Boho inspired spring living room tour styled with home ware from the Argos Home Summer/Spring 2019 collection. This post has been sponsored by Argos Home.
Gosh. This living room makeover has been such a sloooooow progress. And I know I do have a tendency to over exaggerate sometimes, but I promise this isnt the case now. My mustard sofa was delivered last year August and I’m only now getting round to sharing this all with you.
Here’s why:
- Budget – makeovers are costly. ‘I don’t have a money tree’ although of course I spend a lot of time dreaming about what I would do with my life if one suddenly did pop up in my garden tomorrow. Private jet perhaps?
- Time – Lack of it, or maybe that’s just my procrastination talking? I often like to tell myself that I am just so incredibly busy whilst also watching Game of Thrones on Sky and munching a bag of fiery Doritos crisps (they are life if you’ve never tried them before!). It usually takes quite the ‘catalyst’ to kick myself into some sort of productive action.
In this case, Argos Home was the catalyst
A few months ago, they approached me to style some of their home ware pieces from their new Spring/Summer 2019 Home collection. For those who might not know, Argos Home collections are completely designed by an in-house design team and Argos also stocks home ware brands including Habitat and Sainsbury’s Home (remember the outdoor sofa I built with them?).
I love the affordability and functionality that the Argos Home ware offers. They’ve really added the perfect finishing touches to my living room , which I’m about to show you now!
I did want to name this post something far more interesting like;
10 ways to update your living room for spring or
How to DIY your Living room for Spring
But this brain is tired. So let’s just go with Spring Living room Tour.
Sound good?
SPRING LIVING ROOM TOUR
I divided my living room into 3 zones to get the most out of the space.
- the entrance
- the living space
- the work space
To be honest I decorated the office and entrance space last year, so today will be more of a focus on the living space.
THE ENTRANCE:
As soon as you walk into my living room from the porch area, the first thing you see is the staircase. I painted these stairs a while ago and carpeted the steps with a gorgeous wool carpet. You can see all the details here – I haven’t changed much and I’m pleased to say the wool carpet is wearing quite well.
Just before the staircase, there is a wall cabinet that has, for the past few months become a sort of dumping ground for all sorts of useless junk that might enter the house with someone.. It previously had both doors on but I decided to take one of the doors off. The logic behind that was, that if the contents of the cabinet were on display, then I’d be more likely to keep it tidy.
Makes sense right?
Right
I de-cluttered the cabinets and organised everything into baskets. These Rattan baskets from Argos were super handy. I love that they are deep enough to hold a decent amount of ‘stuff’ and look stylish while doing it!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
THE LIVING SPACE : A NEW LAYOUT
As a family we spend quite a lot of time in this space.
One of the biggest changes was the re positioning of all the existing furniture. In a recent Event hosted by Argos Home, I chatted with Alex from The Frugality about how I wasn’t such a big fan of change when it comes to design. In my mind, once a room is kind of finished its very rare that I’ll go back in and tweak things.
But this was different . I think this change needed to happen!
My sofa used to be against the wall with the bay window (see pictures here). However, it is now positioned in front of the staircase . The living room is quite an odd shape and its dimensions are very long, so this new placement has made everything feel so much more intimate and cohesive.
CUSHIONS:
I added in new cushions to the sofa – not straying far from my signature colours though of course (I didn’t want to get too carried away). I’ll let you in on a little secret. I made some of these cushion covers from Argos Pillow cases – using iron on hemming tape! I think I’ll share the DIY in the next few weeks.
These are the bedding sets I used:
- Monochrome Jacquard Bedding Set – Double
- Grid Bedding sheet – Double (this is an old purchase)
BEFORE:
The curtains you see are also a quick DIY.
Again I used tape and the Monochrome Jacquard Bedding Set Double to make a pocket for the curtain rail. This hemming tape could be removed at a future date and this could then be used again as a duvet cover – which I LOVE.
Monochrome Jacquard Bedding Set – Double | Curtain Rail | Faux leather Armchair
VERTICAL STORAGE:
Basically this book case!
I’ve wanted some sort of shelving in this corner for the longest time but could never find anything I REALLY liked. This white bookcase was the perfect choice. The bookcase came flat packed and wasn’t too difficult to put together.
I painted the backing of the bookcase a bohemian green (the same colour as my coffee table) before nailing in place. I love the pop of colour it adds to the room (you could also apply removable paper to the backing if you didn’t want to paint)
Monochrome Jacquard Bedding Set – Double | Maine 5 Shelf Bookcase
Moving around the furniture also gave me the opportunity to add in another piece of furniture – an armchair! This is a faux leather chair from Argos Home. It’s compact so it doesn’t take up much floor space at all.
Nomad cushion | Faux leather Armchair
I love the brown tones of the chairs fabric against the gallery hat wall and DIY TV cabinet .The gallery wall is a work in progress. I’ll be adding more hats to it when I find ones that really fit. For now, this will do.
BASKETS:
I realise that I might have overdone it a little with all the baskets in this room. . .
Ok, well maybe a lot, but baskets work for everything! My son likes to play with his toys in the living room, and baskets are great for hiding colourful Lego or action figures that really don’t match the decor ( tip for you, if you ever wonder how to have a tidy home with kids. Shove it all in the baskets) . I’ve used a variety of trendy storage systems from Argos that have made organising in this space a whole lot easier.
For example, these square woven baskets slot perfectly inside a deep bookcase
Cubed Storage Basket – Small Weave | Rattan baskets set of 3
Set of 3 rope basket | Wooden crate | Global set of 4 mugs
I slotted a wooden crate under the coffee table for items like magazines and the tv remote (which always likes to go missing when you need it)
And Fred – the cactus is now housed in a cute basket! He kinda deserves it. I mean hes made it past his third month without dying – a record in this house!
Can we also take a moment to appreciate this lamp? It’s probably my favourite piece form the new collection. Although its quite tall, it does has a really sturdy base so you don’t have to worry about it falling over.
THE OFFICE SPACE:
BEFORE:
This space under the stairs was initially meant to be my sons homework station and it still sort of it is, except I have now moved my computer down there. You know to use when my sons actually at school! So yeah, you hear it here first. This is unofficially MY office now – sorry son!
The biggest change here is that I added in a bigger chair that we can both now use (the previous chair was kiddie sized!) and also a comfy throw!
Knitted throw | Shell chair | Set of 3 rope basket
This little space already has lots of storage space, however I added in a wire basket to keep the desk space looking tidier.
And that’s a wrap! Let me know what you think? Is there anything from this Spring living Room tour that you really liked? Let me know in the comments below
***This post was sponsored by Argos home. I received products and payment for my time creating this post. I only partner with brands I LOVE and think you will LOVE too! All ideas, photos and opinions are 100% my own.
It all looks fabulous Medina. I love the way you make a rental home so personal and up to date. I really love the monochrome with that splash of mustard and all the Boho vibes.
I love the way you have tied it all together with the B&W strip effect. ou are so lucky to have a landlord who allows you to use the wall for hanging stuff. Here in Aus it’s an absolute No! No!.
I love the floor cushion/pillow! Did you buy it, or make it???
She has linked to the cushion below the photo. It’s from Argos and only £35! I want it myself and was thrilled to see how cheap it was as another one I wanted was over a hundred pound, and very similar too x
Simply stunning!!!!!
great job! I LOVE the wallpaper in the entry! IDEA: What if you used a sharpie marker to finish off some of the lines up the wall in similar curves and curlicues? They could fade off to soften the transition to the blank white wall.
‘OOPS I DID IT AGAIN’ sissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss yes you did! you just keep gettingh better and better WOW ma sha Allah you have really rewally created a beautiful space i love the new tones they work so well togehter your choice of furniture and the layout the bookcase in the corner by the curtain and its accesories just everything, everything has come together so so well soooooooooooooooooo well and i hope you and your family creatr amny beautiful meories together in this new space….seriously you NEVER have to cahnge this space again!!!!
sam4rm([email protected])