Living - Country Living Mini Makeovers

Most of us focus our best decorating efforts on the living room. After all, its the space visitors are likeliest to see. And who doesnt want their home to make a great first impression? But even the most carefully designed room eventually needs a little liftrugs and furniture wear, styles change, and sometimes, you just want to switch things up. The good news is change is easy! Slipcovers can restore worn upholstery for a fraction of the cost of new furniture. Throw pillows in trendy colors or patterns can update instantly. Artwork can be rearranged, and suddenly youll see itand your living roomin a different light. Or go big! Swap your wall color for something completely differentsay, an unexpected charcoal hue. Cover your plain white ceiling paint with an airy pale-blue shade. The possibilities are endless, and you have to do only a little to get a lot of satisfaction.

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A mix of patterned pillows adds visual interest to this sunny, inviting room.

Ever wondered why your beautiful new couch looks so naked right after its delivered and installed in your living room? Youve discovered firsthand the magic of throw pillows.

Small and seemingly insignificant, these delightful bits of puff can transform a bland room, making it welcoming, pulled together, on trend, and comfortable in one fell swoop. And you dont have to spend a lot. Off-price retail stores like HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx are great resources, as are websites like Etsy. For a high-end look without a high price, search out vendors who make pillows using leftover pieces of to-the-trade fabrics or antique rugs. Dont be afraid to mix patterns (though sticking to just a couple of color families works best). Florals and stripes are classic country choices, and solid colors can make a bold statement. Choosing neutral-colored furniture gives you the most optionsyou can punch up the room with patterns and bright hues, or stick with beiges (like the grain-sack pillows on ) to create a serene vibe. Throws pick up where pillows leave off, adding coziness anddepending on what you choosecolor, pattern, and texture.

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Feminine floral prints give neutral furniture a fresh-from-the-garden makeover. You can make a 16 16-inch throw pillow with only a yard of fabric!

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The pillows in this understated living room enhance the rooms ambience and take it one step further. They share the nubby texture of the French postal sack framed above the couch and pick up the striped pattern of the armchair, while introducing one of the few pops of color.

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Solid and striped pillows add comfort and interest to rattan seating. The eye-catching throws also rev up the seatings neutral gray cushions while giving the whole room character.

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A resolutely practical brown sofa provides the perfect backdrop for an assortment of bright pillows. Paired with the equally striking artwork above the couch, they bring big personality to an otherwise humdrum room.

New upholstery, slipcovers, or curtains can change a room in an instant, in all kinds of ways. Re-covering a group of chairs in the same fabric can make them appear to be a matching set (even if theyre not), giving a room some polish. The fabric you choose depends on both the space and the mood you want to create. Bold, large-scale prints would feel loud in a white living room like the one on , but a subtle pattern, such as a thin brown pinstripe, is just right. The hearty denim-blue upholstery on the chairs on this page couldnt be more in sync with the refined, time-worn vibe of the vintage rug and weathered side and coffee tables. To evoke a farmhouse feeling, head straight for buffalo checks and flowered chintz, classic patterns that telegraph down-home tradition. Fabric with vertical stripes can make a bold statement when its used in curtains. To give the ceiling a visual lift, mount rods above the window frames.

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These four chairs are upholstered in the same fabric (with contrasting cushion seats), but theyre not a set. Look closely: Two are 1940s American chairs, and two are French Art Deco.

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Baby-blue buffalo-check fabric covers on the seat pillows of a vintage cane-back sofa take it down a notch from formal to friendly. Pretty blue-and-white pillows are comfortable and welcoming.

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