The Ideas

Pick and Choose: Furniture that didn’t match (and not in an interesting, eclectic way) and shelves overflowing with DVDs and books gave the room a garage-sale look. Getting rid of a dresser and two bookcases was a start. Felicia relocated some things and tossed the rest. “I work at home now,” says Felicia, a scrapbooking consultant. “Why do I need a drawerful of panty hose?”

Contain: Clutter isn’t clutter if it’s tucked neatly inside something. Odds and ends now reside in pretty boxes. Flowers look so much nicer on the dresser than loose papers and tubes of diaper-rash cream.

Set the Mood with Color: Earth tones are soothing, which fulfills Felicia’s desire for a retreat, and not girly, which pleases Dave. Two walls were painted brown and two cream; blue curtains in between ease the transition.

Add Warmth with Fabrics: Natural fibers — lush silk draperies, a puffy cotton bedcover — turn the room into a cocoon. A thick wool rug extends out on all sides of the bed, defining the space and making a soft landing for bare feet.

Personalize the Art: Family photos once scattered on the dresser and the nightstand now form an artistic collage on the wall, united by matching frames. Felicia’s favorite shots of the kids decorate the new reading nook.