I Spent $3,600 to Furnish My Dream Nancy Meyers-Inspired Living Room—Here’s How I Used My Budget
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Photo: Courtesy of Kenzie Elizabeth
As told to Katherine McLaughlin by Kenzie Elizabeth
If I were to describe my interior design style, adjectives like lived-in, cozy, and Nancy Meyers-inspired immediately come to mind—a natural partiality given I’m a self-proclaimed homebody. When I moved into my current Dallas home in 2023, there was only one problem: the space is a tad more modern than I would typically prefer. It was flipped and refinished by the previous owners so I didn’t have to make any structural changes, but I was eager to add warmth to the stark white walls and crisp wood floors.
I’m passionate about hosting and a major reader, so I knew my living room would become one of the most important areas in the house. Over the past year and a half, I’ve decorated—and redecorated—this room, and can now confidently say it’s my perfect design. But it took a lot of trial and error to get here, and I learned many lessons along the way that I plan to take into any future home project. This is what I did, and bought, to create my ultimate Nancy Meyers-inspired living room.
The budget
I chose not to set a decor budget for the room, and instead considered every purchase piece by piece. In the past, I’ve tried to buy everything upfront with a certain budget, but I’ve always ended up not loving what I ordered. In general, I’m always willing to invest in my home, partially because I love to be in it, but also because I run my business from it.
I’m a vlogger on Youtube, so my home is in the background of all content, and I own a homeware brand; we sometimes shoot product or campaign imagery here. Not to mention my office is here, and I primarily work from home, so that definitely influences my choices. However, that doesn’t mean I had an unlimited budget. When I was looking for couches, for example, many of the new ones were more expensive than I was willing to spend. In those cases, I relied on secondhand sites to find deals.
The deals
My Facebook Marketplace algorithm knows me better than I know myself—it’s insane how amazing it is. A couch is arguably the most important piece of furniture in the living room, and I was hoping to find a big, white one for this space. But many of the options from traditional retailers were expensive and weren’t quite what I was willing to spend. So I started searching on Facebook Marketplace and actually found this one really quickly for a great deal. Similar ones new can easily be over $1,000.
I also found my table on Facebook Marketplace. My mom and grandma are both designers and seamstresses, so I grew up in the home space and have been to probably every antique store within a 200 mile radius. I was picturing a vintage- or antique-looking table to remind me of my childhood, and I got really lucky when I found this one. It was the perfect piece for my space, and I spent way less on both it and the couch than what I could’ve found brand new. I also think they just match the room so much better.
In addition to the furniture, I relied on smaller items like flowers and picture frames to add the charm and lived-in feel I was going for. The wicker baskets are some of my favorite additions in this category; they’re also a nod to my childhood, which I love. When I was growing up, my parents and aunts and uncles had matching wicker baskets for blankets, but these can get really pricey. My grandma had a similar version and gave it to me recently. It’s perfect for the space and I didn’t even have to spend money on it, so it’s probably my best “deal.”
The regrets
I always pictured navy striped armchairs in this room and recently added two that I’m completely in love with. For months, I’d look online for and could never find anything similar to what I was imagining, and if I found something close they were always really expensive. Then one day, I saw my current chairs on Wayfair for $300 each, which is a really good deal for this type of chair. They’re right by my fireplace so I’ll go sit in them and read at night, it’s so cozy. Even though I got these for a good price, I tried a ton of different chairs in the space before I found the striped one. I wish I had waited for what I really wanted and not tried to find something to fit in the interim because I ended up selling them on Facebook Marketplace and feeling like I wasted money.
The final look
I didn’t want my space to feel like I just moved in and ordered a bunch of stuff on CB2 to the point that it looked like a catalog. It should reflect me, my life, and where I’m at. For some reason, my living room has been a space that I’ve focused less on in the past, which doesn’t really make sense because it’s the most used room in the house. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been 100% obsessed with any living room I’ve had since moving out of my parent’s house. Really, this has been 10 years in the making. Ever since redesigning it, I spend so much more time here; I love it. It was money well spent—so well spent.
Shop Products Inspired by Kenzie Elizabeth’s Living Room
Landry Sofa
$1499.00, Article
Romines Modern Soft Stripe Upholstered Swivel Barrel Chair
$670.00, Wayfair
Faux Hydrangea Arrangement - 12”
$320.00, Afloral
Softest Knit Wool Rug 9’x12’
$919.00, Rugs USA
Bohemian Frill Striped Pillow Cover
$29.00, Etsy
Curved Seagrass Baskets
$50.00, West Elm
$.00,
43” The Frame TV
$799.99.00, Samsung
This story is a part of Room Receipts, a series where we get real about the costs behind one well-designed room. From big budget spenders to thrifty thinkers, we’re talking to people from different worlds about their worth-it splurges, budget hacks, and purchase regrets. We’re always on the hunt for cool homes with a unique story, so if you’re interested in being featured tell us more about your space here.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
