Our living room has gone through a lot of different versions over the years.
We moved the TV around more than once, had a faux fireplace for a while, built a cabinet-style box that could completely hide the TV behind doors, and kept trying different things to make the room work better.
Eventually, I got tired of randomly changing one thing at a time and decided I wanted the room to finally feel intentional.
This living room makeover became the version that finally brought everything together.
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Our Living Room Before the Makeover
Before this version of the room, we had already tried several different TV setups.
At one point, we had a faux fireplace. We used that for a while, but eventually took it out because we needed more seating.
Later, I had my husband build a wall-mounted box around the TV with doors that could close completely over it. When the doors were shut, the TV disappeared. When we wanted to watch it, we opened them back up.
It was a clever idea, but after trying several different arrangements over the years, I finally wanted to do something that looked finished instead of continuing to move things around.
Living Room Makeover Before and After
This is the point where the room finally started feeling like it had a real plan.
The biggest change was definitely the fireplace TV wall, but the rest of the room came together around it.
Building a Shiplap Fireplace TV Wall
We decided to build the fireplace wall out so the TV could sit farther back into the wall instead of looking like it was simply hanging on top of it.
The wall is finished with shiplap, which I especially like because we also have shiplap in the dining room. Using the same material in both spaces helps the rooms feel connected instead of looking like two completely separate projects.
The electric fireplace sits underneath the TV and gives us the look of a real fireplace without needing a traditional wood-burning one.
We can also use the fireplace for heat, which makes it functional as well as decorative.
Making the TV Look More Like Artwork
One thing I really wanted was for the television to stop looking like a big black rectangle hanging over the fireplace.
We added a frame around the TV so it looks more like a piece of artwork.
Using the background options on Roku, we can put a picture on the screen when we aren't watching television. With the frame around it, it can look more like a framed picture hanging over the fireplace instead of a TV.
After all the different ways we've tried to hide or move the television over the years, this is probably my favorite solution so far.
Changing the Living Room Colors
Once the fireplace wall was finished, I wanted to soften the rest of the room and change the overall look a little.
We went with pink curtains, which gave the room some warmth and helped move it away from feeling too neutral.
I also added pillow covers that worked with the pink tones in the room.
Those smaller changes helped tie the seating area together without replacing all of the furniture.
Finally Adding a Living Room Rug
One of the biggest changes for me was finally being able to add a rug.
For years, having a rug wasn't very practical because of our dog. Between the fur and him coming in dirty, I knew a large living room rug would be difficult to keep clean.
After he passed away, that was one of the things I finally felt like I could add to the room without constantly worrying about it getting covered in fur or dirt.
The rug made a huge difference visually. It helped define the seating area and made the whole living room feel softer and more finished.
Using Thrifted Decor Around the Room
Not everything in the living room makeover was bought new.
The plant came from a thrift store, and the other decorative pieces around the room were thrifted as well.
I like mixing those finds in with newer pieces because it keeps the room from feeling like everything came from the same store or was purchased all at once.
It also makes the room feel more like us.
Why This Version Finally Feels Right
I think what makes this makeover different from the other versions of our living room is that this time we weren't just solving one little problem.
We weren't simply moving the TV, hiding it, or adding one temporary feature.
We finally created a focal wall, tied it into the dining room with the shiplap, made the TV feel like part of the design, added softer colors, brought in a rug, and used thrifted decor to finish the space.
For the first time, the room feels like all of the pieces were meant to work together.
A Living Room That Evolved Over Time
This room definitely didn't happen all at once.
We tried different ideas, changed things that stopped working for us, and eventually figured out what we actually wanted the room to look like.
That's probably how most of our projects happen. We live with something for a while, decide what we like and don't like, and keep changing it until it finally feels right.
This living room makeover is the version I'm happiest with so far.
What Would You Change Next?
If this were your living room, is there anything else you would add or change?
Follow Unlikely Flips for more real-life home makeovers, before-and-afters, thrifted finds, DIY projects, and flips.
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