DIY fails and our mini formal living room revamp

While it’s nice that we’ve fixed the mistake, it was also a big waste of money. If I would’ve planned the entire room out better, measured and not made a few impulsive purchases, we probably would’ve had a better room and less waste. And if we would’ve thought through the architectural elements like beams on the ceiling, board and batten on the walls and a few other things, we wouldn’t be going back and doing it. Of course, I plan to find a way to use the old furniture, because although it’s too small for the space and a bit too formal for what I like in our home now, I do still really love it. But our new/old sofa is a better fit. I simply replaced our old sectional cover and turned the sectional into a sofa. This was a $40 change that made all the difference. And if you’re thinking “how will she deal with white with two cats and kids?” I’m with you! But, we bought two sets of washable covers so we feel pretty safe.

I want to share just a few more shots of our new and improved formal living room.

I loved layering plaid items into the room and filling the space with warm neutral tones. While the room isn’t complete quite yet, it is close and is much more our style with these simple changes after living with our design mistakes for a couple of years.

I have made SO many DIY and design mistakes in both of our homes. In our old home, I painted a bedroom that doubled as an office, dark purple and it looked like a dungeon. For this home, I dyed curtains yellow to save a few dollars, but instead ruined the curtains and had to go buy new fabric and have some made which were also a mistake. I could have bought the original ones I wanted if I would’ve skipped the DIY projects and saved the money.

 I’ve made countless painting mistakes. My husband and I have attempted hanging light fixtures ourselves and ended up with the fixture slightly hanging down from the ceiling, often needing an electrician to finish up the job. Typically the mistakes come from my hope that we can do it super inexpensively, but sometimes, I just want to try things. So many failures that I need to stop counting for my sanity.

But friends, if you’re anything like me and have had your own DIY Fails, now is your chance to turn it into a positive. You can participate in the U.S. Bank “#DIYFails” contest for the chance to win one of five $500 VISA Rewards cards.

And for some, doing it right the first time may not seem like an option, but with the U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), it could be possible for you. If you’re all too familiar with DIY fails or simply want to take your home improvement projects to the next level, consider applying for U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit to help you make the big, permanent fixes you need if this seems like the right fit for you and your family. To learn more, visit U.S. Bank’s Home Equity Line of Credit FAQ page.