From Seventies to Sensational - A Family Room Transformation

Note: In this post, my new contributor Sara Jane {CLICK HERE to meet her} is sharing her family room transformation. I love this room & I hope you do too! Take it away Sara . . . 

When we moved into our home, the dark basement made me itchy for a DIY transformation. This room is partially below ground, so it gets less light than the upper floors. I loved the texture & interest of the planked walls, but the drab terracotta bar & dark wood was weighing down the room.  The previous homeowners generously left me a can of white paint that was begging me to lighten up the bar area. I painted the bead board under the bar first & couldn't stop there! 

The entire project was completed in 12 hours - during nap time and after the kid's bed time. Whitewashing the planks was messy, but it was so fun! 

Supplies: Drop cloths, white latex paint, a soft bristle brush, a large pack of cheese cloth, a container to mix the paint, & a separate container for water. 

How to achieve this look: Mix one-part paint to two-parts water. Apply mixture to the wood with a soft bristle brush - then wipe the freshly-painted area with a clean cheese cloth. Work with a small area at a time to insure consistency. I worked with one plank at a time. Some of the planks were more porous than others, so I dipped the paintbrush in a cup of water to dilute the paint more.

I completed the updated look by adding fun accessories such as a white deer head & a cozy sheep skin reading nook. Now it feels like home!

Thank you so much Sara. Your room looks fantastic! Check back for more Sara Jane posts.