How to Create a Refreshing Green Living Room
/ 3 min read
Last Updated:Our Cozy Green Living Room Makeover
From the first moment we saw this house (check out the “before” image below), I had this idea of creating a tone-on-tone look for the living room. I spent ages fretting over the right paint color (does anyone else do this?).
But in the end, it was totally worth it. We adore our living room now, and it’s where our family hangs out all the time—whether we’re curled up with a book by the fireplace, spinning our favorite records, or piecing together puzzles.
Navigating the open floor plan of our living space was a bit tricky. I wanted each area to feel unique. So, we added some arched doorways and went for a mid-tone green from floor to ceiling in the living room to give it its own vibe.
This room is easily one of the biggest transformations I’ve ever done. Feel free to gasp when you see the “before” photo below.
You might notice countless little tweaks if you look closely, but at a glance, it seems like most of the magic came from the paint.
Here’s a quick rundown of the changes we made: swapped out tile floors for hardwood, rebuilt the fireplace, updated the lighting and added a chandelier, and relocated the air vent to make way for our massive built-in shelves.
Green Built-in Shelves
The green built-in shelves bring in both storage and a lot of visual interest to the room. They hold a ton of our kids’ toys and all our records.
We went with fixed shelves, so I really thought through how we would use the space. They’re sized to show off our biggest pieces of art, records, books, and decor.
This was my first go at custom cabinetry, and it was totally worth the extra cost and effort. I love how they reach up to the ceiling and look like they’ve always been there.
Custom Tiled Fireplace
We designed the fireplace from scratch after the original one accidentally bit the dust during the floor reno. This mishap gave me the chance to dive deep into Pinterest and find a style that fit our home perfectly—something classic and timeless.
What I love most about the fireplace are the bench at the front (my 4-year-old calls it “the stage,” haha) and the herringbone brick firebox. It’s a working gas fireplace that we can turn on with a remote control.
I picked out the subway tile from Fireclay Tile in the color “Rosemary.” Then, I matched it with paint (Meadow Sage by HGTV Sherwin Williams). I’m super pleased with how well the colors go together and the overall intentional, cohesive look.
Shop My Living Room
Sources: Pink Velvet Sofa / Maze Rug / Coffee Table / Boucle Chairs / Chandelier / Tile / Rattan Sconces