1. Paint.

2-4. Set plenty of seating in front of the TV.

5-7. Tables provide extra surface area for books, food or drinks.

8-9. Create a reading nook by placing a lounge chair beside a window.

10-12. Tuck additional seating underneath a console table and mirror.

13-14. Light the entire space.

15-16. Soften and elongate walls with draperies that span ceiling to floor.

17-18. Accessorize with pillows and art.

Tell us about your design challenge: Find out how

"I'm desperate for help," Pollak writes in an e-mail. She and her husband have lived in the same home for almost 30 years, and they use this 16-by-14-foot living room daily to watch TV, listen to music and read. But they've always been at a loss about how to decorate the space. It's full of leftovers and hand-me-downs, which don't fit the couple's modern tastes. The Pollaks would like to buy a larger TV this summer, so it's time to spruce up the room and buy some new furniture. They'd like suggestions on new seating and window treatments.

Paint 18-inch-wide horizontal stripes. Proportionally scaled furniture will make the space seem larger, along with floor-to-ceiling draperies. With smaller furniture, there's also more space to create two seating areas: one for solo reading and a larger conversation area in front of the TV. Ottomans for extra seating and plenty of table space make the room conducive for entertaining.