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I'm Carrie Barker.

I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. I cracked the code on how to build within budget, and I still LOVE my design choices 12+ years later. Now I'm a Home Build Coach, and I help people (like YOU!) build within budget and without regrets! 

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Design + Decorate

Serena & Lily Look for Less: Family Room Redo

Published on:

1/08/25

written by:

Carrie Barker

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I love (LOVE) the look of this calming neutral family room, but it’s just a little out of my price range (ok, a lot out of my price range)! The good news … I created a similar Serena & Lily look for less than half the cost.

A low decor budget does NOT mean your style has to suffer! You can decorate beautifully on any budget. Simply find an inspirational room design and redo it based on what you can afford … as I’ve done below :).

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SERENA & LILY INSPIRATION FAMILY ROOM

Serena & Lily look for less post
Image via SERENA & LILY

The Serena & Lily furniture price point is a bit of a splurge for my budget (and many people’s budget)! I think we would all LOVE to purchase the gorgeous Serena & Lily sofa and the equally beautiful chairs and counter stools, BUT the price tag just isn’t realistic for many of us.

If it’s in your budget, go for it. Serena & Lily’s furniture is AMAZING! However, you also have the option to do some high/low decorating.

SERENA & LILY LOOK FOR LESS FAMILY ROOM

I created this family room redo to show you that YOU can do this with ANY look you love.

serena & lily look for less neutral gray and white family room design

The counter stools are sooo cool. Even cooler… you can buy ALL four for LESS than the cost of ONE inspiration stool. The stools don’t have all the detail as our inspiration stool BUT the lines are the same, and you get the woven textured look.

This Pottery Barn Cameron square arm sofa is a fraction of the cost of the Serena & Lily option.

The floor lamp, (similar) table lamp, and (similar) hanging pendant (similar) are all a fraction of the cost too.

The white accent chair (similar chair or similar chair) I found has the same square, boxy frame as the Serena chair. And guess what … you can buy TWO chairs for LESS than the cost of one inspiration chair.

Unfortunately, the chair pictured is no longer available, so I found a similar chair (or this chair) that is equally beautiful!

serena & lily look for less white accent chair
Image via WAYFAIR

I ADORE this gray and ivory rug (no longer available; similar rug linked)At the time of this writing, it is only $174 (on sale) for an 8′ x 10′!! That’s only 10% of the cost of the Serena & Lily rug!

gray and white patterned rug low cost
Rug via WAYFAIR (similar rugs)

I know that most of you reading my blog are moms (except my dad reads this … hi dad!), and prefer a soft, cushiony ottoman for your babies to bump their heads on, so I took the liberty of making this one change in the room redo.

I swapped the rattan coffee table out for the tufted ottoman (no longer available; similar ottoman linked).

RECOMMENDED POST: SERENA & LILY LOOK FOR LESS: NEUTRAL BEDROOM

CONCLUSION

The Serena & Lily Inspiration room is STUNNING! However, it costs roughly $14,000 total (depending on fabrics and pillows). Yikes!

The room redo is UNDER $5000. Whoo-hoo!

Go ahead and splurge on the Serena products if your budget allows it. Or you can create a high/low decorated room. If I were doing high/low in this case, I would splurge on the sofa and chairs … and save on the rug and lighting. Just sayin’!

Time to get out there and decorate your dream family room!

serena & lily look for less neutral family room decor

I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. A home that is cozy, comfy, laid out perfectly for the way my family lives, and makes us happy every single day. Oh, and did I mention I did this all without blowing the budget?! 

Yep, it’s true. I’ve been there, done that, and actually lived through it … and you will too. Pinkie promise!

a.k.a. Caroline on Design

I’m Carrie Barker.

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