Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      One has conquered the world of plant-based baking. Another runs a microbakery from her home. Two own businesses with their spouses. And the fifth is a James Beard finalist chef. The common thread? Absolutely delicious cakes. Read More
    • The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      For many Midwesterners, holiday feasting kicks off with a relish tray. We dare not mess with an icon—at least, not too much. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    At Wisconsin supper clubs, the steak is served rare and the traditions are well done. Like the brandy in an Old-Fashioned, these timeless institutions only get better with age.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    This sleeper hit of a weeknight dinner comes from Food Network star Molly Yeh's cookbook Home is Where the Eggs Are—and is basically a vehicle for Parmesan and garlic toast. No complaints! (The alternate version, with ham and cream, is excellent too.)
    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    With visions of dinner parties and game nights dancing in their heads, a Chicago couple renovated their historic (and first) home, one DIY project at a time.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf shares how to make blooms last longer—and repeat.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Buses, trains and very few automobiles—check out these out-of-the-ordinary holiday lights displays.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Tamales are a project, but many hands—even tiny ones—make lighter work.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • DIY Pistachio Wheat Stalks for Fall Decorating
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    About Us

    About Us

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
    • Fall 2022 Issue
    • Winter 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Decorating Ideas
  4. How to Revive a Room in a Weekend

How to Revive a Room in a Weekend

Skip gallery slides
Pin
For about $500
We gave this family room a pretty facelift with do-it-yourself ideas tailored to any budget.
Start Slideshow

1 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For about $500

For about $500

Replace accent furniture Locked into the matching three-piece end-and-coffee-tables scenario? Rethink size, style, placement and purpose of these pieces. One alternative: We wrapped low shelves around the back of a sofa. Also try exchanging a small accent table for a skirted tall piece offering concealed storage underneath. Or let two ottomans, with tops that flip to cushions or trays, stand in for the standard coffee table, providing easy mobility and double function.Add a rug An area rug anchors our newly arranged seating group. It also injects lively pattern into the room, enhancing the plain furniture.Continue to slide 2 to see what our room looked like before the makeover; slides 3 to 8 show more ideas for weekend facelifts ranging from about $300 to free. Slide 9 has product resources.

1 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Before the makeover

Before the makeover

Here's what our room looked like before. You can re-create a room with a new color scheme. But don't start from scratch. Choose a dominant shade from what you want to keep (here it was our sectional), then add fresh secondary hues for a totally different look.

2 of 8

3 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For about $300

For about $300

Paint wood trim Oak bookcases, baseboards and window trim rejuvenated with crisp white paint visually enlarge this room and give it a fresh, clean look.

3 of 8

Advertisement

4 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For about $200

For about $200

Bring in art The fireplace focal piece led to our new color scheme.Revitalize lighting Update a ceiling fixture. Replace floor and table lamps (or revamp lamps with updated shades).

4 of 8

5 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For about $100

For about $100

Change the wall color We chose a soft taupe-gray to highlight the tones in the slate fireplace surround.Refurbish seating Choose a fashionable fabric and re-cover loose cushions on a chair or sofa for a new look.

5 of 8

6 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For about $50

For about $50

Layer on color Repeat a secondary hue (here it's aqua) throughout the room by adding small boxes, vases, art and pillows in that color.Reframe photos Grouping family photos in the same style and/or finish of frames and mats brings cohesiveness to a mismatched mix. Our dark brown wood frames also echo the tones of the wood furniture.

6 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Free

Free

Rearrange the furniture No need to replace large pieces. Reconsider their placement and usage. We broke up a sectional, positioning the long section for easier TV viewing. The end piece--grouped with ottoman, floor lamp and laptop table--is a great place to go online or cozy up with a book.Declutter bookshelves Keep a light look by limiting books to half a shelf or putting them in baskets. Group just a few select accents, which will give the shelves room to breathe.

7 of 8

8 of 8

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Free

Free

Reinvent accessories A mirror relocated from the bedroom adds style and reflects light here. Art pieces from the wall look brand new when layered in tabletop vignettes instead.

8 of 8

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 8 For about $500
    2 of 8 Before the makeover
    3 of 8 For about $300
    4 of 8 For about $200
    5 of 8 For about $100
    6 of 8 For about $50
    7 of 8 Free
    8 of 8 Free

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    How to Revive a Room in a Weekend
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.