Start with four basic pieces, dress them up with a dash of personality, and you will get three very different rooms.

Contemporary

For a look that's "right now," liven up the four basic pieces with eye-popping color, clean lines and shapely accents.

1. Pick a paint with punch. Because our furniture basics are quiet neutrals, we chose Benjamin Moore's Apple Green for the walls to add a jolt of cheerful energy. A few bold accessories — bright pillows and a watermelon bubble vase — are all you need for an instant mood booster.

2. Use art that's off-the-wall. Put your style on the map — literally! This schoolroom staple is an unexpected touch that inspires travel as it knits together the accent colors. And its large-scale format fits perfectly over the sofa.

3. Opt for fluid, organic shapes. A bottleneck lamp, sculptural end tables and bulbous vases (like the ones from West Elm) soften the edge.

4. Tuck away clutter. Your practical pieces can also be sleek and streamlined: The funky storage ottoman from Todd Oldham by La-Z-Boy hides mess and doubles as extra seating.


To get this updated country style, choose calming hues, soft pillows, loose-knit throws and a bunch of eclectic pieces.

1. Try blue — a perennial favorite. You can't go wrong with a shade like Benjamin Moore's Delano Waters. Blue is cool — soothing but not overwhelming. Capel's Palmer Stripe rug unites the light (Makati baskets from the Container Store) with the dark (Ethan Allen's fan-back chair).

2. Create a display that has strength in numbers. Hang different-size framed pictures together in a pleasing arrangement for the visual impact of something much larger. A collection of prints and photos provides an opportunity to make your space welcoming and warm.

3. Think "mixing" more than "matching." Don't have a pair of identical end tables? Not a problem. This room's laid-back charm comes from casual couplings like the light blue wicker end table from Urban Cottage (to the right of the sofa) and the small bookshelf (to the left).


For a timeless room, bring in these essential elements: velvety colors, layers of prints and symmetrical accents.

1. Pile on the patterns. Wallpaper has a grandeur that paint just can't achieve. The Calder Stripe paper from Ralph Lauren is striking yet sufficiently subdued, so it can be paired with the floral rug without clashing.

2. Keep everything in balance. This refined style is distinguished by harmony — note the matching set of nesting tables, the Double French sconces from Circa Lighting and the old-fashioned botanical prints.

3. Slipcover the sofa. The easiest way to make over furniture is with a well-fitting slipcover like this Pottery Barn version, which conceals the basic beige couch. The cardinal red, together with the Smith and Noble silk panels, instantly lends depth and richness to the space.

4. Add a hint of glint. To make any room look like a million bucks, give the place some sparkle! The shiny metallic finish of the accent pieces sends our basic furniture into a whole new income bracket.