Nice room, but ... blah

We have a nice-sized room but it needs to be updated. The furniture is mismatched as a result of being inherited from other family members. The window treatments serve their purpose but are old. We need help finding a better layout for this space. We would like to create a space that can be used as a guest room and a retreat. Just not sure where to start.

Design by HomeStory of Chicago

This room feels a little bit dated. The walls are bare, the carpet may be a bit drab, and the oak doors and trim really are holding this room back. The flat panel hollow doors are begging to be changed, and cleaning those louver bifolds is a never ending battle. There are many homes in this area that have oak as the predominate theme throughout the home. We are seeing a big trend to brighten things up a bit.

• New painted off-white two-panel entry door with a new lever. Though it is a big commitment to go completely white by painting trim and crown molding. We are seeing a trend of swapping out stained doors for painted doors while keeping the oak trim.

• New sliding closet doors to match the entry door. Get away from the louvers and get away from the bifolds.

• Add some art work: Those walls are begging for some simple artwork.

• Paint an accent wall. It doesn't have to be drastic, just a darker shade of blue will help.