home makeover ideas

Comfortable and formal can go together. Use antiques to anchor your room and then mix in modern touches with bold fabrics, mid century lighting, and sculptural accessories. Pair silk curtains and mirrored tables with clean lined upholstery and lots of colorful pillows.

A stone chimney is beautiful, but its also expected. The natural horizontal wood paneling around this fireplace ties it together with the built ins flanking the hearth.

This living room shows that you dont need to shy away from bold patterns in a small space. A floral rug and coordinating pillows add color to the space, while an animal print chair heightens the drama. The herringbone fireplace tile is a nice geometric touch.

If you want a contemporary edge, you cant go wrong with the modern classics like these white leather Barcelona chairs and Lucite coffee table.

Give your living room a focal point by creating a faux fireplace with an antique mantel. This fireplace was set on a rectangular piece of slate as the hearth.

Short on windows to capture natural light? Replace solid exterior doors with glass ones for an airy feel and pretty views of your yard.

Take your decorating cues from your surroundings. This home is on a lake surrounded by trees. Moss greens and mushroom browns paired with a twig and bark side table truly bring the outdoors in.

This living room was designed to resemble an early 1900s library; the living room contains a wall of floor to ceiling bookshelves. Two large double hung windows punctuate these built ins, along with cozy window seats below.

This living area has floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that fill the room with light. Horizontal mullions in the glass doors are reminiscent of Japanese shoji screens. They complement the space and guide your eye around the room.

Dont be afraid to personalize the items you buy. Almost every chair in this room was refinished Two armchairs were whitewashed, and the blue velvet chair was gilded.