Some time ago I cleared everything out of the front room—what the plans call the living room—to rethink how we actually use the space. Previously it had been emptied and was waiting for a new purpose and for the old carpet to be removed.
To go back even further, here’s what the room looked like before: tired carpet and the typical living room arrangement.
After painting the walls a warm neutral gray and installing new Hickory hardwood floors this summer, the room’s shell began to feel refreshed. With those changes in place, the space started to take on a new life.
It’s still a work in progress, but the transformation is well underway. Big thanks to Lowe’s for collaborating on the Hickory floor installation.
Why this project and where is it going?
I want to live intentionally in my home. A room labeled “living room” on the floor plan doesn’t have to be used the way it’s traditionally intended. We discovered we don’t actually need a formal living room. The front room functions more like a wide hallway that leads to the dining room and kitchen, so it made sense to rethink its purpose and design the house to suit how we actually live.
For over three years I’ve been observing how our family uses the house — where we hang out, where clutter accumulates, and how I feel when I walk in the front door or down the stairs each morning. I watched which rooms were underused and which felt chaotic, then planned changes accordingly.
Now I’m making changes across the house to create spaces that are both beautiful and welcoming — rooms we enjoy coming home to. Yes, tackling the house as a whole can feel overwhelming, and projects create temporary messes. It can cost money, too, but these updates can be done gradually and within a budget. Many of these improvements have been ongoing for months.
Working with a realistic budget and limitations is part of the creative process for me. My rooms didn’t appear overnight as a dramatic before-and-after; they’ve evolved step by step over time as I refine the way we live and collect what we love.
What did I want to see when I walked through the front door?
Our front staircase opens directly into this room, which sits beside the main entry. While the space could have become a craft room, office, or a relocated dining area, I chose a different direction. I wanted the space to be more than practical — I wanted it to serve as creative and visual therapy each time I walked through the door.
I didn’t want projects and crafts visible the moment I entered the house. Knowing how our family operates, having craft messes on display would create daily stress. Instead, I wanted to come home to something pretty, spacious, colorful and peaceful — a room that sets a welcoming tone for our home and allows us to breathe.
I wanted to walk down the stairs in the morning feeling energized and calm rather than overwhelmed by clutter. So I focused on two priorities:
1) A sense of space that provides room to breathe and the flexibility to expand into a secondary dining area for parties or family gatherings.
2) A welcoming area that sets the mood for the rest of the home.
In short, I wanted a larger entry and extra dining-room-adjacent space — not a permanently filled dining area at the front of the house, but a room that can serve as additional seating when needed.
This is just the first phase of the transformation.
Once the hardwood floors were in place, I brought in existing pieces combined with a few new items to create the mood I wanted. A round rug from Pier One adds color and warmth, balancing the stained glass in the connected dining room and anchoring the sitting area. The console, baskets and nesting tables are from World Market.
Future plans may include built-ins, wall hooks, a window seat, and wood paneling on the ceiling, but for now I’m happy to enter a space that sets a calm, welcoming tone. It’s exactly what I need to love where I live.
Have you noticed what you see when you walk in your front door?
Does that view energize you or drain your creativity?
Tomorrow I’ll share sneak peeks of my plush pumpkins, along with a giveaway and a discount for readers.
Sources:
Round Rug – Pier One
Console, baskets and Nesting Tables – World Market