1. Paint.

2-3. Consider comfortable seating, upholstered in materials to which cat hair won't cling.

4-5. Small tables can double as seating for guests, and a TV stand organizes electronics.

6-8. Accessorize the space with pillows and a floor rug, and install shelves for books and photos.

Tell us about your design challenge: Find out how

Previous Makeovers

Kruhm, her husband and their cats always seem to wind up in the 15 1/4-by-12-foot "back room," where they read the paper and watch TV. "It has long needed a makeover," Kruhm says. The room includes a laundry closet and three doorways, so arranging furniture is difficult. Kruhm would like to keep a cat tree in the room and find a better way to showcase a Native American rug collection.

Make the space appear larger by keeping furnishings proportional to their scale. Neutral, clean-lined furniture won't distract attention from the Native American wares, the room's focal point. Streamline the collection; too many pieces will overwhelm the space. Exhibited pieces can be swapped out throughout the year.