Living Room Makeover

Quick Fixes

• Reflect right: Before hanging a mirror, consider what it will reflect (preferably not a blank wall). This one is positioned across from glass doors leading to the backyard. The placement reflects the light and view, making the room appear brighter and larger.
• Introduce color: White walls do nothing to define or enliven a room. Here, the Benders applied Benjamin Moore China Blue to mimic the sky. The color coordinates with as many shades as go-to neutrals, like beige and gray, do. Since the open-plan room has one shared wall and a windowed one, the Benders painted only two walls, to delineate the space.