We finally took the leap and made a big change on our main level by saying goodbye to the carpet in both the living room and bedroom. With the help of Floor Coverings International, the carpet was removed and our existing hardwood floors were given a fresh new stain—and the difference is amazing. Everything feels brighter, cleaner, and so much more pulled together. This update completely transformed the feel of our space, and we’re excited to share the process and the final result with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the makeover, the living room was fully carpeted, which gave the space a cozy feel but also made it feel a bit heavier and more dated than we wanted. The carpet had seen a lot of life over the years and was starting to show wear, especially in the high-traffic areas. While the room itself had great natural light and beautiful features like the fireplace, the flooring was holding it back from feeling fresh and open.

 

 

 

 

The bedroom also had wall-to-wall carpet, creating continuity with the rest of the main level but lacking the clean, updated look we were ready for. Even though the room felt comfortable, the carpet made it harder to achieve the bright, airy feel we wanted. We knew removing it would instantly change the mood of the space and allow the room’s charm to shine through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the makeover, we already had hardwood floors on our main level, but the stain had a much warmer, orange tone that felt dated for the look we wanted. The floors were also a little scratched up from everyday life over the years. While they were still in good shape overall, we knew that re-staining the existing hardwood would make a big impact without needing to replace the floors entirely.

When Floor Coverings International came for our in-home consultation, they brought samples of several different stain colors we could choose from for the floors. Being able to see the options in our own space made such a difference. The lighting in each room and the surrounding decor really helped us narrow down which stain would work best and give us the look we were hoping to achieve.

We narrowed it down to a few stain options that we felt would work best in our space. Once the floors were sanded down, samples of each stain were applied directly to the hardwood so we could see exactly how they would look. Seeing the color on the actual floors made the decision so much easier, and we ultimately chose Special Walnut.

Then it was time for them to get to work! They were able to remove a few planks of our existing hardwood and replace them in a way that blends seamlessly with the rest of the flooring.

Their team worked incredibly efficiently. While one crew was installing the new flooring in our bedroom and living room, another team was restoring the hardwood floors throughout the rest of the main level.

We were so impressed with how clean the entire process was. Our home was always treated with respect, and the crew made sure to tidy up at the end of each day, which we truly appreciated.

And here is how it turned out…

We love the stain color and how it brings each room together.

This was our bedroom before we brought all of our furniture back in.

And here is everything put back together! I am so thrilled with how it looks without the carpet. I also painted the wall behind our bed black as an accent wall, and I feel like everything together really makes the space pop.

     

In our living room, we added a new sectional and placed a throw rug to help bring the entire space together.

We couldn’t be happier with how this makeover turned out. Removing the carpet and refreshing the hardwood floors completely changed the look and feel of our main level, making every space feel brighter and more cohesive. From start to finish, the process was smooth, and seeing everything come together has been so rewarding. We hope this makeover inspires you if you’re thinking about updating your own floors—and thank you for following along with our journey.