home makeover ideas

Ready for a change? Washable slipcovers in lighthearted new fabrics perk up old upholstery.

Crisp whites combined with punches of bright colors immediately transport you to the coast. In this living room, aqua accents in the pillows, throw, and rug mimic the oceans dazzling blues, and the pops of bright orange are inspired by the magnificent hues of the setting sun. Whitewashed horizontal shiplap planking evokes the feel of old Gulf front beach houses.

Inspiration for this design struck in the form of a 30 yard bolt of black and white hounds tooth fabric that was on sale for an amazing $30. Even after the window treatments, upholstery, and pillows there was plenty of leftover fabric to be used down the road as seat cushions on new finds, lampshades, and even place mats or a tablecloth.

Asymmetrical arrangements can be intimidating, but formal symmetry is easy to pull off and adds a calm balance to a room. The simple arrangement above this fireplace is clean and elegant.

Layer a variety of patterned rugs over a neutral sisal rug covering for an exciting floor treatment.

Add architectural interest to your living room with a ceiling treatment. The coffered ceiling in the room creates a striking structural feature to the space.

This armchair is re covered in a botanical print fabric. The legs are painted white to lighten the visual weight of the piece. Tucked into a corner of the living room and paired with a set of nesting tables, the chair is a perfect spot for reading.

Decorating is not like doing the laundry. Lights and darks go together just fine. In fact, theyre made for each other in this living room connected by a large cased opening.

Although less than 2,500 square feet, this cottage feels larger because of the homeowners clever decision to open up and connect the main living spaces. The family room is also vaulted to reveal the loft space above yet another way of providing extra volume to a relatively modest space.

This homeowner bucked the matchy, matchy rule by placing different end tables and lamps on either side of the sofa in her living room. The mismatch works because, even though one table is a white Asian inspired look and the other is a black step like design, both tables are the same height. A sleek brass reading lamp pairs nicely with the simple white table, while a large silver leaf table lamp fits with the more substantial black table.