Colorful decor and easy projects give this living room a showstopping summer look.

All it took to give this room a summer makeover was a few splashes of color and creative furniture rearranging.A new yellow and seafoam green color scheme brightens walls and accessories using clever and affordable tricks.
Sectional seating is nothing if not flexible. Simply reconfiguring the pieces creates an entirely new look. Summer is full of visitors, so foster conversation by turning two sections to face each other. Add a table where guests can place drinks and snacks.
Carpet tiles are a fun and practical alternative to an area rug. Different colors or motifs can be arranged and rearranged in creative designs. This cream and seafoam green checkered pattern adds a dose of color to the floor. Applying a new color scheme to a neutral room can be overwhelming. To make the process easier, find one inspirational piece to guide your redesign.
For this living room's summer look, a graphic green and white tablecloth served as the jumping-off point. Thanks to curtain clips, tablecloths became the room's curtain panels.

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Bright colors, easy projects, and lots of light give this living room a new look for spring.

By Veronica Toney 

A pink and green color palette and blooms throughout the living room create a space that celebrates spring.Colorful accents on the sofa, above the fireplace, and in the nook give this living room the cheery makeover it needs.
A bold area rug pops against the neutral love seats and ottoman. Carpet tiles in pink, green, red, and gray arranged on a diagonal add a geometric design and color to the space. Carpet tiles are a fun and budget savvy alternative to an area rug. You don't have to buy new pieces to give your space a new look. Floral fabric with a light background wraps around the leather ottoman. The fabric adds a dose of color to the room and transforms the ottoman from formal to casual. The edges of the fabric are hemmed with fusible web, and the ends are pinned to the ottoman's underside.
Colorful throw pillows add spring flair to the sofas. Pair a patterned pillow with solid-color pillows in shades pulled from the patterned fabric. Tie the room together by using the same fabric on the ottoman and a throw pillow. For the pillow, sew a simple square and stuff with batting. Use fabric scraps to embellish store-bought pillows. Here, a fabric sash dresses up the pink pillow. Turn an unused corner into a cozy spot for reading or chatting.
A bistro table and two lightweight chairs create an inviting scene. Flowers are used throughout the corner. Floral seat cushions, large floral wall art, and even real flowers on the table all signal that spring has sprung. Carpet tiles create a small area rug and tie this area to the main living room.

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Whatever your style, see how white can give your home a fresh, cool look that's perfect for the season.

By : Debra Wittrup

White is an ideal color for a small space. The monochromatic palette opens up the room and bounces light throughout, visually expanding the perceived space. In this small nook, the contrast of textures the chenille fabric, airy draperies, and sparkling crystal pleases the eye. The beauty of decorating with white is that it changes shade as the light changes. A sun bleached palette can become a warm and cozy ivory in the evening when lamps are turned on.

Don't be afraid to get out the paintbrush. This Queen Anne-style armoire wore a dark finish until a few layers of paint and a bit of sanding gave it a distressed look that suits this all white bedroom. Layer different shades of white to provide more texture and a sense of age to a room. Even an old metal chandelier found new life thanks to white paint.

Color tastes and trends change, and in a child's room especially, it's nice to have the luxury of a new look fairly often. Opt for an all white scheme for bedding, walls, and furniture. Swap out the coverlet, pillows, or throw on the bed. All are easy enough to change and will make it seem like you have a new room every season. Use a yard of fabric to add a shot of color and pattern to a headboard, as seen in the photo.

Once a chopped up jumble, this kitchen now unifies two spaces with white. Polished slabs of Carrara marble cover countertops and walls in a nod to historical kitchens of the early 20th century. Minimal wall shelving allows natural light from the many windows to flood the room. Ghost stools at the island keep the feeling light.

Keep color to a bare minimum to bring furnishings of all eras and influences together with style. Here, creamy whites and taupe unify the collected furnishings. The canopy is made with white mosquito netting and old bronze lamp base. The subdued palette, texture, and mix of found objects bring a worldly sophistication to this bedroom.

When walls and furniture are all white, accessories take center stage. Have fun with accents and do away with the expected. A collection of compelling objects is so much more interesting as a dining room centerpiece than candlesticks, as this ensemble of colorful ceramics demonstrates. The light fixture gets to shine in a unique way, too. A store bought chandelier goes glam with layers of old and new chandelier drops and old earrings in vivid color. The bright hues link to a rug made from recycled plastic.

Frame an all-white room with doorway curtains that make the space look like a secret destination revealed. Gather a group of similar scale chairs in shades of white around the dining table for a one of-a kind set that's anything but predictable. The massive flea market apothecary cabinet, with its dark back, creates a dramatic display space for the white ironstone collection.

A mosaic tile floor is the only departure from an all white scheme in this bath. Strategically placed mirrors add shine and reflect outdoor views. A window seat with nubby terry cloth pillows and a beaded-board back give the scene some texture.

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With flexible furnishings and a little imagination, an extra bedroom shows how to finesse a floor plan, boost square footage, and create a versatile room that's as handsome as it is hardworking. 

By Allison Maze

Adaptable storage and handmade charm transform this spare room into a single do it all space for family and guests. A DIY daybed dressed with throw pillows converts to a bed when guests come knocking. Crate-style cabinets stocked with extra linens pull double duty as nightstands holding an alarm clock, a lamp, books, and decor.

Hairpin legs lend midcentury flair to the bed's custom built platform. The legs create the perfect amount of clearance to tuck away suitcases and extra office items under the bed.

Multiuse rooms are chameleons, able to modify function to fill different needs and often at the drop of a hat. Double duty furniture and a mix of crafty amenities fill this all in one space with purpose, style, and comfort.

To optimize multiuse spaces, focus on incorporating furniture that's both practical and versatile. Moveable pieces such as wheeled bins and carts encourage you to repurpose or simply roll into a corner when floor space is at a premium. Here, a clear acrylic end table wheels up as an extra work surface and neatly tucks away when not in use.

Plush, easy sew accent pillows made from wool felt dress up the DIY daybed and add a layer of comfort in keeping with the room's woodland theme.

A collection of message boards framed with white molding transforms a blank wall into a communication station for guests and family members. A handmade wood and concrete bench anchors the arrangement and provides space for display items. Woven baskets stow reading materials beneath the bench.

A stealthy charging station fashioned from a vintage toolbox keeps phones, music players, and cameras fully charged and cords tangle free. Within the box, a board cut with cord holes covers a power strip. Simply close the box's lid to cover electronic devices and showcase its patinaed charm.

Small, smart touches amplify function throughout the office area. Refinished vintage desk accessories and clever paper management tools make the work area pretty, practical, and productive. Adding a pullout shelf to the cabinet near the computer desk creates an easy to access spot for a printer and paper supplies when they’re needed.

The room’s standard 6 foot wide closet was converted into a hobby station that can be quickly masked behind canvas curtains. A pegboard, paper files, and ribbon dispensers put the wall to work.

Inside the closet, a metal pegboard provides sleek, efficient access to crafts tools and supplies. A wall mount ribbon holder makes gift wrapping a snap. Small buckets of colored pencils stay organized and accessible on a desktop turntable.

Keeping hobby supplies in check is easy with smart storage. Acrylic drawer dividers corral tiny crafts accessories, such as buttons, brads, and stickers. Clear jars identify precut ribbon by color. A container resembling a lunch box serves as a sewing kit with needles, scissors, and thread.

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A trip to the homeowner's closet provided the design inspiration for this small modern apartment.The statement making patterns, timeless silhouettes, and fun accessories found in the wardrobe were translated into this home design for a look that mixes classic with modern, and sophisticated with fun.

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