Whether it’s a complete overhaul or a quick refresh, spice up the family’s favorite room with these pro tips:

Streamlined Shelves

Refresh your storage by taking the jackets off old books (load up at yard sales) to expose the stitching or covering your collection with coordinating papers. 

Tilted Mirror

For a laid-back look on your mantel, rest a sturdy style against the wall – no hammering required.

Lush Leaves

Fill any underused nook or corner with a big, ol’ houseplant and it can instantly become the personality-packed focal point of the room. Tuck the pot in a cute basket for an extra punch.

Painted Brick

Update an old-school brick fireplace (or wood paneling) with a coat of cream paint like sunny home. 

Soothing Palette

Let the vibes flow from room-to-room with another clever paint tip. “I often paint a home one color throughout,” says Susana Simonpietri, interior designer and cofounder of Chango & Co. “Or, I’ll try the softest hue in the room that gets the most natural light, then work through the rest of the home with deepening shades of blue and gray.”

Better Flow

It’s not as much about where you put your furniture as it is about the types of pieces you choose. “In each room I design, I try to include at least one round piece, such as a coffee table, that people can walk around without bumping their knees,” says interior designer Katie Rosenfeld. “I also add a few armchairs and a versatile piece like a garden stool that can be used as a stool to sit on or as a table for a drink.”

Streamlined Screen

Don’t let your primetime viewing habits impede your style. “Go for a slim TV (mine is a Samsung), and use a thin mount that lets it sit flat against the wall,” says lifestyle blogger Carley Knobloch. “Then have the wires threaded through the wall so it looks uncluttered.”

Velvet Sofa

Make the living room feel airer (and infinitely bigger) by replacing a bulky sectional with pretty seating. Besides, what feels more luxe than velvet?

Dual-Purpose Bar Cart

Setting up a booze station on your bar cart is a no brainer — but using it as an end table(especially when space is limited) to display blooms, art and coffee table books is just genius.

Low Furniture

Short pieces, like tufted couch, keep an open floor plan cozy. Use area rugs to define individual “rooms” within the space.

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