Fast and Affordable Home Makeovers

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iVillage Staff on Feb 1, 2006 at 4:40AM

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Sloppy to Stylish Home Office

Can a home makeover be as simple as rearranging the furnishings you've got? Absolutely, says Use What You Have decorating expert Lauri Ward. Here, she shares four fast, easy and affordable room makeovers.

The Diagnosis:

Hastily put together, the work-at-home space in a former guest bedroom was neither optimally functional nor attractive.

The homeowner had to swing completely around in her chair to move from the desk to the computer and back.
Two bookcases against the wall were difficult to access from the desk and did not make optimal use of wall space.

The Remedy:

A simple arrangement of the furniture that was already in the room made this space far more useful and appealing.

All file cabinets were painted black so they matched.
An L-shaped work area was created, placing the homeowner's chair on the inside of the L with her back to the window.
A partner's desk was placed opposite the owner's desk for meetings.
The bookcase units against the wall were replaced with a triple built-in case.
Two pedestals topped with Depression glass were displayed next to the print above the workstation to create an effective focal point.