Welp. I planned on designing my den for the One Room Challenge, which was originally scheduled for April, but like everything else on the planet, it has been postponed because of the health crises. But I’m moving ahead with decorating my family room anyway.
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Why decorate the family room in the middle of a Pandemic?
What’s really crazy is I’ve decided to do this in the middle of the world shutting down. TODAY as I received the shipment of these bomb curtains and commenced to disinfect the packaging. This here virus got everything closed. Life has almost been canceled. Almost. I plan to get through this the same way I got through life before…trusting Jesus.
I’m not worried or scared. I’m at peace and I know all is well with my soul. Prayerfully you can say the same. I’m praying for those affected and I’m not even saying I won’t be, but I refuse to live in fear. I will protect my family as best as I can and let God handle the rest.
Soooo, in the midst of me being the communication go-to for my church–which is NOT shutting down but doing Drive Up services AND the chair of our major Family Conference scheduled for June –which we’re praying we won’t have to cancel–I’ll be whipping my den into shape.
If we’re going to be cooped up here for over a month, I want to work on making it as nice as it can be.
The ‘New House’ Story
We moved into this house in January after selling our home of 17 years so fast it almost gave us whiplash. There was no time for real house hunting so we decided to rent. And boy oh boy do I LOVE this house.
First of all–it’s ginormous. Literally two and a half times the size of our old house. So big I almost let a plant die in the living room because I didn’t go in there for two weeks. Yeah. Maybe we don’t need a house quite this large.
In any event, also unlike my old digs, nothing is dated, broken or ugly. THAT feels so good. Though it’s not 100% my taste, the space and function of this house are just amazing. You can tour the house with me on Instagram via the saved story highlights.
Despite what I said at the end of the video, after living here for a few months, I would certainly buy it. Even with the small yard and lack of a third car garage. I would make a lot of aesthetic changes but it’s a pretty decent house.
That being said errrythang in this house is BEIGE! Now I love me some neutrals, but umm, I need some life up in these rooms. We moved our old but new furniture to the living room and will do a much more relaxed den.
So finally, what are my design plans for the Den?
Ok. First the Before.
My must for the den was a sectional. As much as I loved my sofa and love seat. I really missed having a sectional. We originally purchased a reclining sectional from American Signature. We loved it in the store, got a great deal and were absolutely smitten by the functionality. But after eyeing it every day for a week in the house, I knew it just didn’t have enough style for me. We promptly returned it and replaced it with this:
A brand-new sectional from Haverty’s that we purchased from Offer Up for $750. I just love a good deal.
Family Room Mood Board
My plan is for a relaxed den, but I need a little glam. We’re relaxing on the couch but we styling on the TV wall. Here’s the plan.
I’ve been in dreaming of Mr. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy for a long time. I really wanted to use it on my kitchen cabinets in the old house, but it was a bit too dark. This house gets a ton of light so it can handle that deep color. It’s rich and dark, sophisticated blue that’s can lend itself to cool and warm tones. I’m going to outfit the blue wall with a hack of these industrial shelves and this console to make a cohesive entertainment unit.
RELATED: How to Make a Mood Board.
We loved the functionality of the round nesting tables, but I’m going with a big chunky wood table. I need a workhorse. I’ll have to get a TV tray solution I guess. Hubby may want to eventually switch back to nesting tables, but I’m going to try.
I’m not sure what I’ll do about end tables. I have four (yes 4!) brand new tables in the house and ummm I bought them on impulse because they were inexpensive. (Something you should never do!)
I.know.better!
Buttt I did and I regret it now because though they look good, they don’t capture the style I’m after. My plan is to sell them.
I have a big ugly ceiling fan light fixture in the room, which, sigh, I can’t replace because this is a rental. But I do want to find some cool lighting.
I found some great art that can be picked up curbside.
BUT there’s a big problem. How to style a room without Home Goods, TJ Maxx and the like.
Boy oh boy this is about to be interesting.
They do call it the One Room Challenge don’t they!
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