THE PROJECT

A lower-level room in a Bloomington duplex.

What worked: Tile floors, a wet bar and half-bath -- a perfect space to hang with friends.

What didn't: Cluttered furniture and too many small knickknacks. "The room was well proportioned in size, but felt out of balance," said Lori Matzke of Centerstagehome.com. "We wanted to give the space a more uniform feel that was visually inviting."

THE SOLUTION

1Matzke boxed up knickknacks, a stuffed-animal collection and throws.

2The coffee table and dated rocking chair (foreground) had to go, too.

3To keep the space from feeling too cold -- the entire lower level has tile floors -- the area rug stayed.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
After: switching out the furniture from another room helped balance the color and flow in the room. Knick-knacks were removed, too.

4Matzke swapped a lighter-colored sofa and chair that had been in this room with a chocolate brown sofa/chaise and club chair that was in the upstairs living room. The dark-walled living room needed lighter furnishings and the dark set works better downstairs because it's more flattering to the wall color, rug and tiles.

5The sofa/chaise combo is more substantial and adds dimension to the room, and placing the club chair midlevel near the wall helps focus the buyer's attention and centers the space.

6The heavier lines of the chair also help to draw attention away from the curtained egress window, making it less of a negative. A small wooden stool works as a side table and adds interest. The recliner that had previously blocked buyers from entering the room was angled in the opposite corner to add visual harmony to the seating area.

7Putting lamps in opposite corners adds balance and ensures that the space will be well-lit for showings.

Jim Buchta • 612-673-7376