Repurposed 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.

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 this tufted couch, keep an open floor plan cozy. Use area rugs to define individual "rooms" within the space. 

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

Navy Walls

Give beige a break. Dramatic hues can drench a large living room, like this inky wallpaper. The deep blue provides a surprisingly neutral backdrop. 

Give beige a break. Dramatic hues drench a large living room, like this inky wallpaper. The deep blue provides a surprisingly neutral backdrop.

Comfy Seating

Your style may be posh, your furniture can still be cozy. Plush sofas and armchairs rule the roost in Ellen Pompeo's L.A. home. "It's fancy in a cool way, not in an 'I can't sit there' way," she says.

Your style may be posh, your furniture can still be cozy. Plush sofas and armchairs rule the roost in Ellen Pompeo’s L.A. home. “It’s fancy in a cool way, not in an ‘I can’t sit there’ way,” she says.

Chic Storage

Need space, stat? Swap boring shelving for more decorative options, then load up on fabric boxes or baskets to hide an overflow of knick knacks.

Need space, stat? Swap boring shelving for more decorative options, then load up on fabric boxes or baskets to hide an overflow of knick knacks.

Slim Footprint

Save square footage without sacrificing seating by using dining chairs in the living room. A rattan-and-cane perch takes up less real estate than a traditional recliner.

Save square footage without sacrificing seating by using dining chairs in the living room. A rattan-and-cane perch takes up less real estate than a traditional recliner.

Family-Friendly

Yep, white furniture can work in a house with kids. Just choose durable fabrics (a leather couch) and surfaces (the plastic rocker, the lacquer table) that wipe clean easily.

Yep, white furniture can work in a house with kids. Just choose durable fabrics (a leather couch) and surfaces (the plastic rocker, the lacquer table) that wipe clean easily.

Statement Rug

The key to subtle color lays at your feet. A patterned carpet plays up the neutral furniture in a New Jersey home, while a similarly-hued pillow adds another punch to the armchair.

The key to subtle color lays at your feet. A patterned carpet plays up the neutral furniture in a New Jersey home, while a similarly-hued pillow adds another punch to the armchair.

Fast Fixes

Makeover a room by rethinking the pieces you already have. Use up leftover wall paint on the frame of an old chair or refresh curtains and pillows by sewing fancy trim along the edge.

Makeover a room by rethinking the pieces you already have. Use up leftover wall paint on the frame of an old chair or refresh curtains and pillows by sewing fancy trim along the edge.

Subtle Pattern

Avoid future boredom with calm colors using texture and pattern. In a dreamy beach house, muted prints in the same palette keep a neutral room from looking bland.

Avoid future boredom with calm colors using texture and pattern. In a dreamy beach house, muted prints in the same palette keep a neutral room from looking bland.

Sheer Curtains

The quickest way to let light in starts at the source. Replace heavy fabric curtains with gauzy ones, making sure the panels go all the way to the floor. To accentuate a tall ceiling, mount the drapes about a foot above windows and doors.

The quickest way to let light in starts at the source. Replace heavy fabric curtains with gauzy ones, making sure the panels go all the way to the floor. To accentuate a tall ceiling, mount the drapes about a foot above windows and doors.

Second Surface

Change up tired decor with this quick DIY. Add old wood planks to a coffee table as a bonus shelf. And skip painting — the weathered finish has more character.

Change up tired decor with this quick DIY. Add old wood planks to a coffee table as a bonus shelf. And skip painting — the weathered finish has more character.

Easy Access

An open floor plan like in this Connecticut cottage creates one large space for entertaining. Two columns (garage-sale finds from years ago) stand at the corners of the kitchen, anchoring the room.

An open floor plan like in this Connecticut cottage creates one large space for entertaining. Two columns (garage-sale finds from years ago) stand at the corners of the kitchen, anchoring the room.

Dark Accent

Look to the opposite end of the color spectrum to tie everything together. A moody blue grounds a windowed living room by Sarah Richardson without overwhelming it.

Look to the opposite end of the color spectrum to tie everything together. A moody blue grounds a windowed living room by Sarah Richardson without overwhelming it.

Sneaky Furniture

Steal a space-faking secret from this tiny Brooklyn apartment. Choose a few full-size furniture pieces instead of cramming in lots of smaller ones. The living room will feel larger, and you'll have a sofa you actually like to sit on.

Steal a space-faking secret from this tiny Brooklyn apartment. Choose a few full-size furniture pieces instead of cramming in lots of smaller ones. The living room will feel larger, and you’ll have a sofa you actually like to sit on.

Bonus Materials

Don't forget to punctuate color with natural texture. Sarah Richardson used wicker baskets, a wood-frame mirror and an antique pine dresser to warm up this rustic cabin.

Don’t forget to punctuate color with natural texture. Sarah Richardson used wicker baskets, a wood-frame mirror and an antique pine dresser to warm up a rustic cabin.

Blank Space

Start with an all-white canvas and swap in seasonal accents all year-round. This summery living room uses cool blues, jute accessories and nautical accents for a beachy vibe.

Start with an all-white canvas and swap in seasonal accents all year-round. This summery living room uses cool blues, jute accessories and nautical accents for a beachy vibe.

Light and Airy

Measuring just 250 square feet, a tiny guesthouse copies a staple of Scandinavian style. Bright white shiplap creates the illusion of added space.

Measuring just 250 square feet, a tiny guesthouse copies a staple of Scandinavian style. Bright white shiplap creates the illusion of added space.

Cohesive Palette

HGTV host Emily Henderson uses a "hero color" throughout every room to pull it all together. In her Los Angeles home, blue with gray and olive accents creates a casual, layered look.

HGTV host Emily Henderson uses a “hero color” throughout every room to pull it all together. In her Los Angeles home, blue with gray and olive accents creates a casual, layered look.

Natural Textures

This Connecticut farmhouse nails country style. Underused neutrals rust and charcoal echo throughout with woodsy elements like oak, cedar, stone and leather.

This Connecticut farmhouse nails country style. Underused neutrals rust and charcoal echo throughout with woodsy elements like oak, cedar, stone and leather.

Global Home

A Dallas home feels bohemian and well-traveled thanks to wood floors and gray walls. The neutral base helps a bold kilim-covered sofa and mix-and-match throw pillows shine.

A Dallas home feels bohemian and well-traveled thanks to wood floors and gray walls. The neutral base helps a bold kilim-covered sofa and mix-and-match throw pillows shine.

Inviting Corner

This breezy Florida living room (with happy-hued pillows) is as pretty as it is practical. The sofa is upholstered in water-resistant fabric to create a put-your-feet-up attitude.

This breezy Florida living room (with happy-hued pillows) is as pretty as it is practical. The sofa is upholstered in water-resistant fabric to create a put-your-feet-up attitude.

Bold and Bright

Inject personality into your living space with energetic hues and quirky secondhand finds, like this colorful apartment's coral sofa and gilded accent pieces.

Inject personality into your living space with energetic hues and quirky secondhand finds, like this colorful apartment’s coral sofa and gilded accent pieces.

Eclectic Mix

This Toronto home achieves balanced decor without being too matchy-matchy. The furniture and accent pieces are diverse, but the symmetrical design grounds the look.

This Toronto home achieves balanced decor without being too matchy-matchy. The furniture and accent pieces are diverse, but the symmetrical design grounds the look.

Rustic Appeal

The antique wooden beams are a welcome contrast to the modern furniture in an airy farmhouse.

The antique wooden beams are a welcome contrast to the modern furniture in an airy farmhouse.

Cozy Cottage

Exposed brick and a thrifted coffee table work together to create a country vibe in this rustic room. Consider your living space as a place for your collections, too, like this homeowner's vintage fans.

Exposed brick and a thrifted coffee table work together to create a country vibe in this rustic room. Consider your living space as a place for your collections, too, like this homeowner’s vintage fans.

Gorgeous Gallery

Achieve the drama of a major art piece inexpensively by displaying a tight grid of small frames.

Achieve the drama of a major art piece inexpensively by displaying a tight grid of small frames.

Elegant Bungalow

Our home design director Sarah Richardson elevated this cozy gray-and-cream bungalow with surprising touches of orange.

Our home design director Sarah Richardson elevated this cozy gray-and-cream bungalow with surprising touches of orange.

Understated Glam

A neutral palette doesn't always mean playing it safe. Layer textures and mix in flea market finds to keep things interesting like this glam home and avoid a flat appearance.

A neutral palette doesn’t always mean playing it safe. Layer textures and mix in flea market finds to keep things interesting like this glam home and avoid a flat appearance.

Black and White

This ultra-modern room uses color sparingly for a sleek look.

This ultra-modern room uses color sparingly for a sleek look.

Classic Elegance

Position your couch under an oversized window to allow the sunlight and outdoor scene be the focal point of an otherwise neutral room.

Position your couch under an oversized window to allow the sunlight and outdoor scene be the focal point of an otherwise neutral room.

Nice Arch-itecture

An eclectic floor-to-ceiling bookshelf acts as this room's accent wall — it's a bold way to show off your most prized knick-knacks (and books, of course).

An eclectic floor-to-ceiling bookshelf acts as this room’s accent wall — it’s a bold way to show off your most prized knick-knacks (and books, of course).

Color Harmony

Traditional-style furniture gets a dash of regal style with rich purple accents and an oversized rug to anchor the conversation space.

Traditional-style furniture gets a dash of regal style with rich purple accents and an oversized rug to anchor the conversation space.

Perfect Symmetry

When in doubt, choosing dual accents (coffee tables, lamps, pillows, frames) always makes for a balanced look.

When in doubt, choosing dual accents (coffee tables, lamps, pillows, frames) always makes for a balanced look.

Go Eclectic

Instead of a classic wooden coffee table, choose a colorful one, like this teal option which is meant to mirror the couch.

Instead of a classic wooden coffee table, choose a colorful one, like this teal option which is meant to mirror the couch.

Light and Airy

White couches are a true classic, and look simply lovely paired with garden-style accents like a floral rug and sage trim. Choose white slipcovers to make this look more practical (and easier to clean).

White couches are a true classic, and look simply lovely paired with garden-style accents like a floral rug and sage trim. Choose white slipcovers to make this look more practical (and easier to clean).

Contemporary Warmth

Golden yellow touches bring coziness to this family room — and that antique-inspired wall clock makes quite the statement, too.

Golden yellow touches bring coziness to this family room — and that antique-inspired wall clock makes quite the statement, too.

Minimalist Dream

Achieve a serene, polished look with dark flooring and furniture in varying shades of white.

Achieve a serene, polished look with dark flooring and furniture in varying shades of white.

Nature’s Best

This room incorporates outdoor elements with the tall stack of firewood and orchid centerpiece.

This room incorporates outdoor elements with the tall stack of firewood and orchid centerpiece.

Keep It Simple

Try a less-is-more attitude by sticking to clean lines and a neutral color palette. An area rug and throw pillows keeps the space warm and inviting.

Try a less-is-more attitude by sticking to clean lines and a neutral color palette. An area rug and throw pillows keeps the space warm and inviting.

Go for Gold

A pair of sunny yellow chairs doubles-down on the striking impact of a shining sunburst mirror.

A pair of sunny yellow chairs doubles-down on the striking impact of a shining sunburst mirror.

Turquoise Touches

If you're too nervous to stray far from a neutral, choose just one shade you love (and keep the walls a calming beige, as seen in this living room) to dip a toe into the pool of color possibilities.

If you’re too nervous to stray far from a neutral, choose just one shade you love (and keep the walls a calming beige, as seen in this living room) to dip a toe into the pool of color possibilities.

Preppy Palette

Hints of gold make buttoned-up pink and navy shades look a bit more glamorous. See more at Caitlin Wilson »

Hints of gold make buttoned-up pink and navy shades look a bit more glamorous.

Embrace Americana

Skip the primary versions of red and blue, and choose navy and burgundy for a nod toward patriotism that doesn't overwhelm your space. See more at At Home on the Bay »

Skip the primary versions of red and blue, and choose navy and burgundy for a nod toward patriotism that doesn’t overwhelm your space.

Chic Blend

This blogger proves that mixing patterns and textures can be a smashing success when you stick to a simple color palette. See more at Cuckoo 4 Design »

This blogger proves that mixing patterns and textures can be a smashing success when you stick to a simple color palette.