Living Room Updates: Built-in Bookshelves & a Color Refresh

I knew it was time to refresh our living/ dining room when we repainted the kitchen. The fresh paint and wallpaper really made the living room paint (which we didn’t touch when we moved in 5 years ago) seem really old and dingy. So with a new project on my mind, the only question was ‘what should we do?’.

Living Room Before

I did truly love our living room before; it was the first “completed room” in our house when we first moved in. We purchased a new couch, a chair, bookshelves, and the Rifle Paper Co. rug I’d been dreaming of having in my home since its debut. Cut to a few years later, and I knew our living room at least needed a fresh coat of paint. Not only did the paint need a refresh, but we are always in need of more storage (especially for books!).

But how could we add more storage? What color should I choose? Should we stick with gray or go a little bolder?

Then inspiration hit! One of my favorite designers is Gray Benko, from the show Happy to be Home. Her living room popped up on my Instagram, and I was instantly inspired by the colorful trim and built-in shelving! It turns out that we own similar couches and coffee tables, so I figured it would work in our house too!

Our Living Room Now

I ended up choosing the same blue/ green that Gray Benko used in her living room, Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore. It’s a wonderful historic color that is the perfect touch of color without being in your face. I’m ready to paint every room in our house this color, to be honest.

Our shelving was installed by our local handyman of Veteran Handyman. We painted the shelves and all of the trim the same blue/ green color. For the walls, we color matched the background of our Rifle Paper Co. maps wallpaper that is in our dining room. It ended up being a wonderful parchment-y color that isn’t too stark, but still gives off a fresh and clean look, allowing the trim to really shine.

What’s Left?

With the bookshelves and painting out of the way, it already feels like a totally new room! However, there are still a few little things that I’d like to complete to really call this room ‘done.’ With me, one decorating task always leads to a few more! I’m getting ready to make new curtains (and add a small curtain between the bookshelves for some softness). We also plan on doing some electric work in order to get a new TV and, maybe, install some sconces.

I can’t wait to decorate our shelves for holidays; I already have so many ideas to make them festive for Halloween and Christmas! Styling bookshelves is one of my most favorite hobbies; if you need help styling yours, you can submit an interest form on my website!