Just when you thought our attention was solely focused on the exciting progress at the duplex, we’ve been quietly making significant strides in transforming our beloved beach house. While the backyard is slowly but surely taking shape with a new shed, patio, and fence – updates we’re eager to share once they’re further along – today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the complete refresh of our living room. It’s now lighter, brighter, and undeniably radiates that quintessential beach house charm. Our goal was to create a space that truly feels like it’s just blocks from the ocean, where every corner is inviting, functional, and perfectly suited for lively gatherings.
This renovation wasn’t just about aesthetics; practicality was paramount. We envisioned a living room that could withstand the demands of a busy family and a constant stream of guests. That meant every design choice had to be “sand and popsicle friendly”—a non-negotiable for us, as our beach house is a hub for family and friends, complete with all the joyful chaos that kids bring. So, while we aimed for a light and airy ambiance, it also had to be exceptionally durable, easily wipeable, and as worry-free as possible. This philosophy guided us in selecting every piece, ensuring a beautiful yet resilient interior.
The Heart of the Room: Choosing the Right Sofa
A significant part of our beach house aesthetic draws from the furniture we designed. We were particularly excited to integrate one of our new sofas into this space, especially given its incredible performance fabric – a feature that earns an enthusiastic “yes” from us for its sheer practicality and longevity. We began with our Mellow sofa, which, despite being currently sold out due to its popularity, perfectly embodies the comfort and durability we desired. For those interested, our other two sofa designs, the Pivot and the Spiffy, are often available and frequently featured in flash sales, offering fantastic value (sometimes as low as $699!). If you’ve been considering one of our pieces, keeping an eye on these sales is a smart move. These particular designs, though sometimes appearing under different names on platforms like Joss & Main, are built with the same commitment to style and robust functionality, making them ideal for dynamic, lived-in spaces.
Saying Goodbye to Karl: The Sectional Dilemma
Our trusty old Ikea sectional, affectionately known as Karl the Karlstad, had a long and storied life, moving from our second home to our current house, and eventually to the beach house over eight years. However, even the most beloved pieces reach their retirement. The challenge with a sectional, especially one that moves from house to house, is that it doesn’t always adapt perfectly to every new space. Often, a room would be better served by a more versatile sofa, but you make do with what you have. While Karl looked decent in photos, in real life, his chaise often awkwardly encroached on doorways, limiting flow and additional seating options. Reversing the chaise proved equally problematic, as it eliminated much-needed extra seating in another part of the room, a crucial consideration for our family-filled gatherings.
Ultimately, after eight wonderful years, it was time for Karl to find a new home. As we shared on our podcast, we lovingly donated him to a local charity. It’s comforting to know he’s now embarking on a new chapter with a sweet family, carrying on his legacy of comfort and utility. His departure paved the way for a truly transformative shift in our beach house living room, allowing us to embrace a lighter, more open, and functionally superior layout. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, letting go of a familiar piece is the first step toward unlocking a space’s full potential.
Brightening Up with Rugs and Functional Furniture
Beyond the sofa, another pivotal element in achieving a lighter, airier feel was the introduction of a new patterned gray rug. This replaced a vintage piece that, while beautiful, felt a bit heavy for our desired beach house vibe. The vintage rug found a perfect new home in a bedroom at the duplex, proving that good pieces always find their place. The new gray rug, with its subtle pattern and varied tones, instantly brightened the room, offering both visual interest and practical forgiveness against everyday wear and tear – a must-have in a busy household.
The smaller footprint of our new sofa, coupled with the bright rug, created an opportunity to introduce more functional furnishings. For instance, I finally have a side table on my end of the couch – a game-changer for my reading lamp and a convenient spot for my tea. These small additions significantly enhance the room’s livability, making it more comfortable and practical for everyone. It’s these thoughtful details that elevate a space from merely decorated to truly functional and inviting.
The Power of White Wood Furniture
For anyone looking to infuse a space with a lighter, more refreshing look while maintaining livability, white wood furniture is a fantastic solution. Its wipeable surfaces make it incredibly practical for active homes, yet it consistently delivers a clean, bright aesthetic. If you’re gazing at a room you wish to lighten, sometimes the answer is as simple as a $15 quart of white paint with built-in primer (we’ve had great success with Behr Marquee for its excellent coverage). In just an afternoon, you can transform a coffee table, end tables, a bookcase, or a shelving unit. Coupled with light-colored walls and gloriously washable curtains, this approach can dramatically uplift the entire ambiance of a room, creating an instant, budget-friendly makeover that feels fresh and inviting.
Smart Storage Solutions: Side Tables and Beyond
Our choice of side table was deliberate, offering ample spots for magazines, a basket brimming with LEGOs, or any other items we want to keep conveniently at hand. We love it so much that we’ve ordered two more for the duplex, a true testament to its blend of style and utility. It’s also available in a smaller version, which is currently significantly discounted, making it an even more appealing option. I’m even brainstorming a coffee table version because of how much we appreciate its design – so definitely stay tuned for that potential development!
Curated Art & Thoughtful Details
To further personalize the space, I incorporated new art pieces sourced from an artist I discovered on Instagram, Sarah Madeira Day. Her work is not only beautiful but also incredibly well-priced. These two 8×8-inch canvas prints, at just $25 each, boast gorgeous, vibrant colors printed on canvas. I framed them in simple Ribba frames from Ikea, which I already owned, and added linen-like fabric behind them to create a lovely texture and a sophisticated double-mat effect. This detail not only elevates the art but also adds a subtle layer of coastal elegance to the room.
The Versatile Scalloped Coffee Table
Last summer, we proudly DIYed a coffee table, but as the room progressively lightened, its dark wood legs began to feel visually heavy. To maintain our new, airy aesthetic, we replaced it with one of these coffee tables, originally ordered for the duplex. I immediately loved its visually light presence and how its size perfectly complements the space. In fact, I may very well order another one to replace the one I “borrowed” from the duplex! It just works so seamlessly in our beach house living room.
Interestingly, John and I burst out laughing when we realized we had unintentionally recreated a photoshoot setup from our furniture line in our beach house. Even the rugs are similar! It makes perfect sense, though, as those photos featured some of our favorite designs. It’s truly delightful to see these beloved pieces come together so beautifully in our beach house, mixed with other cherished items like the glossy CB2 ladder shelf and our simple, charming pink lamp from Target, creating a harmonious and personal space.
Design Insights: Form Meets Function
There’s a funny story behind this coffee table. Weeks after the photoshoot, John woke up in a panic, worried that the scalloped edge was a terrible design flaw, fearing it would prevent people from comfortably propping their feet up. (My initial thought was, “But not everyone puts their feet on the coffee table, right?”). Imagine his immense relief when he discovered his legs fit easily between the shallow, rounded scallops! He even proclaimed it more comfortable than our coffee table at home, which has a sharper, less forgiving lip. This delightful revelation confirmed that our design seamlessly blends unique aesthetics with practical comfort.
We’re also happy to report that the edge doesn’t interfere with other tabletop activities, like our beloved board games. In fact, the subtle border does an excellent job of corralling things – perfect for when one of our crazy bear creations gets out of hand or for preventing dice from rolling off the table. For those who messaged me about this, rest assured: it works wonderfully for family board games, as the scallops are not nearly tall enough to obstruct your arms. And for another thoughtful detail, a reader once suggested a shallow remote drawer for our next coffee table design. Good news – this one already has it! I love a hidden drawer for keeping clutter neatly out of sight.
Overcoming Layout Challenges: Smaller Sofa, More Seating
A note on living room layouts: I hear you, they are incredibly challenging! This room has been evolving for over a year and a half now, and we still have plans to mount the TV, possibly re-paint the walls, and replace the diamond-backed chairs by the windows – more on those in a moment. One of the reasons layouts are so tough is that we often make assumptions about how we live or what we need, and then we’re too hesitant to try something different. It’s hard to find a fresh solution if we’re stuck in the same thought patterns. For example, it might sound counterintuitive to say that getting a smaller sofa can actually create more seating, but we learned last summer that trying to cram all our guests onto a large sectional wasn’t always the most comfortable or conducive to good conversation.
So, we decided to “break up” the seating options. With the bulky chaise gone, we could easily tuck a chair into the corner by the TV. Now, the main sofa comfortably seats about three adults (or our family of four, since the kids are smaller), and there are three additional chairs in the room. This arrangement proves that while your brain might instinctively associate a sectional with maximum seating, it’s not always the truth in practice. By strategically varying our seating, we’ve created a more flexible, inviting, and ultimately more spacious feel for everyone to enjoy.
We’re still on the lookout for larger, more relaxed chairs for the window wall, but for now, these thrifted chairs – which you might remember from way back in our old home office – are serving their purpose well. I spray-painted them and recovered the seats in a neutral fabric to better integrate them into the beach house’s aesthetic. I actually envision them eventually finding their permanent home at the duplex, where their diamond shape will beautifully echo the diamond windows there, creating a cohesive design narrative.
Tackling Stains: Durable Decor for Real Life
Let’s talk about the rug, specifically a recent “slime incident.” This wasn’t just a minor spill; it was a situation where slime had been sitting on the rug for months under the sectional chaise, only to be discovered after we moved the sofa, leaving a noticeable grease stain. Argh! But, I’m thrilled to report, I got it out! After extensive online research and tips from our community on InstaStories, the winning method involved pouring white vinegar on the grease spot, letting it soak, then gently scraping away any remaining slime (which was actually “Thinking Putty”). Once dry, a dab of nail polish remover was the key to lifting the grease stain completely – you can’t even tell it was there! This whole ordeal gave me a new appreciation for the rug’s varied gray tones, as those lighter and darker areas make it incredibly forgiving against spills and accidents.
Between the slime incident and an immediate chocolate stain on the new sofa (which came right out with just a bit of water, thanks again, performance fabric!), we feel confident that this room can handle anything our kids throw at it – both literally and figuratively. They might try to prove us wrong, but they’ll need to come up with something more challenging than slime and chocolate!
Illuminating the Dining Room: Chandelier Upgrades
Finally, while discussing beach house updates, I want to highlight our dining room chandeliers. A few months ago, in our email newsletter, we revealed how we swapped out the old capiz chandeliers for these from our very own lighting collection. I’m not sure we ever properly showcased them on the blog, but we adore them. They offer a more substantial presence, and their polished nickel details beautifully tie into the other light fixtures throughout the living room and kitchen, creating a cohesive and refined aesthetic. You can explore our entire collection with Shades of Light here.
The previous chandeliers, rather than being discarded, now adorn the master bedrooms at the duplex. It’s practically a rule in the Sherry Petersik Decorating Handbook that every house we fix up must have a capiz fixture somewhere! I absolutely love playing musical furniture and light fixtures – it’s a concept that goes back to my passion for staging homes and being resourceful with what’s already on hand. (Side note: this is my dream TV concept – a series about creatively rearranging existing items, like the old HGTV show “Freestyle.” I’d be all in!)
Embracing Evolution in Home Design
These are our latest beach house updates, and I hope it offers comfort to hear that sometimes, rooms take time to truly figure out. It’s absolutely not a failure to rearrange things, experiment, and constantly try new ideas. Even in our very first home, I used to move furniture around all the time! There truly is no better way to achieve a quick and refreshing makeover. Home design is a journey of discovery and adaptation, and each evolution brings us closer to a space that feels uniquely ours.
For those interested in exploring our furniture designs during a flash sale, they are exclusively available on Joss & Main this week, with only a few days left. If you’re curious about the entire furniture designing process, we’ve penned a detailed post all about that journey. And for more on John’s idea of potentially painting the living room walls a new color, tune into our latest podcast episode, where we explore trendy online paint companies and their claims to simplify color selection.
P.S. In celebration of our new dining table chandeliers being designs from Shades of Light, we’re dropping a link to our entire collection for anyone who wants to check it all out. We absolutely LOVE seeing them in your homes too – so please send us photos on Instagram if you use them!
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