B&A: A Lively Refresh Brings out the Best in This Row Home’s Beige Living Room

B&A: A Lively Refresh Brings out the Best in This Row Home’s Beige Living Room

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Not every home project has to be a giant undertaking. Yes, knocking out walls or constructing a wall-spanning set of built-ins makes a noticeable impact, but so can smaller changes. A simple facelift has the ability to transform a space, rendering it almost unrecognizable — especially if you focus on infusing the area with tons of personality.

If your space could use this kind of elevation, get inspired by the living room designer Valerie Darden created in this Virginia row house. The founder of Brexton Cole Interiors has a unique design style that’s a sophisticated blend of traditional and modern — something immediately evident when you see her space.

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When Valerie purchased this home, she says, “the walls were a very bland beige and there was no color inside.” But there was plenty of potential in the home’s high ceilings and vintage touches like detailed wall mouldings and fireplaces in the adjoining living spaces.

As her inspiration, Valerie leaned into the artsy vibe of the city surrounding her. “Richmond is a city full of art and adventure,” she says. “I wanted to breathe new air into the house to fit the artsy and colorful aesthetic of Richmond.”

The process, which took about two months, was design-focused. The most costly — and extensive — work included the Greek mural wallpaper Valerie and her husband installed along the entryway and hallway. They also painted the walls a nice, bright white (Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace) to help the rest of the decor pop.

Once the walls were complete, Valerie purchased some bright velvet chairs and an orange sofa to bring in some pops of color. Next, she used vintage furniture — all purchased on Facebook Marketplace to save money — from the time period of the home. As for the art, it came from a combination of sources. “We searched for ‘fun’ and eclectic art for the walls,” says Valerie. “We found art everywhere from Home Goods to local antique stores.”

The result is a space that expertly blends new and old in a bold, colorful way. “I love everything about the after,” says Valerie. “I love mixing new design in with the old, and this home was perfect for that journey.”

We Asked 15 Real Estate Pros What the Best Living Room Paint Color Is

We Asked 15 Real Estate Pros What the Best Living Room Paint Color Is

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Picking a living room paint color can be a challenge — there are so many options and only one room! If you’re anything like me, you grab about 25 paint samples and bring them home to tape up on the wall and see which you like (if any at all). But according to real estate pros, there’s a perfect color for living rooms. I asked 15 of them what they’d choose, and here’s what they had to say.

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“A warm white like Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a nice neutral that will give some warmth to your space and make it feel more cozy and inviting.” —Julia Longchamps, owner of Julia Longchamps Design

“[My] go-to paint color is Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White, a blend of a classic white and a touch of cool gray creating an airy living space.” —Haley Cutter of Cutter Luxe Living

“Personally, my go-to is Sherwin Williams White Sand. The living space in a home should be airy, serene, and light, and White Sand is as neutral as it gets… and isn’t too white of a shade. It has just enough of a hue to create a pristine yet warm feel — which makes a space inviting.” Phenicia Mitchell, agent at The Corcoran Group in New York City

“Sherwin Williams Repose Gray [is] a perfect balance between warm and cool tones, making it a versatile choice for any living room. It also offers a calm and soothing atmosphere, which is ideal for creating a comfortable and inviting space for family and guests. Additionally, it pairs well with a variety of furniture and decor styles, making it a great option for those looking to change their living room decor in the future.” —Muhammad Waqar, founder and CEO of Build Pakistan

“Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. Neutral colors tend to be more attractive to potential buyers and help to create a blank canvas for buyers to visualize the space with their own furniture and decor. Plus, neutral colors are timeless and can fit any style.” —George Beatty, founder of Problem Property Pals

“Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray is THE interior paint color used by Opendoor. It has been used in thousands of homes in the U.S. It’s an iconic greige color that has massive appeal. The tone is warm and inviting, perfect for a large gathering spot such as a living room, and it also pairs well with many pieces of furniture. —Yasmine El Sanyoura, home designer at Opendoor

“Taupes are hot right now. They lend themselves to both cool and warm color palettes, which is appealing to a lot of buyers. …We’re still seeing gray tones, but because they were used on almost every flip and every new build in the last seven years, I think taupes are a refreshing option.” —Abigail Keyes, listings manager for Orchard in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston

“I always recommend my clients go for a classic and timeless color, such as beige. This color will never lose its cool, no matter what trends are in the current market.” —Josh Wilson, cofounder of That Florida Life

“A neutral wall color allows you to experiment with colors more easily within your decorations — it’s more of a blank canvas for the end buyer (or yourself). It’s also a lot easier to change your color schemes if you need some new inspiration and want to make a change.” —Tresa Todd, founder of Women’s Real Estate Investors Network

“Our favorite paint color for any living room, and most gathering spaces, is a crisp but warm neutral. This keeps the ambiance light and bright while allowing the accents of the design (lighting, art, and rugs) to set the tone for the visual interest of the space.” —Alex McBride, senior manager of home quality standards and design at Vacasa

“Neutral colors are calming and appeal to a wide range of tastes, which is helpful when trying to appeal to a variety of potential buyers. Neutral colors also make a room look larger, brighter, and more inviting, which will help to make a great first impression.” —Jasen Edwards, chair of the Agent Advice editorial board

“I chose teal, and have been happy with it for several years. It seems to stand the test of time. This bluish green is perfect for Florida’s greenery and waters. Even as I have updated my decorating the teal walls remain, they just work. Teal represents renewal — perfect for our challenging and hectic world. It is also a good color for stress relief!” Diana De Paola Nardy, agent at The Corcoran Group in Palm Beach, Florida

“Farrow and Ball’s Borrowed Light, No 235, is one of my favorites for a living room when I want something other than a shade of white. It’s subtle and understated and slightly unexpected — a pale blue that reminds me of the stunning light and sky in the Hamptons. It’s fabulous for a ceiling color too!” Whitney Lee, agent at The Corcoran Group in Southampton, New York

“A great living room paint color is Farrow & Ball’s Paean Black. This rich, dark color creates a dramatic and sophisticated atmosphere, making it perfect for formal living rooms or spaces where people entertain. It also works well with a variety of decor styles, from traditional to modern.” —Zara O’Hare, interior design consultant at Land of Rugs

“With today’s fashion trends bleeding into the interior design space, people are much more open to exploring bold colors and fun patterns in their homes than ever before. The most popular hues include deep reds, burgundy, rose, deep navy, and greens. Many are also extending their paint colors onto the ceiling and incorporating matching wallpaper to create a monochromatic look.” —Alexis Caldera, founder of DMT Design

Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

Roundup: Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor
Photo: This Is Glamorous

January is always an awkward time for home decor. The holidays are over, and your home feels so empty without all the festive decorations. Well, there’s an easy solution – fill those empty gaps with winter themed decor. Don’t worry, it’s super simple to make the transition. Here are ten of our favorite ideas.   

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1. Combine greenery that you already have with pinecones, antlers, etc. to create a cozy forest sort of vibe. Learn how Kim did it here. [Photo: Savvy Southern Style

2. Paint pinecones white and attach them to jars to create beautiful, wintery candle holders. Find out more here. [Photo: Nelly Vintage Home]

Roundup: Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

3. Take those fairy lights off the tree and stick them in a log and greenery filled wooden crate to make a faux fireplace. How cozy! Here are the details. [Photo: Blue Roof Cabin]

4. Erase your Christmas-themed saying on the chalkboard with a winter-themed one, such as “Baby it’s cold outside.” Found here. [Photo: A Thoughtul Place]

Roundup: Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

5. Make faux fur pillow covers for your holiday-themed pillows (then you can take them off next December to reveal the holiday pillow again). Here’s the tutorial. [Photo: Transient Expression]

6. Replace mantel decor with simple white or pale green bouquets with bare twig accents. Find lots of additional ideas here. [Photo: At The Picket Fence]

Roundup: Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

7. Adorn your front porch or stoop with pale colored decorations filled with pinecones and burlap. See more photos here. [Photo: Thistlewood Farms]

8. Grab some pinecones from your backyard and turn them into a snowflake shaped wreath. Check it out here. [Photo: Southern Living]

Roundup: Tips To Help You Transition From Holiday To Winter Decor

9. Spray paint an existing holiday wreath white to give it more of a winter sort of feel. Get the tutorial to make it from scratch here. [Photo: Thistlewood Farms]

10. Focus on warm whites in general… it may be as easy as swapping a red ribbon with a white one on your wreath. [Photo: This Is Glamorous]

This Space-Saving Floor Lamp Gives Me So Much Extra Storage That I Bought Two of Them (Bonus: It’s on Sale!)

This Space-Saving Floor Lamp Gives Me So Much Extra Storage That I Bought Two of Them (Bonus: It’s on Sale!)

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

I dream of the day when my home is big enough that I can have a floor lamp that is just a lamp. However, until I find a place with significantly more square footage, I can’t rationally give up floor space to something that only serves one function. I need my lamps to multitask — as shelves, storage, electrical outlets, and, of course, light sources — and I need them to do all of this without costing me a fortune. (Kind of demanding, I know, but that’s the truth.)

Thankfully, I found an all-in-one lamp from Brightech (an AT-favorite brand) that can do all of these things (really!), and you can grab one now at 20 to 30 percent off. This hardworking device is not exactly cheap (it’s about $65), but it is well worth every penny and it won’t fall apart on you. Over time, I bet you’ll discover more ways to use it and won’t want to let it go. I found it to be so useful that after getting one for my living room, I got one for the bedroom, too.

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Starting with the aesthetics, I like the wooden look of this lamp and was glad to see that it produces nice soft, yellow light. The fabric lampshade has four walls to completely cover the bulb, which prevents it from ever giving off too much direct light and makes the lamp excellent for reading in bed at night or winding down in the living room after dinner. While the frame is definitely not made from natural hardwood (it’s some kind of “engineered wood product”), it looks enough like wood to not feel cheap or distracting. I have a light gray one and a light brown one, and it comes in two other colors to easily match your decor scheme.

When it comes to functionality, that’s where this lamp really shines. It has three levels of shelves that you can use for storage (like I do) or for displaying decorative vases, picture frames, or any of your favorite knickknacks. In my living room, the lamp has become my secondary entertainment center: it’s filled with board games, playing cards, and all my word games. In the bedroom, the shelves hold books and a small pile of folded clothes; it’s not perfect, but it’s definitely better than draping them on my desk chair.

The top shelf has two USB charging ports and a regular power outlet, which both come in handy on a daily basis. My bedroom lamp is my charging station for my phone, watch, and headphones. I make good use of its built-in dividers, which let me prop up my electronics to free up shelf space for other bedside essentials. My living room lamp is where I plug in decorative string lights (that otherwise couldn’t reach the wall outlet near the floor). And because the entire shelf-lamp-combo only takes up one wall outlet, no matter where it’s plugged in, I always have an extra outlet free for anything else. Being able to power a lamp and charge three devices on a single outlet seems like a pretty good deal to me.

I’ve had my lamps for nearly two years, and aside from the fact that my cats occasionally try to climb the shelves, I have had zero issues. Despite my cats’ best efforts, they’ve never even come close to knocking the lamps over, which is surprising considering how lightweight each lamp is. I initially got one lamp to serve as a nightstand and the other to provide accent light in my otherwise dimly lit living room, but this would also be perfect for home offices that are in need of softer lighting and a few extra charging ports.

When you need a small-space-friendly lamp that does it all — lighting, storage, charging, and shelving — this one has you covered. It’s on sale, so now is a smart time to buy!