1-Step Living Room Upgrades You'll Love

Photo: Noah Webb
Photo: Noah Webb

By Abbe Wright

Give Your Fireplace the Silent Treatment

"To transition from winter to spring, I like to rearrange the furniture in the living room to create a connection with the outside. Focus your furniture in a way that lets you take advantage of the view outside."--Tim Clarke, author of Coastal Modern: Sophisticated Homes Inspired by the Ocean


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Hang Ghost Frames

"To add faux architectural interest in the living room, cover one blank wall with a collection of cheap frames--find them at discount stores or flea markets. Paint the frames the same shade as the wall color--it's an effect that mimics texture. Choose a high-gloss paint finish on the frames to add shimmer and sophistication and to make them pop from the wall."--Janet Lee of LivingInANutshell.com and author of Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces


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Self-Burglarize Your Space

"To make a big improvement in the living room, I'd suggest minimizing accessories. Take everything out of the room--picture frames, stacks of books and knickknacks-and then place some, but not all, back. [The remaining objects] will look less like clutter, and the room will be more inviting."--Phoebe Howard, author of The Joy of Decorating: Southern Style with Mrs. Howard


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Play the Same Game

"Do you have two mismatched lamps on either side of your couch, or one standing lamp and one tabletop lamp? Forget that. To get a big impact, get two matching lamps and place them on each side of the sofa."--Susanna Salk, author of Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Inspiration and Cues from Today's Top Designers


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Paint Your Walls Like You Paint Your Nails

"An easy way to update your living room is to change the color of the walls. A turquoise or an icy blue are beautiful colors, or try a pale gray with crisp white trim. Instead of painting just one wall in a room--which confuses the architecture--keep the background pure with the same color on all four walls and add unexpected pops of color using pillows."--Steven Gambrel, author of Steven Gambrel: Time and Place


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