Home & Decor :: Before & After – A Living Room Transformation with Urban Barn

written by Natalie Ho 2021.04.01

I’m so excited to finally share our living room transformation in partnership with Urban Barn with you! We moved into our new home late December and at the time, decided it was best to utilize all the existing furniture we had on hand. I’m someone that needs to spend time in a new space before making design and decor decisions. I find this to be most beneficial because more often than not, my needs and desires shift once I start living in it, and the room just tends to look different empty vs. with furniture in place.

I’m so glad I waited a couple of months before planning out this living room because some of the choices I made may have been different if I only depended on photos and measurements we took, and the couple of visits we made before we officially moved in!

I hope you like how I’ve styled our “Urban Cottage”.

Living Room Transformation with Urban Barn

The Toronto housing market is absolutely wild. With the rise of families wanting more indoor and outdoor space, we were so lucky to find a home that we absolutely fell in love with instantly that checked almost all our boxes. The fireplace in the living area definitely caught our eye when we first walked in, and I knew I would want to bring some attention to this beautiful feature.

When I started to plan out our space with Urban Barn, a few must haves were on my list. Firstly, replacing our existing chaise sofa was a priority. We previously selected a chaise sofa to gain a little bit of extra seating with very limited space. But now that we had more space to work with, I really wanted a deep set sofa where all three of us (and more) could snuggle up and watch a movie.

Our second must have was extra seating and reading nooks. Having lived in a narrow townhouse for the past seven years, we didn’t have any options to add extra furniture without really cluttering our space. Therefore accent chairs were definitely a must in our new space.

Lastly, having storage options was key. If you’re a fellow parent, you’d know just about how much toys and knick knacks a child accumulates. Being able to hide and stow away all of Everett’s toys but being able to still easily access them was very important to us as a family.

Featured: Evan Bench, Jovie Stripe Toss, Esplanade Wall Art c/o Urban Barn

As you can imagine, the furniture industry like many others have been faced with challenges due to the pandemic. Many companies have been left with limited stock and long wait times. My experience with Urban Barn was exceptional. I worked closely with the team to select a variety of furniture pieces that worked both with my vision and our needs. For those of you who may need some help with design, Urban Barn offers a free Virtual Design Studio where you can schedule a one-on-one consultation and receive a design plan and personalized shopping list to help you bring your space to life. This is such a fabulous complimentary service!

In terms of delivery, the team was very helpful with supplying information on their next expected shipment/delivery times. When the furniture was ready to arrive, the delivery team provided such great support in helping us put together the pieces and arranging them in the space as we desired – of course all following the necessary safety protocols. I absolutely could not be more happy with their customer service experience both online and in-store.

Featured: Renfrew Armchair in Tan c/o Urban Barn

Now, about what I selected! I am absolutely smitten with the furniture and accent items I picked! The his and her seating area was exactly what I was hoping for. I was debating long about the Mondo chair as I was concerned that my toddler would bump into the minimal arm rests but no regrets on this! The chair is comfy, the perfect companion to the fireplace AND no toddler injuries to date! My husband on the other hand, wanted a large leather armchair, the Renfrew Armchair was the PERFECT choice. The leather is buttery soft and the tan colour is absolutely gorgeous. It adds an extra level of warmth to the space. And believe it or not, I now wrap up my work week on Fridays here with a hot coffee and cozy blanket draped over.

When it came to storage, the Houston 6 Drawer Dresser, which is part of the bedroom collection doubles fabulously as a living room item. This dresser has ample storage space which allows us to hide our toddler’s toys away nicely. Having the extra storage space is an obvious win but I also love being able to customize and style a vignette of vases and decorative items on top.

Speaking of decorative items, I can’t tell you what a BIG difference accent pieces such as vases, lamps, and planters can do to a space. Adding my personal touch with accents and wall art was by far my favourite part of the process. I had so much fun selecting from the wide array Urban Barn has to offer!

Featured: Nixon Sofa in Giovanni Moondust c/o Urban Barn

I couldn’t be more thrilled with our new sofa! The Nixon Sofa collection offers both quick ship and custom options. We chose the Giovanna Moondust fabric/colour style which was available and immediately ready to ship as part of their quick-ship custom furniture program. The sofa is about the same width as our last sofa (90 inches wide) but it is much deeper. I really wanted a sofa deep enough where our whole family could snuggle up comfortably! The seat cushions also have the perfect balance of comfiness and sturdiness. I honestly could not be happier with this choice. There is also a useful sectional planner posted on the Urban Barn website if you’re interested in a custom/sectional option. Their made-to-order program allows you to customize your sofa or furniture exactly how you want it, with hundreds of fabric or leather options to choose from.

Featured: Renfrew Arm Chair in Tan and Brysen Arc Lamp c/o Urban Barn

I was originally struggling with this blank wall that also had a large air return vent but so glad I found this bench which fits perfectly and covers the vent without entirely disrupting the airflow. I was also debating quite some time between a gallery of frames or one single art piece. I am so happy with this large canvas and can’t believe it retails for only $250!

Last but not least, we found the most beautiful rug to complement our space. Because I chose primarily a neutral colour scheme, I wanted a rug with a vibrant print to make the room pop. This rug really hit the mark and it is soft and cushy on the feet!

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to reveal our new living room with you! I am so excited to spend time in this inviting space, making memories as a family and enjoying each other’s company. I’ve linked all the products shown above from Urban Barn for you.

Promotion Offer: If you’re interested in upgrading some furniture or perhaps considering a full transformation, I’m so pleased to offer you an exclusive 15% off discount online at Urban Barn. Use code UBXNATALIE15 at check out online between April 1 – 15, 2021 to receive 15% off regular priced items, excluding custom furniture and sale or promotional priced items at Urban Barn.

Product Links:

Sofa: Nixon Sofa in Giovanni Moonstone

Accent Chairs: Renfrew Leather Armchair in Adler Tan | Mondo Chair 28″ in Sorrento Vanilla

Storage Solutions: Houston 6 Drawer Dresser in Harris Walnut | Grant Media Unit

Accent Furniture: Evan Bench Amalie Glacier | Edward Side Table | Marin Ottoman Balboa Mist

Lamps: Tamlyn Table Lamp | Brysen Arc Floor Lamp