The space: A formal living room in a west Bloomington home.
What works: Fresh, neutral paint in a pale willow green complemented the space.
What didn't: Too many furnishings and accessories made the room feel small and cramped; formal furnishings made the space feel like it was never really used.
Expert opinion: "Since this is a large family-style home, we wanted to give the room a more spacious and family-friendly feel," said Lori Matzke of Centerstagehome.com.
Boxing up small accessories on the tabletops and wall gives the room a lighter, airy feel.
Exchanging two white loveseats and a formal side chair for a more casual leather sofa from the family room helps center the space and make it feel more user-friendly.
A large painting in a gold frame at midlevel of the wall above the sofa pulls the buyer's eye into the room.
Positioning the sofa on the center of the wall and centering the coffee table on the sofa gives buyers a glimpse of space around the perimeter of the room, creating the sense of a larger living area.
A wingback chair that had been visually blocking the path to the dining area was pulled farther back into the corner. Matzke positioned a small side table next to the chair and put a large floor lamp behind it, to balance the light.
In the dining room, two dining chairs that flanked the china cabinet were removed to give the space some breathing room. A decorative grapevine with silk flowers draped over the cabinet drew too much attention, so it was also removed.
Open-house tip: Leaving the chandelier on for showings lights up the space and pulls the buyer in.
Greenery adds a nice touch of color and keeps the eye moving through the space.
