as footrests.
The woven bench currently uses a sheepskin for comfort, but we plan to make a padded cushion with thick foam and a removable fabric cover so it’s washable. Adding a cushion will raise the seat a bit, so we’ll likely shorten the legs slightly to keep the bench height proportionate to the sofa.
We’re also planning a major upgrade for the media wall. The current console has worked well, especially after adding a lower shelf and baskets for board games, but we’re replacing it with built-in cabinetry that will add a lot more storage across nearly the entire TV wall. Materials are on backorder, so installation will begin next month. Sherry calls smart storage our love language, and we’re both excited for the increased function once it’s installed.
On the opposite side of the room we added hanging planters and art above the kids’ desk. Despite the large trees outside our windows, more plants inside help create a visual connection between the interior and exterior. Sherry has embraced hanging plants and has levelled up her plant-keeping status.
We’re still tweaking and adding small details, but the room already feels settled and highly functional. It serves as our main hangout: a workspace, movie room, craft area, fort-making zone, and reading spot. At roughly 25′ long, it’s the largest room in the house, and we’re happy to be maximizing every inch with smart storage solutions like the wall-mounted bookcase that preserves floor space.
We’re also making progress outside these windows, improving the upstairs deck and building a privacy screen between us and the neighboring construction. We’ll share those updates soon.
P.S. You can follow all of our Florida house progress in one place on our site — from bedrooms to the kitchen and the bathroom — to catch up quickly on this six-room home.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.