2 Room Makeover in Just 2 Days

If you've got a weekend, a few willing friends, and a bit of gumption, you can transform two rooms. But keep moving -- the clock is ticking.

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Before: Boring and Blah

After: A Warm & Cozy Space

Step 1: The Walls

Step 2: Furniture Makeover

Retro Chic

Step 3: Move In the Furniture

After: New Life

Savvy Storage

Even More Storage

Before: Dismal Dining

After: Chic Dining

Step 1: Prep the Chairs

Step 2: Fresh Paint

Step 3: Recover the Cushions

Brand New Chairs

Step 4: A Dash of Wallpaper

Step 5: Add Chair Rail

Step 6: Dress the Windows

Storage Savvy

Stack It Up

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Before: Boring and Blah

Cold and gray, this uninspired living room wasn't remotely inviting.

Find a prescreened local handyman to help!

After: A Warm & Cozy Space

Now, a rich terra-cotta hue drenches the walls and slipper chairs with warmth, while a dose of white accessories and furnishings keeps the space fresh.

Step 1: The Walls

After clearing out the furniture, the team started by wallpapering a modern damask pattern on one wall, and painted the other walls in a warm terra-cotta hue.

Find a prescreened local handyman to help!

Step 2: Furniture Makeover

The chairs were given a punch of personality with a coral-inspired print. Simple upholstery techniques made this makeover super easy.

Learn more about upholstering.

Retro Chic

Without spending big bucks, the chairs give the room a fresh modern feel with a nod to the past.

Find a prescreened local handyman to help!

Step 3: Move In the Furniture

After the walls were dry, it was time to bring in some new furniture to add life to this space. The bold zebra-print rug added drama to the new space.

After: New Life

To breathe life into this once dull space, we used vibrant color, bold patterns, and contemporary accessories such as artwork, a DIY lamp, and a bold zebra-print rug.

Find a prescreened local handyman to help!

Savvy Storage

This family room is packed with storage, including a coffee table that features slots perfect for stashing magazines and books.

Even More Storage

A row of storage-packed cabinets keeps this room neat and tidy. These low-profile consoles sport modern style and tuck neatly underneath the windows to mimic a window bench. Plus, they keep toys low where kids can reach -- and put them away.

Before: Dismal Dining

Drab and neglected, this dining room was anything but inviting. Eager to entertain, the homeowners set out to boost visual appeal here as well. They used boldly-patterned wallpaper to make a style statement and define the color scheme.

After: Chic Dining

The first big decision was whether to paint the circa-1970 dining table and chairs. The garage-sale finds had great lines, but the finish was worn and dull. Oil-base white paint was a quick, affordable fix. An inexpensive sideboard and shelving bring the room to life.

Step 1: Prep the Chairs

Before the chairs received a new coat of paint, they were quickly sanded to prepare the surface.

Step 2: Fresh Paint

A fresh coat of paint took these chairs from drab to fab.

Step 3: Recover the Cushions

What You Need: Screwdriver or drill, fabric, fabrics pencil, scissors, staple gun, and staples

1. Remove existing seats using a screwdriver. Remove the original fabric, leaving the foam in place. If the fabric is clean and intact, you can cover right over it.
2. Lay new fabric facedown. If you removed the original fabric, use it as a pattern to trace onto the new fabric. If you didn't remove the fabric, use the seat as a pattern. As you trace the seat, allow enough extra fabric all around to fold to the bottom of the seat.
3. Cut fabric and place right side down. Place seat with right side down on top of the fabric.
4. Pull fabric around to the bottom of the seat, starting at the center of one side and securing with a staple. Repeat at the center of the opposite side, pulling fabric taut but not stretching it too much. Repeat on the last two sides, trimming the fabric at the corners. Then peek at the front to make sure the fabric looks appropriate, especially if your fabric has a pattern to center on the seat.
5. Continue stapling on the seat back at 1-inch intervals, and then replace the seat on the chair.

Brand New Chairs

With a few simple steps these chairs were given a new life!

Step 4: A Dash of Wallpaper

This bold, modern wallpaper adds a dash of color to the dining room along with a little retro flair.

Step 5: Add Chair Rail

Add architecture by capping trellis-style wallpaper with wood molding. Look for pre-primed molding to save time and attach it using a nail gun. If power tools aren't your thing, ask about appropriate adhesives.

Step 6: Dress the Windows

To add texture to the space, woven roman shades were added to the window bank in the dining room.

Storage Savvy

This modern version of a china hutch is a prime place to store dishes but also adds a pop of orange to tie in the tones from the adjacent living room.

Stack It Up

Use open shelving when a top-heavy hutch would be too cumbersome. If space is tight, look for a shallow sideboard with a lot of interior shelves.

2 Room Makeover in Just 2 Days

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