Use what you have to give room a different look

Dear Gail: I'm tired of how my family room looks, but I don't have the budget to redecorate right now. I'd like to start the new year off with a new look but am not sure where to start. I always see them rearranging rooms on decorating shows and they make it look so easy, but not for me. Where do I start? — May

Dear May: A quick, easy and no-cost way to give your room a new look is by using what you already own. It's what we call in the industry interior redesign. In just one day — and a little bit of work — you will have a completely new room.

Where you're going to start, May, is by completely emptying the room. I know this is a lot of work but essential in getting a new look. It's hard to see how a room can look different with everything where it currently is. Just like an artist, you need to start with a blank canvas.

First, remove your accessories, lamps, plants and then your artwork. Be especially careful when moving your lamps. Wrap the cords around the harps; do not let the cords drag behind you. When I'm teaching this class I stress it, but there's always one who doesn't take the time and then the person behind them steps on the cord.

Keep similar items grouped together, just how it's done in the stores. Place artwork by size and do not place them in front of each other. When it's time to put them back, you want to be able to clearly see each piece.

Now it's time to move your furniture. Try to get everything completely out of the room. If not, move it as far out as you can.

Do not leave your sofa where it currently is, otherwise you won't be able to see where else it can go. Really, this is important. It may go back where it was, but at least you know that was the best spot for it.

Next, stand in the middle of the room and take notice of the lines in the room. Do you have any angled walls, floor tiles set on a diagonal, or does your carpet and tile meet on a diagonal? Always work with the angles in the room.

Don't be afraid to place your furniture on an angle. It's what will give your room a new look and make it more interesting than before.

Do you have any architectural focal points such as a fireplace, great view, built-in bookcase or entertainment unit? Of course, the television is the primary focal point in the family room.

Start with your sofa, and place it addressing the television. What I mean by addressing is that when you are sitting on the sofa, the television is in your line of sight. The sofa does not have to be directly across from the television, it could be on an angle to it, but it shouldn't be at a right angle. You don't want to have to turn your head completely to the side to watch television; it's just not comfortable.

Now with a sectional, you may have one side on a right angle, but try to get the largest piece addressing the television. What I have my students do is rotate the sofa completely around the room to every possible position, even the ones we know will be wrong. Think of an octagon and place in each position. There may be more than one place that will work. The next step is what will help determine which is best.

So now you're going to place your second upholstery piece at a right angle to the sofa. If you have a sectional, this is already done. If you have a chair, place it on a diagonal across from this grouping to balance your furniture arrangement. If you don't, do you have one from another room you're not using? We've also used an ottoman, chest, accent table or a large floor accessory.

Now it's time to light your room. What you want to do is place your lamps in a diagonal or preferable, triangular pattern. This ensures you won't have any dark corners.

If you don't have any lamps, please invest in some. Lighting is so important in every room and the ceiling cans and fan light kits should not be the only lighting in a room. Trees and floor plants are next. Place them in with your grouping and not just tucked into a corner.

Next step is artwork. Artwork should relate to the items around them and not just float on the walls. It's best to weigh a piece of art to the floor furniture or floor plant. A very large piece without something underneath it will give an uneasy feeling.

The bottoms of the artwork should be level with the floor or the piece you're hanging it over. Only stagger artwork up a staircase. Try not to place the same pieces of artwork in the same places. This is one thing that will give your room a new look. Just because it was over the sofa before doesn't mean that's where it has to go again. Hang no more than 12 inches above the piece you're hanging it over.

The final and finishing touches are accessories. Start with the focal areas in your room, normally the coffee table and mantel. The rule of odd numbers and asymmetrical arrangements always work, as they're more interesting and pleasing to the eye.

Just like your art, switch things around. It's been proven that after 27 days, we no longer take notice to the things around us.

As with all decorating, it's about balance, proportion and simply how the room feels. If something doesn't feel right, it's probably not properly placed. So move it around until it does. That's the beauty of interior redesign. May, after a day of hard work, you'll be surprised and amazed how different your room will look without spending a dime.

— Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by email to GMJinteriors@gmail.com. Or, mail to 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is www.GMJinteriors.com.