Artwork Strategy

The walls are gallery white (read: rental, "don't you dare paint these walls" white) and furniture neutral, so vibrant accessories -- pillows, flowers, art -- give the living room its eclectic style. Art from travels, local artists' studios, and secondhand shops look top-notch displayed in antique gilded frames (another flea market find).

• Work with your white walls -- bare walls are just license to accessorize with bold, eye-popping colors.
• Hunt down cheap art -- shop thrift stores, local art shows, online shops, or just tear pages out of books.
• Put holes in the wall -- if you're planning on living in your rental for a while, go ahead, hang lots of art to cover up those unpaintable walls.