This living room doesn't have enough room to do much living. There's precious little space available for relaxing or entertaining.
Joe Muhlburger's 12 by 18-foot living room is so jam-packed with boxes, sports memorabilia and business materials, there is no room for him to relax, let alone walk around. Though he moved in six months ago, he became so overwhelmed with packing and placing his items that he just stopped.
Professional organizer Liz Witts is brought in to help Muhlburger create a sophisticated yet comfortable room. She plans to make that happen by first forcing him to sort through every single item and decide what should be kept, moved elsewhere in the house or tossed. That's the hardest part, especially since he's such a pack rat.
She also plans to add color with warm wall paint and accessories and multipurpose furniture that will maximize the room's space. Let's see how she did.
Before: The couch and floor were covered in mounds of clutter, leaving scant room to maneuver about. The room also felt a little dreary and uninviting--the dark furniture pieces and natural lighting were too sharp of a contrast.
After: Now the sitting area is warm and welcoming. The couch, sporting a fresh camel-colored slipcover, has been pulled away from the wall to free up space. A new coffee table and rug make great accent pieces.
Before: Another angle of the large living room shows a framed jersey leaning against the couch on the floor as well as Muhlburger's surfboards and skis (at left) amidst the rest of the mess.
After: Now the surfboards are hung on the loft wall and his favorite jersey on the adjacent wall. New bamboo blinds in a rich brown color complement the color scheme that organizer Liz Witts has established.
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