15 Amazing Loft Living Home Design Ideas

15 Amazing Loft Living Home Design Ideas

Dwell Of Decor

 Amazing Loft Living Home Design Ideas

 Amazing Loft Living Home Design Ideas

Dwell Of Decor

Changing up our gallery wall art (for free!)

Well hello and welcome back to our regularly scheduled programming! Time to get into the swing of things again! 

I LOVE our house after all the Christmas decor is taken down -- I'm always sad to see it go but I'm obsessed with how bright and big the house feels. It's just right for this time of year!

I always have this itch to move furniture around in the new year too, but our house is set up in such a way that it's really not possible in most rooms. It's a very open floor plan so most of our furniture only works in certain configurations. 

So instead, I usually look into smaller changes -- and those can make a big impact too! I've had these frames in our living room for years:

And since I hung them I've wanted to fill them with some kind of botanical print. I let them sit empty for a long time and finally just ended up sticking some scrapbook paper inside. It was a good (and cheap!) placeholder but not what I wanted. 

This ended up being a quick project, but it took me a long time (obviously) to find the prints I wanted. It was hard to find enough -- I wanted either at least five (that I could use twice) or ten. And they all had to have a similar feel. I wanted a little bit of color but not a ton. I found some fern printables that I plan to use elsewhere but they were a little too plain for this spot. 

After looking for some time I found these Audubon scans over at Bless'er House: 

And they were perfect! (You'll have to enter an email to download these.)

I talk about free printables a lot during the holidays but they area also such a great, cheap way to add some art around the house. I shared how to use one of the greatest databases for free art here. (I used some for art in our family room.) AND I gathered a list of (pretty much) free art sources and ideas too. 

Saving them to your computer is different for each site, but once you get them downloaded they are easy to print out. I took some screen shots of my computer to show you how I do this. I use Word and open a new file: 

Then go to the upper right (see above) and click "picture from file" -- grab your image: 

Then it will appear in your document:

Make sure to center it using the position option:

And then you can make it as big as you'd like. You need to keep in mind the file size of your art -- if you make it too big it will get blurry. But most are fine for an 8x10 size: 

I use our home printer (I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this HP printer I shared in November -- it is a tiny little printer but prints better than any of the bigger ones we've had!). I print them off on white linen-look card stock from the craft store. You can get the paper at Hobby Lobby for half off so even for ten I think I paid less than $3. 

You can also just use regular printer paper -- I've definitely done that. The paper I like to use is just a slightly nicer look when you get close. I'm sure there's an easier way to print these out but this is how I do it. I have simple printer downloads that I use for photos, but I like that this gives me more control over the size of the image. 

As soon as I finished them up I was thrilled: 

They are so much brighter and prettier in these frames! It was such a little thing but it felt like a big change in here: 

I'm all about making rooms feel more open and lighter this time of year and these do just that. The scrapbook paper worked fine too -- these are just the look I've always wanted in here. 

There were six available so I used five and printed out two of each. These combine the botanical look with the birds...I'm really happy with them:

If you have a large space to fill with a lot of prints you can find Audubon and botanical books online for just this purpose. This one looks like a great option for botanical prints and has great reviews (look in the comments for photos).  And this one has more of the look I have with birds and branches. But if you have a smaller grouping like me you can just do a Google search or look on Pinterest like I did. You'll have access to a TON of free options!

While I was making that small change I went ahead with another one I'd been considering. We've had this rectangle frame in the foyer for a long time: 

I've wanted to change it out to a round mirror to soften up this space. There are a lot of hard angles between this, the console and the large art I have near the stairs next to it. It's always felt to clunky but I've been waiting to find the right piece. 

So I was thinking...I've had two of these large IKEA mirrors for a bathroom redo I'd like to start this year (although I doubt it will happen) but wanted to see how one would look here -- and I loved it: 

I LOVE the wood tone with the color of the console table! And the simple design works beautifully with the busier design on the table too. 

SO. much. better: 

Only thing is, when we tackle the bathroom reno I may have to go get another mirror. ;) Oh well. For now it felt like a free upgrade! It definitely satisfied my urge to change things up and I love how it looks. 

I mentioned in my last post that I'm going through some ideas in my head to address the walls in this room because they go up so high. It's something I hope to get to this year but I have to get my final vision settled first. :) AND that tile is the one I mentioned in that post as well...it's going this year if it's the only thing I do! Ha!

Have you used these free options for art in your home? It takes a few minutes and a decent printer (or you can send them out) and it's so worth it! 

Affiliate links included for your convenience! 

Our new sofa in the living room!

Well hello! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Ours was mostly very low key, other than some basketball. JUST the way I like it. :)

I'm SO excited to share our latest furniture purchase with you! We don't buy many larger pieces anymore -- what we have I love (for the most part) and have right where it works. Our floor plan doesn't allow for moving stuff around much so when I find a good spot for something it stays. Foreverrrrrr.

It was fun to add a little something new again! You may remember the slipcovered sofa we picked up a couple years ago for our living room:

I took a chance and moved things around in here back then and LOVED how it came together. It completely transformed the room.

You won't even believe where that sofa is from either. I'll give you a second to go look at the transformation of that room and the resources here. I'll wait. ;) 

OK so we really do like that sofa a lot. It was really inexpensive but plenty comfy. Many ask if it's the Ektorp from IKEA and it does look similar -- but I find it to be way comfier. (I think I'm the only person on Earth who doesn't care for the IKEA sofas.) 😬

But two things happened. I have to say, I'm not a "fancy room" kind of person. I want every room to be used and I don't want to worry about any of our furniture getting use. But I did find myself wanting something just a little bit fancier in here. Just a bit. 

AND our plan for the completed loft called for a sofa. That was the one thing missing when I finished it up last August. Since then we've found we really want to have a spot to sit and relax up there other than on the window seat or at the desk. 

SOOOO. I've been looking for the past few months at various places. Mostly online and HomeGoods. Although we did buy the slipcovered sofa online, I usually shy away from that. I need to sit on it in real life to see how it feels. One evening in December we were running around and I saw a new store called Urban Underpriced. I think they're just local (for you Indy folks, they are in the old Pier 1 store at Castleton). 

Anyway, I saw a sofa I loved and decided when the budget allowed I would go back to see if it was still there. I had to wait a little over a month and it was still there...but I found another one I liked even better. :) The original price was $799 but they were having a sale and I got it for $550! Considering our slipcovered sofa was only $50 cheaper, that's pretty incredible for the quality: 

There's a close up of the fabric. I LOVE it. It's very soft and I love the color so so much. As you know, we have many animals in this house and the dog has already found his new perch on the back of this one. They told me I can clean it myself with a mild soap if needed. 

(I will share the brand name of the sofa at the very bottom of the post with some other details, so check that out if you are interested!)

We don't use this sofa EVERY day so it doesn't get nearly as much use as our family room one. But man...it is SO comfy. I love it!! It's way deeper than the other one: 

(Coffee table makeover)

It actually measures just a couple inches shorter in length...but it looks so much bigger because of the depth. This size works so much better in here with the tall ceilings. 

I swear it's the size of a twin bed: 

(Free botanical prints)

We like our naps in this family (well, at least the adults) so comfy couches are very important around here. The first day we had it my husband took one and when he woke up he said "I LOVE the new couch." 

Nap approved. :) 

I am in love with the more modern feel -- I've determined over the years that I don't like big arms on sofas or chairs. I'm all about using as much space in a room as possible and they take up too much of it. I regret getting one with such big arms for our family room. But these are perfect: 

(DIY craftsman window trim)

And I like the more modern feel mixed with our traditional pieces. I am switching out the coffee table and when I do I'll show you (and explain why). Maybe even this week if all goes well. 

The old sofa is upstairs in the loft now and it's awesome to have one up there! This coffee table will go up too. We've lived in our home for almost 13 years and just in the past year I'm starting to feel like the rooms are filled just right. It takes time my friends! 

Now...the important question. It's all about the pillows -- I actually quite love the ones they sent with the sofa, which is very rare. Usually I don't use whatever comes with the couch. But when I put my old blue ones on there I think they look lovely on it too: 

(Blue dresser paint color)

Here's a rare aerial shot for you -- I love this angle! Here are the original pillows: 

And the new ones:  

I like them both for different reasons. As much as I love the new ones I'm leaning towards the original ones. The new pillows look really good up in our loft on the old sofa too! I'll let you know what I decide. Because these are the deep things that matter in life. ;)

I hope to share the coffee table change up soon!

P.S. The brand name of this sofa is Fusion and again, our store is called Urban Underpriced. (VERY cool store with great accessories, but they are expensive in relation to the furniture.) I found Fusion online and it looks like they have reps you can contact to find out a local store. Our sofa color is called Grassroots if that is what you are interested in and they had a loveseat that matched. It is 83 inches long by 41 deep. :)

OH and we've had the new rug since last year and I got it at HomeGoods. Our dog ruined the old one. :(

When in doubt, add some circles!

The new coffee table arrived for the living room and I can't wait to show it to you! First though, the reason why I went with this particular table. 

Because I love adding wall treatments around our house, we have a lot of "hard" lines. A lot of squares and rectangles if you will. Plus you add in furniture, which for the most part is the same shape -- and you get a long of corners and not a lot of softness. 

Adding in some circles is the perfect cure for too many lines. :) I try to soften specific spaces that have a lot of horizontal or vertical lines with round items. Sometimes just a wreath will do the trick:

Glass pantry door in kitchen

Planked fireplace with marble surround

And round light fixtures go a long way to breaking up all the lines in a space: 

DIY bookcases in library

Sometimes something as simple as a round knob does the trick: 

Navy blue dresser

And one of my favorites is a round mirror!: 

Foyer mirror and console

DIY wood planked wall

Black dresser with brass hardware

So when we got the new sofa in the living room a couple weeks ago I knew I wanted to go round for the coffee table. We have round wood table that used to be in that room, but I love it so much we moved it to the family room. :) That's why the rectangle coffee table was out in the living room last time I shared it with you. 

I wanted something round to break up all the lines in this room, but couldn't find anything affordable. At first I wanted a solid round wood table, but the one I feel in love with was about $1300. Uhh, no. :) 

So I kept searching and wouldn't you know -- I found one I loved on Amazon. It's a Sauder glass and metal table: 

It's got a gold finish and I LOVE IT in this room. It only took a few minutes to put together: 

They also have a black metal version that's $20 cheaper too! 

I think it's lovely in here. The glass and metal keeps things light and bright: 

It also gives it a more grown up feel too. The table is also a little bigger than what we had before -- 36 inches across. This room can take the bigger size just fine. 

As you can see, I've added circles in other ways in this room as well: 

And of course, if all else fails, you can add some in softer shapes with accessories too. Something as simple as a round lampshade or planter helps to break things up: 

I've been sharing this room a lot so far this year -- it's such a light and bright space, and I'm just so thrilled with how it's come together over the past month. I have been working on another project so I'll show you that this week too! No more living room for awhile. ;)

As you can see, I decided to stick with the blue pillows in here for now -- they feel right for the spring and summer (a long way off I know). I think the other ones will work well for the second part of the year. 

I'll leave you with a shot from above with the new table. And a hello from Colby: 

Do you use round items to break up your decor? They go a long way to soften a room and give it a little more interest!

Affiliate links included for your convenience!