I have been meaning to share this living room switcheroo with you all for the past week or so, but I mistakenly erased all the photos on my camera!!
Don't you hate when that happens?!?
Thanks goodness most of the photos had previously been saved to my computer! However the photos I took of my living room right before the transformation were lost forever......insert sad face here! I knew I had taken one several months back and have been searching all my files to find this one image so you all could get a better idea of the changes made!
Part of my living room redo plan has been to find, buy or DIY a TV stand or media unit. I wasn't really sure what I wanted but did find one or two on Overstock.com that may have worked. So my original plan was to purchase a white one that would go with the look and feel of the rest of the room. However, the more I thought about that I wasn't really sold on the idea. Our place is so small and the area I wanted to place the tv would seem a bit choppy to me if I added another piece of furniture! Even if it was white and blended well with the rest of the room!
Watching tv one night it just hit me! The Ikea Expedite Bookcases I had flanking my patio doors was going to be my solution, and I wouldn't even need to purchase another piece of furniture!
So here is a little idea of the room's layout!
Actually this is basically our apartment layout!
I told you it was tiny!
I made a few changes in the pink. Originally when we moved in, the sofa and tv were set up this way, but have been switched to opposite sides of the room since...also our very tiny kitchen has an open bar area into the living room. Because of the shape and size of the room, it is rather difficult to layout the furniture in any sort of way to add depth and character to the room! I hate just having furniture along the walls! That was one reason adding my DIY Sofa Table to the room was essential! Even though the Table is still along the wall, it allowed me to pull the sofa out a bit and also allowed me to layer other more interesting features into the room, like my Glam Lamp Redo! Let me tell you even though I have yet to paint that baby, I'm in LOVE!! I can't believe I went so long without it!
Anyway, let me show you a how the room looked before I started moving things around!
As you can see I had two Ikea Expedite Bookcase sitting on either side of my patio doors. Like I was saying early on, my original intention was to leave them like that and add a white media unit I found on Overstock.com, but the more I thought about it I felt it would make the room feel too choppy!
Our nice flat screen has been sitting on this sad little table left over from our college days. Ugh just soooo sad!
You can see in this picture I've already started turning the Expedite bookcase to create our media unit!
The next step was to take the other bookcase, which was sitting next to Karl the Sofa, turn it on its side, and bring it over to this side of the room!
( And in case your wondering, I have NO IDEA what I'm watching on tv! I've been trying to think about it since I found this picture, and I still have NO clue!! haha , usually it's something on HGTV, but who those ladies are I have no idea! )
Anywhoooo....I have yet to style the bookcases, but I'm loving the look of the two bookcases used together for our media unit!
It just makes sense in our tiny space!!
Looks like some TLC is on this time!
Cost for this living room makeover = $0!
Gotta love when you get an idea, and you already have all the pieces!
Now to get them all organized and styled!!
Gotta love when you get an idea, and you already have all the pieces!
Now to get them all organized and styled!!
Looks so great! That was really smart. Free is about all I can afford right now so I like a free makeover!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea!! I've been looking for media storage and thinking of using this vintage mini buffet table for it instead of this 80's gold handled thing that I got for free lol.
ReplyDeletei think it looks great too!! it looks so cohesive! plus with the left hand shelf being taller, the tv doesn't stick out so much! so great! as far as your shelves go, i think that they look great! i even pinned one of the pics on my pinterest!
ReplyDeleteam your newest follower too.
i have a link party on tuesdays at my blog. i would love it if you linked this up!!
i think it looks great too!! it looks so cohesive! plus with the left hand shelf being taller, the tv doesn't stick out so much! so great! as far as your shelves go, i think that they look great! i even pinned one of the pics on my pinterest!
ReplyDeleteam your newest follower too.
i have a link party on tuesdays at my blog. i would love it if you linked this up!!
Brilliant! I think it looks fabulous and there's nothing better than free!
ReplyDeleteLooks great...all refreshed!
ReplyDeleteLove the switch!
ReplyDeleteLove it! All those colors are fun :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea to turn one of the shelves on its side. It look like they were meant to be used in that way and your tv look so much better in the space. I need to update and makeover my kids room as it is a hodge podge of old pieces but I have been shying away from Ikea furniture, but might just rethink things. :) Have a great week. Tammy
ReplyDeleteLooks beautiful. You did a wonderful job and for $0. Wow! Thanks for sharing, Karie
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job turning the shelf over. I have seen this before and looks great. Your apartment looks super cute, fresh and clean.
ReplyDeleteLove it.
Love this room...especially the cubbies for storage and holding the tv. The colors are so fresh mixed with all the white. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteLove it that you took two bookcases and turned them into a media center....it looks so modern.
ReplyDeleteWickedly awesome transformation! My hat is off to you!
ReplyDeleteYour room looks so nice!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
This is so pretty and modern! I really love the bookcase on its side! That makes such a sleek media area.
ReplyDelete~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI throughly enjoyed this post. You have a real eye and it is so fun to see what you are doing with your small space. We have all been there. Some of us still are and some of us long for smaller spaces again... that would be me. Bigger is not necessarily better. You have a real eye for pulling things together and accessorizing. I would love to feature your post on next week's Motivated Monday. Thanks so much for linking up.
Pam
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely redo! I love your use of color and accessories!
Hugs, Cindy
What an absolutely adorable DIY! Well done.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you will stop by and enter my giveaway.
Happy Monday!
Looks fantastic!! Thanks for linking up at Decorating Insanity. Hope to see you next week : )
ReplyDeletexo,
mONICa
Looks great! Honestly, I liked the before and after! Your "before" looks nicer than my living room right now. :0)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Your use of color is beautiful!
ReplyDeletewow, looks great and you are so right, can't beat $0! makes the makeover even sweeter!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I've been trying to figure out ways to reorganize the tiny space in my apartment and this is the perfect idea at the perfect price. I also love the colors in this room. They really lighten up the whole area!
ReplyDeleteLove your style of decorating! Great idea with the Ikea bookcase looks wonderful! I'm your newest follower BTW!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous make-over Ashley! I can't believe it cost you nothing! You have a great sense of style :)
ReplyDeleteLove what you did! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteit looks so fresh and lovely, ashley! and you know how i feel about that white bamboo chair.... love!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I love a good make over story, and one that didn't cost anything is even better!!
ReplyDelete~Michelle
www.falafelandthebee.com
I love that little elephant!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great when you can use a piece of furniture in a different way to create a different look. Your room looks wonderful; and yes, I too love that elephant.
ReplyDeleteThat really looks great. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea to put the bookcase on it's side. I love your room - the colors, the wonderful chair, and that adorable elephant! What a beautiful space you have here!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Shabby Creek Cottage. Thanks so much for sharing
Gorgeous! I'm actually going to attempt to build my own media center out of ikea bookshelves this weekend, great minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteCute room! Love it!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Olivia
This is a super idea. I will have to try this. The bookcases look great that way.
ReplyDeleteRuth
Fabulous! Everything looks so neat , clea, coordinated.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea Ashley!! So simple and yet I probably would never have thought of it. LOL! And that is hilarious about the 2 ladies on the tv! :-) Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us at Inspiration Friday!
ReplyDeleteVanessa
fantastic idea...
ReplyDeleteI'm inviting you to add this to our linking party at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/07/american-pickers-with-linking-party.html
Have a great weekend,
Maggie
Hi, Ashley! You've got so much creativity here and I'm admiring them all. Can you please share your creative posts at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there :)
ReplyDeleteLove the way the room looks; an inspired idea!
ReplyDeleteSue
xo
What an adorable DIY project! Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
You have done such a wonderful job with those book shelves. It looks like an actual media center!!
ReplyDelete-Tanya
http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/
Brilliant! Don't you just love when inspiration falls into your lap like that!
ReplyDeleteOh - I'm a new follower - from a hop, but can't recall which one.
Best,
Emily from Nap Time Is My Time
I featured your media center today at Mod Vintage Life.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great now! Love when that happens. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks great!
ReplyDeletehttp://sweetteaserendipity.blogspot.com
I love the expedit system from IKEA! I have it in my office. Nice makeover and cute white elephant!
ReplyDeleteI have those exact bookcases from IKEA and our tv is on one of them on it's side. I've never considered putting them together like this! I'm totally on it now. Thanks for linking this up to my party!
ReplyDeleteI've always liked those bookshelves from ikea. That's such a creative use for them.
ReplyDeletePure genius! Ilove it and it fred up other spacein the roomand you got rid of your favorite colege table. :) It looks fresh and very pretty with all of your colorful embellishments.
ReplyDeleteLove the transformation! And nothing beats FREE!
ReplyDelete2027
Looks great - love say yes to the dress over here
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so much better than what you had before! Fabulous idea!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fabulous! I love all of your colors and you have a great eye for decorating the shelves. Amazing job!
ReplyDeleteJenn :)
like like like :)
ReplyDeletehttp://do-vina.blogspot.com/
Looks fabulous!! And that chair, oh my goodness, I want it! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love how it all turned out. What a makeover. I'd love for you link up at my Friday Link up on Blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteFantastic and so smart!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I’m following your blog. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. Hope you are having a Sweet Weekend.
ReplyDeleteA Mommy’s Blog Design Studio
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Love your redo. brings everything together and looks like a substantial piece of furniture. good job! -JS
ReplyDeleteI love how you did this!! I'm your newest follower after your feature on "Young & Crafty". It changed the whole look of the room!! You went from "your average living room" to "high end!!". Wow looks so different & GREAT!!
ReplyDeleteHope you can stop by my blog if you get a chance! Thanks for the posting- loved it!