Room makeover, a before & after: Better than winning the lottery

Looking for a little more excitement in your life? Would you settle for some in your family room?

This redesign I recently completed for a client illustrates a few ways you can brighten things up.

First: I loosened up the furniture arrangement. There was not much space between the sofa that faces the fireplace and the wall behind it. Now the room has a much airier feel.

Second: I added lamps to the end tables. Even if there is plenty of overhead lighting, lamps will add a warmer, cozier feel to a room. They also add much-needed height to the tables.

Third, and perhaps most importantly: I sprinkled in pillows and accessories, adding the color blue. The rug has some blue in it, as does a print above the chair shown at left. Spreading that color around the room brings zing to an otherwise neutral color scheme.

1, 2, 3. Now that's exciting.