I’m slowly making progress on our family room makeover. 
My new tufted sofa and loveseat arrived this week, and I couldn’t be happier. They look just as good in our home as they did when I first pinned them. The style and color fit the room perfectly and have already made a big difference.
We’ve been slowly working on this family room for several months. Last November we removed the carpet and installed laminate flooring, which I love. With the room cleared, I also painted the walls a very light gray and refreshed the trim with white paint. That simple update brightened the space and set the tone for the rest of the makeover.
I wanted to wait for the right sofa and loveseat before doing anything else. At one point I considered slipcovers and almost purchased the Ikea Ektorp, but I heard mixed reports about comfort. I also looked at the Pottery Barn Basic set but it was more than I wanted to spend. Then I pinned a Martha Stewart tufted back sofa in a cornflower blue and soon after received a President’s Day sale email from Macy’s. The timing was perfect: the Martha Stewart Saybridge sofa was on sale, and the gray (Storm) color was included in the promotion. That sealed the deal.
I went to Macy’s to test it out in person. The sofa had high ratings online, but it was important to sit on it and feel the cushions myself. The gray version felt great—firm yet comfortable, with deep and long seats that are ideal for lounging or napping. Even my very picky husband approves.
After ordering, the sofa and loveseat arrived just two days later. They’re well-made and comfortable, and the gray fabric works beautifully with the light walls and new flooring. The seats are supportive, and the scale fits our not-very-large family room—my 6’4” husband can even nap on them comfortably.
What I still need to complete in this room:
- Find a new coffee table that complements the tufted set,
- Add a floor lamp for layered lighting,
- Replace the oak roll-top desk with a cabinet or buffet-style piece,
- Decide on a TV stand—I’m leaning toward a clean-lined piece if the TV is moved out of the corner,
- Figure out how to handle the large blank wall; a photo gallery or curated arrangement would work well,
- Consider a rug—some days I like the clean look without one, other days I think a rug would warm the space,
- Finish with accessories to tie everything together.
What’s staying:
- Window treatments: the yellow, brown, and gray Emma Floral curtains from World Market and chocolate brown bamboo shades from Lowe’s,
- The oversized chocolate chair and ottoman we purchased last year at Carol House Furniture in St. Louis,
- The TV.
Here’s one view of the space. It’s not a large room, so I’m carefully selecting pieces that fit the scale. I’d love ideas on what to do next—especially for the big wall and whether to add a rug.
Where we’ve come from:
Below is a before shot from an earlier stage of the room. It shows how far we’ve come since 2010 when I first started wanting a change. The transformation has been gradual, but removing the darker, country-style elements has already made a noticeable difference.
At this point I’m slowly moving away from the dark country decor. The room feels fresher and more modern, and I’m excited to continue the updates.
Leave suggestions in the comments—I’d love your help and ideas as I finish this room!
***UPDATE FEB 2016***
We moved in June 2014, and the Martha Stewart Saybridge sofa moved with us to our new home. Over time we’ve enjoyed the set, and in November 2015 we replaced flooring again and moved the sofa and loveseat to our finished basement to make room for a new sectional upstairs. After nearly three years of daily use, the fabric and frame have held up well; the sofa cushions did soften and become a bit lumpy, but overall the pieces have stayed in good condition.
We now have laminate floors throughout and chose a larger sectional for the main family room, but the Martha Stewart set remains a well-loved part of our home.
I’m lovin’ my new gray tufted sofa and loveseat!
Let us know what you’re loving this week.
