Our Townhouse Living Room Makeover
Step inside this cozy townhouse living room makeover featuring a stunning new fireplace focal point.
After plenty of ups and downs, we’re beyond excited to finally share our townhouse living room makeover reveal with you. Catch the before photos here!
While the laundry room and first-floor flooring project nearly did me in, by some miracle we managed to get the wainscoting and fireplace installation completed. And the results were so worth it. Like most renovations, it wasn’t without its memorable moments. Let’s just say finding reliable contractors in Houston during the post-Harvey rebuilding boom was… an adventure.
It sometimes felt like this project deserved its own comedy special. Literally, the guy that installed the fireplace and molding took 2 weeks to finish it, listened to baseball games on full blast on his portable radio while chanting, and peed in our backyard. Maybe one day I’ll write that book: “LOL: Renovations While Nesting.”
But for now, let’s get to the good part…the finished space!
Townhouse Living Room Furnishings
First off, we’ve never been so in love with a sectional sofa in our entire life! Finding the right one for a townhouse living room can be tricky. You want something that feels substantial and cozy without overwhelming the space. We finally landed on the perfect balance: insanely comfortable, still stylish, and topped off with those glam gold legs (so good, right?).
We basically went buck wild at Wayfair. It has gold legs for crying out loud! So good. You can find more of our favorite sectional living room ideas here.
Another game-changer was the rug. In a smaller living room, the wrong size rug can actually make the whole space feel chopped up and even smaller. We realized we needed something much larger than our old one to properly anchor the sectional and create flow.
The Javari Berry Sunrise rug by Loloi was a dream find. It ties together so many colors in the room and even complements the rainbow book nook in our fireplace. It’s the piece that pulls everything together while still making the space feel bright and inviting.
Our Living Room Artwork
Quick confession: Until now, we’ve never actually owned real hand-painted artwork (unless you count our own DIY attempts). These abstract prints from Kate Spade completely changed that for us. The texture and color palette are absolutely perfect for this space and add such a sophisticated touch.
And speaking of color, if you’ve been toying with the idea of painting your home white, we’re sharing a few simple tips below to help you pick the perfect shade without the guesswork.
Our Living Room Fireplace
The fireplace is hands down the biggest transformation in the room (and worth every penny). What was once a plain, white-walled space with soaring ceilings now feels infinitely cozier and more inviting.
We went with an electric fireplace that can be used purely for looks or as a space heater. Since we live in Texas, it’s mostly about ambiance. But we love knowing it has the functionality for both. To finish it off, we DIY’ed custom vents on each side of the mantel using inexpensive wooden frames from Michael’s, decorative sheet metal, and a little spray paint. A staple gun later and voilà! Chic, budget-friendly fireplace details.
One of our favorite accents is the modern shiplap treatment. Running it all the way up to the ceiling gives such a dramatic effect, and the best part? The entire project only cost about $250 in 1×12 wooden boards. Proof that big impact doesn’t always have to come with a big price tag!
This gold mirror from Wayfair above the fireplace is currently sold out. But you can find more decorative wall mirrors here for a living room focal point.
We then decided to color code our books.
Shop Our Mid Century Living Room Makeover Room Sources
- Dwell Studio Sectional with gold legs in nobletex rain upholstery from Wayfair
- Diamond space throw pillow from Wayfair
- White planter from Wayfair
- Navy cotton throw from Wayfair
- Gold and marble table lamps from Wayfair
- 55″ Belden Recessed Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace from Wayfair
- Leather lounge chairs in brown from Wayfair
- Javari Berry Sunrise Rug from Loloi Rugs also available on Wayfair
- Think Less abstract art painting above sofa from Wayfair
- Pink abstract painting from Kate Spade
- Navy abstract painting from Kate Spade
- Gold drum coffee table from West Elm
- Ivory curtains with gold grommets from Target
- Marble subway tile for fireplace from Lowe’s
- Media console is made from IKEA besta cabinets with a toekick
- Gold mirror above fireplace from Wayfair
- Shelly Round Velvet Sofa Pillows from Urban Outfitters
- Large cabinet door pulls from Amazon
- Gold planter and stand from Target
- Carolos Gold Round Floral Pouf Ottoman from Wayfair
- Gold side table from West Elm
- Peach vase from CB2
Please note that we may earn a commission for some of the above affiliate links. However, products featured are independently selected and personally well-loved by us!
Thanks for sharing informative article.
Thank you for sharing the informative article.
Love your space! Can you tell me the name and brand of your white paint? It looks like the white I’ve been searching for!
Hi Debbie! Our go to color and brand for our living rooms have always been Behr Simply White! Hope this helps!
Do you have the name of the sectional? The link doesn’t see to be to a direct product.
Hi Nina! Yes, there are more details to all our room sources at the bottom of the post for easier reference. The sectional is Dwell Studio Sectional with gold legs in nobletex rain upholstery from Wayfair. It’s currently sold out which is why it no longer links to the direct product. Hope this helps! XOXO
Wonderful Post! Informative! Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Shauna!
Hi! I love tour living room! Especially the sofa. When I look at nobletex rain on Wayfair it looks very green but your sofa seems to be more of a blue green. Could you tell me if that’s true in team life. I would hate o buy a sofa based on an online picture (yours or wayfairs) and it be a totally different color :). Thanks in advance for your help!
Real life not team life :)
Can I ask what your white paint color is?
Hi Bailey! It’s the HGTV Sherwin Williams High Reflective White wall paint. We have a link in the blog post!
Hi there. This is my first time here and I Love it. Your living room looks amazing it just all comes together so nicely, great job. I was looking through your list of products, furniture etc. that you used but I dont see thebgold and white round wall sconces on the list, unless I missed them. They are so cute I would love to know where you bought them if possible. Thank you. God Bless!
We also have a huge wall and awkward space (dining room and living room combo) that I really have no clue how to manage. I’ve looked all over the internet but I don’t find much advice with what to do with a large room with a large plain wall. 30 years ago my mother covered it in wallpaper and now its time for something new and fresh. Any suggestions?
A gallery wall of art is always a great idea! And a big ol’ couch to fill up some of that space :)
We also have a huge wall and awkward space (dining room and living room combo) that I really have no clue how to manage. I’ve looked all over the internet but I don’t find much advice with what to do with a large room with a large plain wall. 30 years ago my mother covered it in wallpaper and now its time for something new and fresh. Any suggestions?
I loved how your living room looked before the makeover, but I like it even much more after it.
Looks so stylish and modern. And all those little things, decorations, plants, book covers. You can see that there live creative and modern people
Thanks John!
What size rug did you end up using for your set up?
Hi Alyssa! It’s a 9×12 rug.
Looks so good! Where did you get the colorful books?
looking through all the reveals and I must say yours is my absolute favorite – by far. I was wondering about your rug. I absolutely love the colors in your photos. when i clicked on the link to wayfarer, the colors looked completely different. how do you know when ordering what you will end up with? also, I love your sectional but the link shows an L shaped couch….would love to know the measurements of it, the cushions look nice and deep…
I know! It’s SUPER strange how different the Loloi rugs look online, it’s a little deceiving. The colors are much lighter and more muted in real life than way they appear on wayfair. the dimensions should be listed online for the sofa, but yes, they are super deep which is why we love it so much! xo
I have a huge fireplace that so big you can’t really use it for a fireplace as more air flows in than out. I love your idea of the faux ship lap & the marble surround.How did you build it out so it looked like it was a real marble fireplace & how much did it cost?
we had a handyman build a wooden surround/structure in front of the wall that was then surrounded in plywood so that it could be tiled. The shiplap was just a bunch of regular 12in x 6ft boards that were nailed to the wall. It cost around $1500 total with materials and labor. xo
Thank you for your answer it was enlightening.
Hi there, I love your transformation. Where did you get the cabinet along the side of fire place? And did you diy the fire place yourself? If so, would you mind sharing the step by step instructions? Thanks! Great work!
-Sandra
Hi Sandy, so glad you like it! We used the IKEA besta cabinets with a toekick for our media console. And we had our fire place professionally installed. xo
Will you be doing a tutorial on how you installed the besta cabinets and toe kick? I have three of them and want to do something similar but am wondering how to get them up off the floor.
Hi Julia! We won’t be doing a tutorial, they’re just besta cabinets, with besta legs, and industrial velcro keeping the toe kick in place. xoxo
Where did you find the white TV?
Hi Jan, it’s silver and it’s from LeEco! xo
Love the scones. Where did you get these? Thanks.
Hey Lisa! They are from Target, here’s the link. xo
This looks great! I love those leather chairs. Do you know what they’re called specifically? The link in the post just took me to Wayfair’s general Accent Chair page. Thank you!
Thank so much Meghan! They actually have been discontinued and I can’t remember the name of them. So sorry! xo
The room looks awesome! I love how you found a sectional that doesn’t look bulky but flows with the room! Congrats on the space. The fireplace is beautiful.
thanks so much June! And that’s exactly what we were hoping for with the sectional, glad you think so too! xoxo
That fireplace is absolutely amazing, job well done! I’m about to start renovating my new house and have been trying to work out how to install a faux fireplace without it looking tacky and cheap but yours is perfect – and it’s functional too! I’ll have to figure out if there is a similar company in Australia!
so glad you like it, thank you! :)
This design space is a perfect example of how an extreme makeover isn’t necessary in order to change the feel and look of a room that reflects the colors, textures, and warmth that one loves. Love your creative style!
thank you so much, Juliann! xo
Do you have a before of the other side? Love the color palette!
Thank you Dahnya! You can find before of the other side in this post right here! xoxo
Love it!
thank you Ginny! xoxo
The fireplace looks AMAZING!!!
thank you Elise! It really ties the room together for us, so glad you love it too! :)
It looks great! It’s so you guys personality/style. Great job!
So glad you like it Yolonda! It definitely feels a lot more us than the before, so super thrilled with the final result. Thanks for the love! xo
I love your room!! Those brown chairs and that fireplace is beautiful!!
thanks so much Jamie! :)
Hi – this rooms looks SO much more put together! Congrats. Love the more muted rug, although I truly liked the first one – but the colors were a bit overpowering and I think the new rug works a lot better. Also, love the new leather chairs and the sectional. It’s funny, because the former furniture was so airy and so often spaces are overwhelmed by furniture that is too heavy. In the case of this living room, everything was quite airy and the slightly heavier furniture grounded the room.
The fireplace is a great touch. I am not certain about that particular mirror, though. It feels too small (to me) and doesn’t reflect anything that’s nice to look at, which I think is Rule #1 when it comes to mirrors. I think a larger mirror would be better in the space, and if the edge rested on the mantle or was just further down, it might reflect things that are nice to see in a mirror. I dislike the t.v. next to the fireplace (two very rectangular things at almost the same level = repetitive and boring), but I can’t think of a better place for the t.v., so it is probably the best compromise. Everything else is perfect imo. Great job!
thanks so much, Julee! Really appreciate your insight and so glad you like it! xo