$1k Room: Modern Blue Living Room

Kristen Dwyer

November 27, 2017

I'm just going to say it: this was HARD. Lately, I haven't had to focus on budgetary restraints as much as I would normally. This has its advantages: it's very, very freeing. I loved picking out beautiful things that are literally from my dreams. As you would imagine, it is pretty fun to shop on that side of the scale for a while. I couldn't get enough. It's like once you dip your toe in, you love it so much you just run and cannonball into the wealth pool and float around on a giant inflatable swan.

Hello!

Welcome to the second installment of my $1k Room. If you missed the first one, check out the farmhouse style living room. Today, we are going modern! This design features a spectacular modern blue living room. Like I said last post, it’s a lot easier than people think to get a great design on a budget. In my $1k Room Challenge, I want to show you that you can have the best room and live your best life without breaking the budget.

Goal: To design a modern blue living room with a monochromatic color palette using items that are high impact and on trend to create a living space that is eclectic, bold, with a lot of texture and pattern.

Budget: $1,000 for furniture, finishes, and wall paint

Spent: $989 (not including tax or shipping)

I’m just going to say it: this was…interesting. Lately, I haven’t had to focus on budgetary restraints as much as I would normally. This has its advantages: it’s very, very freeing. I loved picking out beautiful things that are literally from my dreams. As you would imagine, it is pretty fun to shop on that side of the scale for a while. I couldn’t get enough. It’s like once you dip your toe in, you love it so much you just run and cannonball into the wealth pool and float around on a giant inflatable swan.

As enjoyable as this was, I was happy to return to my budget-friendly ways and really challenge myself to design on a restricted budget. In this design, we have a blue velvet channel back sofa with tufting, and not one but TWO rugs, soooo I would say this was a success. And it does not look like it was designed for under $1,000. AT ALL. I mean…we have a velvet channel back sofa. So, there! I love this room so much. And can I tell you a secret? I also have a modern blue living room. So, yeah, I love everything about this space.

Now is the part where I tell you what I learned designing an entire room with a budget of only $1,000. Well, I didn’t learn anything. That’s not what you were expecting to hear, right? It’s the truth because I’ve always been very money conscious and creating beautiful rooms with small budgets is something I’ve done many, many times. After all, counting pennies runs deep in my midwestern bones! This modern blue living room hits all the marks and is not lacking in anything.

I am all about providing you with completed rooms overflowing with abundance. Yes, you an have abundance on a budget! That’s literally how I designed all my apartments. I am super creative, so if I can’t afford something, I just make it myself. I’ve made my own curtain rods, sewed pillows and curtains, reupholstered a $200 vintage sofa, made Kelly Wearstler copy cat sculptures out of $5 air dry clay and a wire clothes hanger, spray painted modern designs on vases, created my own sea glass and aged mercury vases, created faux flower arrangements, etc. If there is a will, there is a way. There is no end to craftiness! There’s also no end to the amount of people on the internet showing you exactly how to make something. Gotta love our modern age. So, really, there is no reason you can’t have exactly what you want, so don’t accept it if someone tells you otherwise (they are just not as cool and creative as you!).

Truly, a beautiful space can be yours on even the tiniest of allowances.

You just have to find a designer that believes in your vision.

So, the point is, having a very strict budget is doable. It is just more time consuming to find affordable items that aren’t terrible. Ok, I shouldn’t say terrible. But, my biggest pet peeve is when “affordable” designs are manufactured when they should still be in the beginning idea phase. Like, just because this coffee table is at a low price point, doesn’t mean your design is complete after you draw a rectangle. Oye. I still expect a unique piece of furniture, not what looks like a phase 1 design. Okayyyyyy?

I ended up super loving this modern blue living room. Sure, I love everything I design, but blue is my favorite color and I have a velvet sofa in my own home; so it’s pretty perfect. It’s understated luxury mixed with modern mixed with eclectic rustic–if that makes sense? There’s a boho feel with the rugs and pouf, and a lovely coziness with the velvet, thick curtains, and wire coffee table.

Here’s a tip: when selecting a coffee table for a space, really try to picture it in your mind as it would be in your space. Sure, some rooms can support the clunkiness of a rustic style, but most rooms just cannot handle something that heavy. It’s all about balance.

For small spaces or spaces that aren’t bright and airy, a coffee table with an abundance of negative space is your best bet.

This one in particular is wire frame, so it’s the next best option aside from a see through glass or acrylic style. It still seems a little industrial because it’s wire and it pairs well with the style of the space. It also looks reallllly expensive. #FTW!! Another reason a coffee table with negative space works in this modern blue living room is because there is a very strong color palette in the rest of the room. When you’re working with a strong color palette, you need to lighten it up in different areas of the room.

My advice for creating your dream room: SHOP SALES. All but one of the rugs in my apartment is from Rugs USA. They have sales nearly all the time and you can get an AWESOME area rug for less than $100 most of the time. Remember above when I told you my design pet peeve? Just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean it should be void of pattern. You don’t have to buy a solid color unless you want to.

I also reallllly love and admire Target. I think that Target has done the best job in their partnerships with designers, resulting in affordable pieces that are designed well. Bravo, Target. Me love you long time.

Let me know in the comments what you think about this budget-friendly modern blue living room. Would you use it in your own home?

Talk soon,

-K

SHOP THIS MODERN BLUE LIVING ROOM

*Because of sales, prices change. The current prices are probably not as low as they were at the time of my design. Also, obviously because of sales, some of the stuff is now sold out. In which case, I linked the same vendor, but a similar item.