How Our Editor Completely Transformed Her Living Room

From Left to Right: IKEA Fiddle Leaf Fig, IKEA Plant Holder, homemade table (by Jonah) (similar version here), IKEA Lamp, skull from Guatemala (similar version here), Cost Plus World Market Console, Sony 43" Television, Sir/Madame Brass Calendar, Sonos Bar (Details on art below)
I've always considered myself to be an adventurous person. Place me in any situation, conversation, or city, and I'm as happy as a clam. But that comes with one major caveat: I'm also a homebody, so I need an oasis I love and can recharge in. For a long time, my apartment was not that. I loved certain elements of it, like our bedroom and kitchen nook, but actively avoided spending time in our living room, which takes up about half the apartment. Not only was it aesthetically not-great (our hand-me-down couch was better suited for a frat house than a living room), but it was also unpractical. Our seating arrangement was awkward for having friends over, and the set-up made it so that my boyfriend Jonah and I had to crouch together every time we wanted to watch T.V., on a tiny laptop no-less. I spent months (years, really) carefully budgeting and problem-solving for a new space, and I couldn't be happier with the final result.
Our new living room feels cohesive, spacious, and, most importantly, is a place we actually want to spend time in! One of the most surprising things I found is that we actually added significantly more furniture into it, but because the space is used in a smarter way, it ended up feeling more spacious and bright. Plus, it feels much more us. A gallery wall behind the T.V. blends some of our favorite things, like menus from memorable meals and photos by Jonah's dad, and items we've collected from trips together are scattered throughout the room. There also isn't a place to hide clutter—which makes us much more selective about the things we keep around. I don't think I realized how unhappy I was with our last living room until looking at the 'Before' photos for the post, but I couldn't be more thrilled with our current oasis in the middle of Los Angeles. Take a look at the changes we made below:

Under console details: Vintage dog doorstopper, Cost Plus World Market Basket, Cupcakes and Cashmere Blanket

Clockwise from Left: Lauren Ruth Ward Band Poster, Framed Menu, Vintage Embroidered by Danielle Clough, Photo by Jonah's Dad

Left to Right: homemade wooden bowl, Sir / Madame Brass Calendar, Sonos Bar

Left to Right: Apple T.V., Overrose Candle in 'Nudesse', bowl from Japan (in background)

West Elm Couch, Suay Sew Shop Pillows, brass coffee table, woven basket from Vietnam, Cupcakes and Cashmere Throw, IKEA Reading Lamp, IKEA Curtains and Rod, ship mobile from Iceland

IKEA Floor Pillow, Cupcakes and Cashmere Marble Tray, Overrose Candle in 'Nudesse', Wooden Safety Matches

IKEA Lantern, IKEA Curtains and Rod, West Elm Couch, Suay Sew Shop Pillows, Cupcakes and Cashmere Blanket, IKEA Floor Pillows, Cupcakes and Cashmere Marble Tray, Nudesse Candle, Wooden Safety Matches, IKEA Fiddle Leaf Fig, IKEA Plant Holder
Let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments!