Our Ever-Evolving Living Room

We bought this house nearly 4 years ago. When we bought it the living room had this wall of windows with these wooden shutters. I like all the windows because they give some extra light and I even liked the shutters, but I thought they made the room look stiff and hard, not warm and inviting. I knew they needed something but curtains are so expensive and I can't sew! We lived with them like this for over a year.

Then I painted my entry way to look like this...

I LOVE the way it looks! It is one of my favorite spots in the house. Once I did this I knew I would eventually paint the living room and I would probably use one of these tan colors to do it. Shortly after that I found these panels at Target for $15 each that I thought would look good whenever I finally painted the room. I bought 4 and hung them up. I didn't love it but it was an improvement and I didn't know what else to do so they stayed. (BTW- I forgot to take a picture before I already had taken down 2 panels so this is the best I could do).

Since that time I have met the Nester (OK, I haven't really met her but I stalk her). She has inspired me to do more. I finally painted the room that tan color. Then I went to the 50% off sale at Hancock and I found brown fabric for $6.00 a yard. This is what I did with it.

Now if you are wondering how I did this without sewing you need to spend some more time over at the Nester's blog. I followed her mistreatment tips and hot glued it on. Then I went back with some fun trim and covered up the mess. These are BY NO MEANS perfect! I eyeballed the lines across and some of them are just not straight, but I am OK with that and I think it is a HUGE improvement. I hung the curtains high like the Nester suggests and I let them puddle on the floor.

It has been a nearly 4 year process (in my defense I have had my 2nd and 3rd babies during that time), but I think the ever evolving process has been worth it. I have a few more ideas for this room, but they are much smaller projects. I am finding myself very excited about the fact that this room is finally beginning to look like I want it to.