Welcome to our warm, moody living room in Palm Springs. With ochre walls, layered deep wood tones and the coziest couch, this room immediately feels inviting. It’s the first space you enter in our home, and from day one I wanted guests to feel welcome the moment they step inside.
I think we pulled it off. Below you’ll find the before-and-after images and the design choices that shaped this cozy entry-living area.
Before & After
When we bought the house, the walls here were plain white and the floors had a faux Saltillo-style tile. We transformed the room into something warmer and more layered. Here’s how it looked before and after the renovation.
Choosing Ochre Living Room Walls
The entry, living room and kitchen all flow into one another, and I wanted a paint color that felt bold yet warm enough to tie the areas together. Ochre seemed like the perfect choice—rich, sunlit and versatile enough to make other colors pop.
We used Wildflower Honey by Dunn Edwards and are very happy with how it reads throughout the day. Yellow tones shift a lot depending on light, so we tested samples on several walls and observed them at different times to ensure consistency and warmth in every corner.
Ochre pairs beautifully with greens, plums, pinks, deep reds and cobalt blues. It also complements deep wood finishes, which we emphasized throughout the house—especially the custom-stained wood ceilings.
It creates a lovely contrast with warm ivory tones too, such as the Moroccan-style ivory rug we layered into the room for texture and softness.
Botanical Gallery Wall
The front door opens straight into the living room, with French doors to the backyard visible across the room. To define an entry zone, I added a long bench and a coat rack right by the door.
Above the bench I arranged a botanical gallery wall made from vintage rock plant illustrations dating to the 1940s. Each print sits inside a thin brass frame to add height and an understated, elegant touch to the entry.
The bench was custom made in Mexico and we placed a vintage mustard rug in front to echo the ochre walls and introduce another warm tone into the space.
Our Plum Sixpenny Sectional
The living room is spacious and required a large, comfortable sectional to anchor it. We chose the Sixpenny Neva Corner Sectional in a rich summer plum thread-dyed cotton-linen. The deep plum is a striking, sophisticated contrast to the ochre walls and fits the moody aesthetic we wanted.
The sectional blends comfort and clean lines: French seams add character, the deep seats invite lounging, and the feather-down fill gives it a lived-in softness. We paired it with a reclaimed oak coffee table that complements the aged look of the wood ceilings and provides the right scale for the sofa.
The coffee table’s texture and warmth tie the seating area together, contrasting the plush upholstery and grounding the layout.
Incorporating Antiques in the Living Room
Many of the room’s pieces are vintage or antique finds. Layering antiques brings history and personality to the space and balances modern elements with timeless craftsmanship.
Our media console is an antique Indian wedding table. We slide two small ottomans beneath it for extra seating when needed. A sleek TV that resembles framed art and a brass picture light add modern functionality while keeping the visual layering interesting, especially next to the large olive tree.
Above the fireplace we placed an antique brass mirror and vintage sconces. A folding wood screen fills the nonfunctioning fireplace and creates a warm focal point on that wall.
Layering Pops of Color in a Moody Living Room
Despite the moody base, I wanted small, bright accents to guide the eye around the room. Those pops of color keep the space lively and layered.
A vintage green pot near the blue-tiled fireplace, a handmade red-striped lampshade and a raspberry velvet quilt provide small bursts of color that catch the eye without overpowering the room. The berry pink dining room peeks through in the background, adding another layer of color to the overall palette.
These accents—vintage finds, handmade touches and layered textiles—help the room feel collected and lived-in rather than staged.
Living Room Sources
Paint: Wildflower Honey by Dunn Edwards
Sofa: Sixpenny Neva Corner Sectional in summer plum thread-dyed cotton linen
Coffee Table: Reclaimed oak
Ivory Moroccan Rug: layered for warmth
Pink Velvet Quilt: used as an accent throw
Botanical Illustrations: vintage prints framed in thin brass frames
Wood Bench: custom made
Coat Rack: vintage
Mustard Vintage Rug: vintage layering piece
Blanket Ladder: vintage or secondhand
Mirror & Sconces: antique and vintage finds
Folding Wood Screen: antique focal piece
Olive Tree & Pot: planted for scale and texture
Media Console: antique Indian wedding table
Ottomans: tucked under console for flexible seating
TV & Picture Light: chosen to read as art and provide subtle illumination
All remaining decor: vintage or secondhand pieces layered throughout the room
My jumpsuit is by Noble.