The very first time I walked into this house and saw the red living room—with that huge mirror hanging over the fireplace—I knew it had so much more potential than it was letting on. It felt dated, yes, but I could instantly picture something warmer… softer… more us. Today I’m sharing every detail of how we transformed this space into a room that feels both traditional and modern in the coziest way.

Shop Our Tools For This Renovation

(Everything we used to pull this project together!)

• Chair Rail
• Trims
• Handy Paint Pail
• Handy Paint Liner
• Handy Paint Tray
• Handy 3-Pack Paint Tray Liners
• Sherlock Extension Pole and Frames
• Thin Angle Multi-Size Brush Pack
• Builder’s Paper
• Frog Tape Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape
• Scotch Blue Painter’s Tape
• Paint Roller Cover 3 Pack
• Purdy Contractor 1-in Carbon Steel Paint Multi-Tool
• Multi-purpose Wall and Ceiling Primer (used for wood knots)
• TV wall mount bracket
• Caulk
• Brad Nailer
• Brad Nails
• Miter Saw

I’m completely obsessed with this paint color from the moment I saw it. It’s warm, a little moody, and has these subtle honey undertones that make the whole room feel like it’s wrapped in a sunset. I wanted the color to shine, so we decided to color drench the entire living room.

Color drenching is one of my favorite budget-friendly tricks for making a big impact without a big renovation bill. It’s simply painting everything—walls, trim, doors, even the ceiling—the same color. It adds so much drama in the best way, and it visually expands the room because there aren’t harsh lines breaking your eye. Everything just flows.

And let me tell you… color drenching this living room was the best idea ever. Especially paired with the trim work. My husband did all of it himself—he’s becoming quite the trim guy since this is the third room he’s done (our half bath and dining room got wainscoting too!). The two together makes the room feel instantly elevated.

How To DIY Living Room Makeover Guide

Step-by-Step

1. Map out your trim layout.
Before you cut a single piece of wood, use painter’s tape to plan your layout. This step makes everything so much easier.

2. Prime the walls.
Because we were covering red paint, we primed first—before attaching the trim. It’s faster this way so you don’t have to paint around the wood trims.

3. Choose your chair rail height.
Most chair rails fall between 32″–36″. We went with 32″ for a balanced look.

4. Confirm the spacing and install trims.
Triple-check before you nail anything in place! Our boxes are spaced 4″ apart on all sides. Don’t forget to custom cut your trims to fit your switch and outlet covers. We used a brad nailer for the installation, which makes it go alot faster.

5. Paint, paint, paint.
Once all the trim was installed, we color drenched the walls, trim, and ceiling with two coats. This is the moment the room truly came alive.

A Few Extra Updates We Tackled

We removed and covered up a non working fan with dry wall between the sunroom and the livingroom. We took down the large mirror and covered the pine knots above the fireplace so they wouldn’t bleed through the paint. We removed the old fireplace insert (I’m planning to swap in for an electric fireplace soon!) and finally—after six months—mounted our TV above the fireplace with the easiest TV mount.

Now when I walk into this room, it just feels like us—a little old, a little new, and so deeply inviting.

The styling is next, and I can’t wait to share that part with you. It’s going to be the kind of space where family and friends can curl up, relax, and instantly feel at home.

Stay tuned… the cozy is coming.

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