This “Dungeon-Like” Living Room’s Transformation Feels Twice as Bright
Windows and natural light can make a big difference in a room, and Amanda Oleri (@amandaoleri) and Jason Staebler’s (@goodbudyproductioncompany), living room makeover is a testament to that.
The couple purchased their Nashville home in 2021, and its lack of windows initially gave it a “dungeon-like” feeling that the couple set out to correct through renovations — including in the living room. “The living room originally had a textured ceiling and a piece of trim placed about halfway down the wall to mimic wainscotting,” Amanda describes, adding that the room originally featured unconventional green and white walls. “The floor had a dark stain.”
Keep reading to find out how Amanda and Jason revitalized their living room with three renovation touches.
Floor, ceiling, and wall upgrades brighten the room.
After stripping the living room’s dark-stained flooring and refinishing it with a clear coat “to let the natural wood tone really shine,” the couple added some much-needed light to the space by installing a skylight “mirroring the one in our kitchen.”
“Given that it’s a smaller house, they really open up the space and always elicit a “WOW” from visitors when they walk into our home!” Amanda shares in her house tour. It was a completely DIY project that cost about $1,000 of the $5,000 living room total.
To add a boho, naturalistic feel to the room, they painted the room white (Behr’s Silky White) and hung a series of trailing plants from the skylight (guaranteeing that they got plenty of sunlight!).
Decorative details bring the room together.
Amanda also notes that the mirror in the room, which Jason salvaged from another home demo and updated with an arched frame for about $500, helps reflect the light coming in from the ceiling.
Not to mention, the musical elements of Amanda and Jason’s lives are now woven into the living room. The fact that they double as home decor is an added bonus, incorporating personal touches.
“The living room is the musical hub of our space,” Amanda says. “It’s where Jason’s guitars are displayed, along with his piano and our joint record collection.” (After all, would it really be a home in Music City without an instrument or two?)
To tie things together, Amanda and Jason added an oversized sofa from Floyd, a shag rug from Urban Outfitters, and a salvaged hide.
The console was a DIY project.
The DIY centerpiece of the room is the DIY living room console, which the couple brainstormed together.
“We brainstormed the console together, and Jason built it with a beautiful waterfall wood design,” Amanda explains. “The console floats above the floor and houses our vinyl record collection and vintage sneakers, adding both functionality and a personal touch to the living room.”
“It’s an incredibly cozy space,” Amanda says, calling their living room “the perfect space to relax and enjoy each other’s company.” You can see the rest of Amanda and Jason’s Nashville home by browsing their house tour here.
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