How to Add More Pizzazz to Farmhouse: Our Family Room Refresh Plan

When we moved into our house two years ago, project #1 – WITHOUT A DOUBT – was adding built-ins in our family room.  The room was SCREAMING for built ins as you can see below.  Hi cute 3 year old Kendall!

It’s a little hard to tell in photographs, but there was pre-exiting limestone tile around the fireplace and a beautiful rustic wood mantle.  We decided to keep both and had the TV hung above the mantle.  For the built-ins we decided to do upper wood shelves to match the mantle and lower white cabinets for storage.  We hired a handyman to build and install everything for us.  Here are a couple progress shots.

I stained the shelves to better match the mantle finish and we painted the cabinets the same white as our trim (Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore.)  I also spray painted the cabinet pulls black because I didn’t love the silver.

Next we were in desperate need of new couches.  Ours were about 10 years old and looked it.  We decided on THESE brown leather couches by Bassett Furniture (leather is called Sierra, color is called Toast.)  We wanted something that jived with the style of the room (very farmhouse-y) but also kid friendly.  These sofas fit the bill.  My Mother-In-Law had a Direct Buy membership so we were able to get these babies at about 50% off.  Here are the completed shelves with the couches when we were playing with layout options.

We rearranged things, added a rug, and styled the shelves.  This is pretty much how the room has looked for 2 years.  Hi Chasey!

There is nothing wrong with this room.  I just think it’s kind of blah.  It’s too monochromatic and a little lifeless.  It feels heavy with all the large, blocky furniture.  And for a family room, it’s just not that comfortable or inviting.  It needs more color, more brightness, less brown.  I want it to feel more cheerful and less rustic man-cave.  More boho, less farmhouse.  It just needs a little pizzazz!  Here are some photos of what I’m talking about.

image via That Mum Life

image via Designing Vibes

image via CollectiveRes

What do these inspiration photos have in common?

• lots of light and white
• low profile tables
• plenty of greenery/plants/flowers
• white or light rugs/floors
• floor seating

Now the question is how do I mix this style in with what I already have ON A BUDGET?  The budget limits me to not changing these things:

• brown leather couches
• flooring (someday hopefully but for now not in the budget)
• built-ins and shelves

Which leaves me these items to work with:

• wall color
• rugs
• side tables/coffee table
• wall and shelf decor

I searched for what a combination of these styles would look like, something I’m calling boho farmhouse.  Is that a thing?  Here are a couple TANGIBLE inspiration options for this room.

image source unknown

image via West Elm

image via McGee and Co.

Based on these practical options, I’ve devised a more structured plan of attack.  in order to lighten up the room, I have to add more white.  The easiest way to do that is with paint.  I will paint as much of the room white as my family will let me!  At a minimum this is behind the shelves.  Ideally it is that whole wall, and if we’re really going for it, it’s the whole room.

And with that white wall I’m toying with a couple of ideas.

1. Faux shiplap – could use wallpaper or sharpie
2. Some sort of wall decals over white paint
3. Just plain white paint to match the cabinets (Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore)

Okay, so a few wall options there.  THEN there is the rug situation.  I would love to layer a lighter colored, smaller rug with texture over our current rug.  Something like this.

And we could use some updated side tables.  Currently they are dark and square and we need lighter and more funky!  Something like this!

Or maybe like this…

Then of course some fresh decor and wall art.

So if I were to create a mood board/end state general vibe, here it is.

1. meadow  // 2. la lune // 3. couches // 4. white walls // 5.  agate clock // 6. pouf

I am LOVING IT and think it’s a totally reasonable starting point for a budget update!!!  What say you?  It’s farmhouse but with some pizzazz and personality!  Can’t wait to share the finished product with you!

xo

Kristen