Some time ago I emptied the front room of our house to rethink how we actually use that space. Although the floor plan calls it a “living room,” it didn’t function as one for our family. After clearing everything out and removing the old carpet, the room sat empty while I considered a new direction.
To remind you how it started, here’s the room before—worn carpet and a traditional living room setup that didn’t reflect how we actually live.
After painting the walls a warm, neutral gray and installing new Hickory hardwood floors this summer, the room’s shell was transformed. It’s still a work in progress, but the direction feels right.
We’ve made a lot of progress, and there are more updates to come. I appreciate the help from Lowe’s on the installation of the Hickory floors, which really set the stage for the next steps.
Why this project and where is it headed?
I want to live intentionally. Just because the front room is labeled “living room” doesn’t mean it has to function that way. For our family, the traditional living room didn’t make sense — we rarely used it. It felt like a wide hallway leading to the dining room and kitchen rather than a space to gather.
Over the last three years I’ve observed how our family moves through the house: where we gather, where the clutter accumulates, and how I feel when I come in the front door or descend the stairs each morning. Some rooms were underused while others were crowded with activity. That assessment led me to reconfigure the home to better suit our lifestyle.
My goal is to create spaces that are not only attractive but that feel welcoming and purposeful. Tackling several projects across the house at once felt necessary because the rooms need to work together. It’s been a gradual process — reorganizing creates temporary messes and costs can add up — but working within limitations has pushed my creativity.
This is not a magical overnight makeover. Instead, it’s a series of thoughtful changes carried out over months and even years to refine how we live and to surround ourselves with things we love.
What did I want to see when I walked in the front door?
The living room is immediately left of the front staircase and open to the entry. I considered turning the space into a craft room, office, or secondary dining area, but I wanted something different: a room that offers creative and visual relief every time I walk through, a space that lifts my mood rather than shows projects and clutter.
I didn’t want crafting supplies or work spread out where they’re the first thing we see. I know how quickly projects can take over; keeping those activities out of sight preserves calm in the entry. Instead, I wanted something pretty, spacious, colorful, and peaceful — a room that sets a positive tone for home life and gives us room to breathe.
I wanted to feel energized when I came down the stairs in the morning, not overwhelmed by clutter. Two priorities emerged:
1) Create breathing room so the area can expand into an additional dining space for parties and holidays, allowing a flexible gathering area for friends and family.
2) Build a welcoming entry that sets the mood for the home.
So the plan became clear: keep the front room mostly open to serve as a larger entry and occasional dining extension, rather than filling it permanently with a dining table and chairs.
This is the first phase of the transformation.
After the hardwood floors were installed, I brought in a few pieces I already owned and added select items to set the mood. A round rug adds color and warmth while balancing the stained glass in the adjacent dining room. The console, baskets, and nesting tables create a welcoming vignette and practical storage.
I’m considering built-ins, wall hooks, a window seat, and ceiling paneling down the road, but for now the space serves its purpose: it sets the tone for our home and makes me love coming back every day.
Have you thought about what you see when you walk in your front door?
Does the view inside energize you or drain your creative energy?
Tomorrow I’ll share sneak peeks of my plush pumpkins, including a giveaway and a discount you won’t want to miss.
Sources:
Round Rug – Pier One
Console, baskets and Nesting Tables – World Market