If you're trying to put old furnishings in a new place, or want to fix up an uninspired room using the furniture you have, try these steps:
Size up the room. What does it have going for it? A nice view, a fireplace, interesting architecture? Decorating a room is like dealing with figure flaws: Make the most of what you've got going for you and downplay the rest.
Clear everything out but the big stuff. Remove anything smaller than a hog. Park the miscellany -- wall art, lamps, throw pillows, small tables, books, photos -- by the front door, where it will be easier to move out permanently.
Arrange with purpose. Putting furniture up against a wall can miss the (focal) point, and the view. Angling a sofa and chairs to capture a view can create a conversation area without blocking access to the room.
Accessorize with care. Once you've anchored your big pieces, slowly add back art and accessories with a critical eye. The accessories and art need to be the right size and relate to the space -- either with style or color. If you've got nice, but small, pieces of art, try grouping like pieces (such as items that share the same feel or similar frames) so they read as one large piece. Same with potted plants, which make a bigger impact pulled together.
Fine tune. Play and experiment until accessories click. They should add pizzazz, not fizzle. Look for color triangles. A yellow ceramic bowl, some yellow in framed art across the room, and yellow flowers on an end table. Add something unexpected.
Stop. Once the room looks great, resist looking at the pile of things that didn't make the cut. Just because you love something doesn't make it right.
