Quieting the Room- Cozy Minimalist Living Room Tour

Good Morning friends! Several months ago we made a pretty big change in our living room! We bought a new {white} sectional sofa- and I didn’t really share a ton about it. I recently made a few changes in the living room- like hanging a round mirror and cleaning out the book shelves- so I thought I would give you a look at things.

I have been working my way through the Nester’s most recent book and applying her concepts to decorating around our home. (Her book is called Cozy Minimalist Home) It’s not a typical minimalist book- because she isn’t telling you to get rid of everything you own if it isn’t purely funcitonal. But the focus is on more style, less stuff- and having things in your home you actually use and that look pretty 😉

She also comes at this whole notion of home from a Christian Perspective- and while you might wonder how that applies- this excerpt from the book really spoke to my heart:

” As humans created in his image, we are naturally creative beings, whether we admit it or not. Not only do we have the urge to create, but when we step back and look at the story of what God is doing, we see something that explains why we long to create home. Author Jen Pollock Michel writes, ” In the beginning of time God made a home for his people, and at the end of time God will make a home for us.”

Creating a home for my family is something that runs deep. And when it is intentional in style and function we feel inspired, connected, and at peace. One of her first steps is quieting the room, before you start to bring in decor. While the room is quiet she encourages you to just take notice… I would say I did a big “quiet” after Christmas- and now I am slowly waking things back up after sitting with this room a while.

Aside from the black mirror I found at Homesense for $29.99- I’ve started by shopping the house and putting things to use that we already have. The rug is a temporary visitor that I brought from the bedroom- I wanted to see how I like the light on light colors- as we previously had a very earthed tone jute rug in here which I moved to the dining room.

I have been looking for common threads in our home and white, cream, blue, green and a teeny bit of blush are at the top of the list. So I am practicing restraint and using it as a bit of a filter for our home. It doesn’t mean I never have any other colors- but those are color themes I see repeated.

I also love the texture of woven baskets and warm woods. And of course living plants!

I found the most amazing Pothos at home depot for $14.99! I can’t believe how huge and beautiful it is- I might need to divide it and repot it. But goodness do indoor plants ever help me through our long winters!

If I had it to do over again- I would have made this room a little deeper because there are so many traffic pathways, and no exterior wall, so it makes furniture placement difficult. Our furniture floats in the centre of the room- no matter the configuration! With traffic coming to and from the patio door, the stairway, the hall doors, and the kitchen… It’s been a pickle!

I was really nervous that a sectional would hem us in in terms of layout- and that it wouldn’t work with the patio door and stair way- but I am happy to say it does work! You better believe I deliberated- and took our old furniture and created a “sectional” in the middle of the room. I think it will be an adjustment out to the patio during the summer- but the trade off for having comfortable seating we can all fit on is worth it. We love this room so much more now. Homes aren’t perfect and they all come with the quirks! Ours is no exception.

I’ll continue shopping the house- and saving up for just the right rug. I’m preferring clear surfaces these days- with a toddler who seems to move everything within reach- so I’m just going to go with it during this season of life. I’m really looking forward to spring when I can adorn the mantle with fresh greenery from the yard- but in the mean time I may try my hand at forcing some branches!

-Miss Ash