{"id":390359,"date":"2026-04-21T11:45:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/390359\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T11:45:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:45:31","slug":"a-90s-beige-living-room-got-a-cozy-airy-black-and-white-redo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/390359\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u201990s Beige Living Room Got a Cozy, Airy Black and White Redo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apartment Therapy and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A \u201990s Beige Living Room Got a Cozy, Airy Black and White Redo<\/p>\n

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER<\/p>\n

HOME TYPE: House<\/p>\n

PROJECT TYPE: Living Room<\/p>\n

STYLE: Farmhouse, Modern, Vintage<\/p>\n

SKILL LEVEL: DIY<\/p>\n

RENTAL FRIENDLY: No<\/p>\n

When tackling a project as big as a living room, it can be difficult to know where to start. Having an inspiration board<\/a> (bulletin or virtual works) or even an inspirational phrase can help you pinpoint paint and decor choices and help communicate your vision to others.<\/p>\n

For Sarah Bolton (@sittingprettyhomedecor<\/a>), that inspirational phrase was \u201cmodern vintage.\u201d Those two seemingly opposite ideas make total sense once you learn Sarah has a knack for refinishing vintage furniture and loves to blend white airy openness with dark drama.<\/p>\n

\"Before:\"After:Slow and Steady Was Necessary with Five Kids and a Limited Budget<\/p>\n

But her 1990s living room\u2019s beige walls, red brick fireplace, and honey oak floors didn\u2019t quite encapsulate Sarah\u2019s modern vintage vibe \u2014 so she and her husband, Gary, started revamping the room the first month they moved in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did one small project at a time as life with five kiddos and budget allowed,\u201d Sarah says. They brightened and modernized the room by painting the walls and fireplace white (Benjamin Moore\u2019s White Dove<\/a>) and added black paint (Behr\u2019s Black Suede<\/a>) on either side of the fireplace for a touch of the modern moodiness that Sarah loves. The paint trick also makes the fireplace look more front-and-center, as the windows fade into the background.<\/p>\n

\"After:It Took a Few Weeks and Lots of Patience to Update the Fireplace<\/p>\n

The fireplace itself took multiple weeks to turn into the focal point it is now. First, Sarah and Gary removed the old mantel; then, Gary mounted a wood frame to the brick so they could attach faux shiplap above the hearth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used sheets of MDF to cut strips for the \u2018shiplap\u2019 and nickels to space them,\u201d Sarah says. \u201cThe hardest part was maneuvering two ladders on either side so we could both hold the pieces up and nail them while keeping the nickels in place.\u201d<\/p>\n

To replace the old \u201890s-style mantel, Gary built a new, simple one out of plywood. \u201cWe used veneer to make it appear to be one giant piece of wood,\u201d Sarah says \u2014 a smart trick for anyone DIYing on a budget.<\/p>\n

\"Before:\"After:Modern Fixtures and Cozy Textiles<\/p>\n

Other cosmetic choices helped bring this family room into the 2020s. Sarah swapped a dated brown ceiling fan for a more modern wheel chandelier<\/a> from Overstock and replaced the red armchair with two tan <\/a>leather ones<\/a> from Target.<\/p>\n

She also added spray-and-stick Magnolia wallpaper <\/a>to a small wall to give the space a little more visual interest. A muted tan rug from Rugs USA and a 16-foot secondhand church pew blend modern with vintage.<\/p>\n

\"After:An Awkward Space Was Filled with a Second-Hand Find<\/p>\n

\u201cThe original blueprints for this house indicated this space was built for living and dining, so this extra space behind the living area was awkward to find a use for,\u201d Sarah says. \u201cThis old church pew we found on Facebook Marketplace fit the wall PERFECTLY and gave us extra seating for the kiddos! They love it for movie night.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the bright white walls and shiplap and new lighting make this space feel bright and airy, all the cozy textures work together to make it feel welcoming, too. And with the fireplace focal point, there\u2019s no better place to kick back and relax as a family.<\/p>\n

Inspired? Submit your own project here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Before and After: Black and White Paint Covers Up a Wood Paneling Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n

10 of the Best Folding Shopping Carts for an Easier Grocery Haul<\/a><\/p>\n

Try This 2-Second Trick to Double the Storage Size of Your Baggie<\/a><\/p>\n

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