Living Room
Executive summary: We spend much of our day in this space, whether it’s working on the couch, playing with the kids, or chatting with guests, so it was important to create a comfortable, inviting spot that is high on (multi)functionality but low on maintenance.
It’s been four years since we’ve had a dedicated living room, as we arranged our last apartment like a studio, with our bed and living area sharing the same space. I didn’t mind it at all (because it was my choice in the first place!) but there is also something to be said for keeping lounging and sleeping separate. In this larger condo, we have reverted to the “normal” setup of keeping the beds in the bedrooms and the living room reserved for the waking activities. I show a wide view of our main living space below, as seen from the entryway. The living room is on the left and the kitchen and dining room on the right. It feels quite open because we increased our square footage by more than 50% moving from a 1-br apartment to this “2.5-br” condo, but I only increased our possessions by maybe 10%. As a minimalist, I unsurprisingly gravitate toward keeping everything clean and simple.
Piano: Yamaha | Sheepskin: IKEA | Canvas prints: Minted | Wooden stool: IKEA | Scalloped chair: Wayfair | Arch lamp: Amazon | Framed photo: DIY | Rugs: Lowe’s | Upholstered bench: Target | Sofa: Article | Pillows: Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn | Garden stool: Amazon | Curtain rods: Rejuvenation | Curtains and rings: IKEA | Metal star: Amazon
The biggest acquisition for this condo was the upright piano from my childhood. I played diligently for 10 years growing up, but then dropped it cold turkey the day I left for college, so the piano has been masquerading as a stately piece of furniture in my parents’ living room for the past 19 years. My parents liked to say that the piano would come live with me whenever I “settled down,” and seeing as we’re doing that now, we decided it was time to give the piano a place in my own home. Since we got rid of our TV years ago (and have no plans to reverse course), I’ve made the piano the focal point of the living room. I have dreams of one day taking it up again and reclaiming lost ground, but for now the piano belongs to my 2yo and 6yo who ask me for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and “Pink Panther.”
Proceeding deeper into the living room, I carved out a small kids area in front of the windows. My 6yo likes to do his sedentary activities here, e.g., activity books, writing practice, etc. I imagine that when he eventually gets assigned homework (apparently kindergarteners get a pass on that), he might be able to do it here. Or maybe he’ll end up at the kitchen counter, who knows. It’s a pretty prime spot, I have to say, with lots of natural light and a view into the courtyard outside. Maybe I’ll nab it for my own desk one day when the kids outgrow this little bench that I’ve converted into a table.
We do have a covered balcony accessible from the living room, but I haven’t stepped out there a single time since we moved in. I have a vague daydream where we can have a meal outside or something, but the kids would cry and scream in protest if we sprung that on them right now, so that’ll have to wait … like so many other things in my life …
Bench: IKEA | Chairs: Melissa & Doug
Here’s a final view of the living room, looking out from the corner. This unit gets a lot of light throughout the day, being south and east-facing, so we really enjoy spending time in here. The kids like to watch their shows on the couch, or drive their cars on the floor, and there’s ample space for the whole family to hang out. I feel like I achieved my goal of creating a room that has everything we need while being super easy to maintain.
