Friday Favorites- Starts with a Dark to Light Family Room Refresh

Anyone else had a hard time coming off of Christmas? We were in Utah and had so much fun. Then traveling back wiped us out. And we all got sick after…took a bit to get any energy and excitement back. I did get it back. BUT I had to work it. Reminded me how important our happiness is to our energy. And that happiness is essential to life, exactly why it might take some work on our part. For me just getting out of the house and buying a couple new plants and stopping at a favorite store for inspiration helped! Those two things got me excited about decorating our home and taking down all the fun Christmas decor. I will share more of the changes I made after the Christmas decor came down next week. 

What do you do to boost your happiness?

I am excited to share my favorite things from the week…

• Yesterday it snowed a lot and the schools were closed (they are today too). Snapped this photo because the snow was almost covering the window completely. It felt like we were living inside a snow globe! Also took down the Christmas garland over the window. But added a little strand of fairy lights to brighten it up and add a little whimsy. 

• A favorite Podcast that is actually called “Happier” just makes me happy. I really love Gretchen Rubin. She is so smart and finds so many of the daily little things people do and habits we create fascinating. She talked on a recent podcast about doing “18 for 2018”. Meaning list 18 things you want to do for 2018. They don’t have to be big things. I started my list and might share more- one of them was to schedule mommy daughter date each month with each of my girls. They will just be simple fun things- like make a recipe from Lola’s American Girl Doll Cookbook or play tennis with Ella. Anyways, things like this do make me happier. What would be on your list?

• Remember our bedroom from Christmas and THIS new pillow I got? Well I moved it to our front room and I realize it is one I love everywhere. BUT I did find THIS pillow that is a knock off for  3/4 of the price! (It is just the casing, so you will need a fill…preferably a down fill!).

• I have a little BEFORE and AFTER of a dark family room turned a little brighter with some favorite things below-

While I was in Utah for Christmas I helped my mother-in-law freshen up her family room. We had designed her home about 10 years ago. They liked the darker woodwork and colors that were more on trend in Utah at the time. And nothing like hosting a baby shower to push you to buy some new home decor! We had Christmas dinner at her home and after I insisted her son’s help move the sectional to the basement to get ready for her new sofa and chairs. So this is the before when it was crazy right after Christmas (she normally keeps it really clean, I am sure she will want me to point that out:)).

Family Room BEFORE…

Family Room AFTER…

I wish it wasn’t so dark when I took these pictures. But we were flying out the next morning so it was now or never! I wanted to share this to show the difference of what light furniture can do to a space. We found her sofa HERE, it is extra deep and very comfy and on CLEARANCE! (My sister-in-law has it too and loves it). We went with a sofa rather than a sectional, I could already see how it opened up the area and more people sat in this space during the baby shower, now that there were two ways to get into the room.

Really obsessed with THESE new pillows we picked up for the room, they are on CLEARANCE so hurry! Also that fur pillow in the center is a long time favorite, find it HERE (same one I used in the nursery post yesterday). 

I found her THIS marble coffee table that is perfect in her space. We kept her same rug. It looks like an antique vintage rug, really nice quality, a hand-knotted wool rug. Love that a rug like this will last forever. She had those white chairs in another room we moved here, I liked the scale with her new sofa. 

And THIS pouf is really SO cute! The coloring is off in this photo because it was so dark. But is is a firm pouf, so people sat on it during the baby shower. They would also be really great in a pair in front of a sofa. 

What do you think of the changes? Simple 10 year switch up to brighten up a room goes a long way. 

I will be back next week to share the process of building a window seat and built-in bookcases! The finished look of our family room bookcases after Christmas is now all gone. I will also be answering your Design Questions next week too.

I hope you have a great weekend and stay warm if you are on the East Coast! 

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