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    6 Easy Ways to Makeover Your Living Room

    By | Work + Money – Wed, Aug 25, 2010 8:24 PM EDT

    Make Your Living Room a Showstopper! How much would it cost to have über-designer Kelly Wearstler create a serene refuge like this for you? Trust us, you don't want to know. But her tips and your budget-friendly finds are within reach for all of us.

    photo credit: James Waddellphoto credit: James Waddell
    1. Use trendy pieces as accents
    "Look for unanticipated elements that add sophistication and excitement," Wearstler says. Right now, think fruit: Golden apples and pears look glam on a side table or mantle and are inexpensive enough to swap out when you get bored. Gold apple and pear fruit, $18 each; tozaihome.com for stores.

    2. Create the illusion of space
    "The coffee table plays off the scale of the sofa and generous room size," Wearstler says. Even an average-size room feels big and airy with a glass-topped coffee table.

    Related: Got 2 Hours? Makeover That Old Dresser!

    3. Stick with one finish
    Wearstler suggests using just one metallic finish throughout a room. Matte gold or bronze adds warmth.

    4.     Bring in bright accessories. Wearstler's trick for mixing wildly different patterns? Keep it within the color palette. We've paired blue and yellow pillows. Handwoven ikat pillow cover, $30; lunabazaar.com. Unison static pillow, $36, and reed pillow, $52; allmodern.com.

    Related: 13 Ways to Transform Your Home With Paint

    5. Junk, What Junk?
    "Decorative, fabric-covered boxes, vases, and vessels are pretty places to conceal mess," Wearstler says. (Use this box to stash the remote.)

    6. Pair Warm Tones with Cool Shades
    Even left unlit, the warm amber bases of these table lamps play against the cool neutral shades in the room.

    Get 8 More Instant Living Room Makeover Tips here.


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