As you probably know, we moved into our new (old!) home just over a week ago now and the first room I knew I wanted to tackle was the living room. In my experience, it’s always good to have at least a couple of rooms sorted as quickly as possible when moving house – no one wants to feel like they are looking at boxes and chaos at every turn and I was keen to have a spot to just relax at the end of the day, no matter how much stuff we still have to get on with.
When we viewed the property, this was the room I initially envisioned tackling first. The bold plum colour on the walls wasn’t my style and I had other plans for the space but once we were actually in, I’ve come to realise it’s probably not as high up the priority list as I’d first thought. Meaning, there are other rooms I hate a lot worse than this one so it’s gotten knocked down the MUST DO RIGHT NOW list. As soon as the sofa came into the room, I was shocked at how nice the olive green looked against the walls and so for now at least, I’m going to live with it like this.
I promise you, this room will not stay this way but I wanted to share how I’ve styled it so far. The funny thing is, it looked like this within 2 days of moving in. I simply can’t live amongst chaos for too long – it drives me up a wall – so I needed this space to just be pleasant and styled the way I like. We will be repainting in time and we will be changing the flooring in here but I wanted to provide a little snapshot of what it’s looking like at the moment.
I’d planned the layout before we even got in here and was delighted that the furniture placement ended up almost exactly as I’d envisioned. If you’ve been following my blog for a while and if you are familiar with our old house, you’ll see that there is very little in this space that’s new. But I also didn’t want to just recreate our old living room. With a different layout and a bigger size, I was able to do a little more with it which I’m happy about and having so much room to play with is a great bonus.
The vintage shelving unit was in my old office but I knew when I got it that eventually, I wanted it to be in a room that was seen more often. It’s probably one of my favourite pieces in my entire home and it was a perfect fit for this alcove.
The styling on this unit has already changed but it’ll likely be a constant evolution regardless!
On the opposite alcove, I’ve placed my bar cart (which used to be in my old dining room). I kept all the artwork in here to simple black and white pieces. With so much colour happening on the walls, I didn’t want to overwhelm the space with too much.
The vintage cabinet is another favourite piece. It used to have the television on top of it in our old home but now it gets pride of place next to the sofa. It’s nice to have it in a spot where you can really see the details of it. Those legs just kill me and I hated that they were impossible to see in the old house. I styled it with a lamp and a few candles and books and of course, a bunch of faux hydrangeas.
The little yellow sofa really needs to be recovered. You can’t really tell in the photos but it’s been destroyed by the pets and the velvet has been scratched up and stained so I’m hoping at some point to get it reupholstered. It’s a cute little thing and the yellow works well with the walls (again, total surprise at just how well it all works) but we could actually go a bit bigger in this space so, at some point, I might want to move this up to the master bedroom and get a small two seater sofa for here instead.
My coffee table is pretty similar to how I had it styled in my old living room as well. The tray – another favourite – is from Sweetpea and Willow and the gold vase is a new acquisition from Made.com (as is the one you can see behind it on the shelving). More faux blooms here as well, a mix from OKA and Abigail Ahern if memory serves me.
In the corner, I’ve placed the small grey armchair that we had in our ‘Glam Cave‘. I’ve actually changed this set up since I took the pics a few days ago (well, nothing stays the same here for long) and added a small side table and moved the lamp. But it’s the only place really to put the chair in here with the current configuration. I’m not thrilled with this corner, to be honest – it feels a bit awkward but I suppose in time, I’ll figure it all out! The fiddle leaf fig made it here in one piece which I’m grateful for but it is HUGE and I think, as its Spring now supposedly, I might actually give it a bit of a trim! It’s getting a bit too crazy and looming now!
I’ve kept the fireplace simple. I didn’t want to hang anything up because I’d like to be able to rotate out the art and decor on the mantle. I considered a large mirror here and might get one for this spot but for now, my tiger art (which used to be in the old master bedroom) works well enough. A bunch of dried eucalyptus and some candles finish it off and I like that it’s not too cluttered with things. In time, I’d love to get a marble surround but for now, this will be fine!
And finally, I bought that gold cabinet from Swoon Editions for the Man/Glam Cave last year, knowing full well that eventually, I’d like it in a future living room. And it fits really well on this wall. The TV is less imposing in the space over here (especially against that dark wall) and eventually, I want to hang it so that’s why there’s nothing on this wall for now. But, I admit, it’s a bit boring for now – I keep thinking I might need to hang something on this wall. I don’t really want to do a gallery wall of art here so I might wait a while to decide what I’m doing with it.
So, anyway, that’s my living room for now in all it’s purple glory! I know a lot of people said they really liked the colour on Instagram and I’ve certainly seen much worse colours on walls! So yeah, for now, this is what it’s looking like. Of course, I have plans for the space but I promise I’ll reveal all in time. In the meantime, what do you think of living room styling? Is purple a colour you’d choose for your home?
I cannot believe that your home already looks that good! How is that even possible? I must say I did a little gasp when I saw the wall colour in your house tour post and thought you’d want to get rid of it asap, but I’m also shocked at well it works with all your stuff. Definitely no mad rush to work on this room now. It looks amazing! Must be a relief to have such a nice room to retreat to.
Ha! I promise not every room looks this ‘finished’! Thanks so much, hun, I’m pleased we have a space we can relax in whilst we get on with everything else that needs doing! ;) xx
I agree the wall colour looks magnificent with the furnishings.
It’s looking lovely already hun. Amazing how some gold and plants can bring an entire room together. I can guess you need to go shopping now for the other rooms since you’ve pinched so much stuff for here haha. x
I have to ditto what stacey said! Your space is absolutely wonderful..I love the wall color. It’s great with all your pieces…I know you’lldo more but it’s fab so far
I can see that the purple can be a overwhelming but I knew it would work well with all your gold decor …. and it looks fab!
I love it all, it looks amazing. I especially love the yellow with the purple. Your room looks very elegant and inviting.
Love the styling…quite like the purple especially the yellow velvet against it. I’m just so glad the Fiddle Leaf survived :-) please dont’ give it the chop. :-) So glad you’ve both settled in well. xx
I love your styling and the purple! And yes, I use purple in my own home. I accent with it in art and choice accessories, and my dining room is a pale lilac color. So flattering!
I love what you’ve done with the space. I’m in the same boat as you, I need to get on with decorating the house but the way I have it at the moment will do for now :) Can’t wait to see how you make it over!
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I wouldn’t use the purple color in my home, but not because of its color. That color would not work well with my furnishings and accessories like it does with yours. Purple definitely calls for a “glam” decor, which you certainly have. I can understand your need to get rid of it at some point, but you’re right – for the time being it works just fine.
I think this room looks amazing!!! I know we keep saying it, but it’s just so surprising how perfectly that wall colour works with all your stuff! Great to see the vintage shelving and your gold unit having pride of place in the living room now! I just can’t believe how good you had this room looking in just two days! If it looks this good now, imagine once you’ve actually done some decorating and put more time into it!! Eeek, so excited about this house! xx
Strange……hate purple but must admit it looks awesome in this room. It goes well with the other colours and the gold (sideboard OMG) furnishing. Well done…….
Stunning, as always! I never would’ve believed I could actually like purple walls, but of course, if anyone could make it work, it’s you! I have a feeling you will soon be flooded with comments wanting to know the paint color in your gorgeous living room!
Beautiful and as someone else commented, your stuff goes SO well with the purple (even though I’m not much of a purple fan!). Well done working your magic, so far so glam!
That room is already a showstopper! Glad you have a peaceful space amidst the chaosβ€οΈ I think your furniture and accessories pop against the colour. Hope you are having fun trying out new configurations for your treasures.
Love your new living room, and you were right when you bought things and said how they would go great in other rooms when you moved! The thing about the purple walls is that they go sooo well with all of your gold. I know you will repaint, but I agree that it would not be a top priority. Cannot wait to see the rest of your rooms. I know you are in your element now that you are styling :)
It is working really well it is fun spotting stuff that lived in other rooms in your old place. See that post about a colour pallet and gold pays off as things can migrate around your home with ease.
The fiddle leaf fig is a monster now
Wow, you’ve certainly worked your magic in the living room very quickly. It looks fab and the purple and olive are an ideal combination. I like how things can be used in a new way in a new house.
Yes you have done an amzazing job in here and the purple really works.
The only thing i think doesn’t work is the dead animal skull.
It’s so 6 years ago but mainly it’s scary having a dead thing in your living room.
It looks great, and it’s nice to have a room where you can relax and not have to look at piles of boxes!
One of our bedroom walls is a similar colour, and 11 years after painting it, I still love it.
Hi, Kim!
Your new living room is just gorgeous! Not a fan of the purple either but it works well for now. Perhaps if the alcoves beside the fireplace were painted a darker color and the rest of the room a lighter color? Make it look as though the alcoves were much deeper. The fireplace itself is lovely but could stand a tad bit more fluff as it really is the focal point of the room – IMHO is all.
I am so glad the “TV stand” piece is upstairs where everyone can see it! It has always been a favorite of mine – it is so glam!
I hope Quito and the kitties have made the transition well, too. All those new places to sniff!
Just gorgeous!! I wouldnβt think of purple, but it definitely works very well with your furnishings!! You donβt need to hurry to redo this room! Itβs lovely!
I think you’re amazing! It’s fantastic how “you” the space looks already!
I’m excited to see what magic you work through out the entire space.
It’s pretty weird that I know your pieces so well. I recognized each one and knew which room it lived in in the other house. I know you’re going to change things up. But I’m liking it so far and loving the plum wall! Although I would’t be surprised to see the wall in different color in the not so distant future.
This room is totally fabulous. The only thing that seemed off to me you had nothing to do with – the red tile in front of the fireplace. Marble would bring it up to your level of glam nicely.
An oasis amid chaos – we all need them & this looks wonderful. I love wearing purple but have never lived with it as a house colour. However, yellow & purple, in all shades, is my favourite combination & is really appropriate for spring so all your gold & that dear little yellow sofa look completely at home. We bought our house from my parents when they downsized & even when we lived in other places this was always ‘home’, consequently I never consider moving. I’m delighted I found your blog as you started this new adventure – serendipity.
It all looks rather wonderful! Your pieces fit in really well in this new space.
I do love the fireplace surround, so if you find that marble one, think of me, as I’m looking for a white one just like this, meantime I will hunt through the salvage yards in my search.
I like the purple and gold – regal colour comboπ
I have always loved the dark plum/olive combination, and along with the gold and animal print pillows – gives me the goose bumps it’s so good. I have had two deep plum love seats for several years and once had a powder room that color. Currently I’m accenting with pops of turquoise and (to me, anyway) it looks great. It’s amazing how the purple almost becomes a neutral. That said, I can’t wait to see the evolution. I love your style, and especially your color sense. All the best!
Wow it’s looking good already, I love that unit that was in your office it looks good in your living room xxx
I have to tell you that I LOVE the purple! But I think it is more like a plum. With the gold , white, animal print it looks so designer, dramatic yet classic. After seeing what you did I decided that is what I wanted to do in my small chinoiserie bathroom decorated with a white and gold trimmed chinoiserie dresser , marble counter etc. I live in Florida and have taken your blog picture to 3paint stores trying to match that color .. not even close. I am not giving up!! It is the perfect color for me. Cannot wait to watch your new house evolve. You have a fabulous eye and intuition. Thanks for the inspiration
I too really love the plum walls with your furniture, especially with that gorgeous yellow velvet sofa. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
You have styled your living room very beautifully even if it is for a short period of time. Looking forward to the final look.