A few months back, I posted  these pictures on facebook and asked what would you do if this was your furniture.

Some of you said you would cry, some said you would actually burn it, some said buy slip covers immediately, and only a few gave suggestions on what they would actually do to make it work!

While I was visiting England with my husband, we stayed in the Military Lodge in Alconbury.  Not a five star by no means but very comfortable, clean, and very affordable!  This furniture was in the lodge where we stayed.  However, it  was also the furniture issued to us when we were living in Korea.   Being stationed in Korea is not like Europe, we could only ship 4000 lbs of our household goods.  That is NOT a lot at all!  Furniture was issued so you got what the Army gave you!  (Well I didn’t, I took a couch and recliner to be reupholstered (affordable too) because I knew better!)  Anyway many families are issued this sofa and 2 chairs.  This set came in 3 colors, navy blue, burgundy, and hunter green!  Talk about a blast from the past!!  Yep those were the 1990′s color scheme that the dotted print came in, there were other prints issued, but trust me, you got the “pretty” furniture if you were issued this beauty!   Even though it looks like you are living in a cheap hotel, there are ways to make it work.   Maybe not exactly what you had in mind, but for 2 or 3 years, it can work.

So to those of you who think OMGoodness, how in the world can I have a pretty, stylish,warm, and cozy home with this ugly furniture, I am going to give you some ideas on how to use what you got and when used with the right decor ideas, you can take lemons and make lemonade!

 As I searched the internet for  coordinating color scheme, I kept thinking what would I use with that furniture, because regardless of how short or long of time you live somewhere, it is still your home , you still have to live in it, with it, and it still needs to make you happy when you walk in the door!

I started with throw pillows.   I found several pillows that I thought would work with the hunter green color.  The pictures are hunter green, even though they look navy blue.    I immediately thought about the new gold color that is so very popular right now.  However I would not use a lot of it!  You could use navy blue with the gold, but I found some accents with red that I decided to use.  

Target

  I know many of you are thinking, why would you even use such furniture.  Because sometimes in life, it is what it is.   This is one of those times, moving overseas limits you in many ways and having a beautiful home is not on the top of the Army’s priority list.    But you always have options to make it work!  Korea style anyway! HA!

I definitely would use a print that was on a light background to contrast with the darkness of the furniture.  I’m a light and bright kind of person.

Potterybarn

Here are a couple of  rugs (Potterybarn) that could be used to add color, texture, and interest.

I think a neutral rug like this one from Target would be fine as well.

Hang a neutral or gold pair of grommet curtains like these linen curtains.

A colorful pattern print would bring out more colors and really add some pizzazz to your room!

Use additional contemporary home decor accessories like these mirrors that I blogged about here.

Kirklands

Everyone owns family pictures.   Gallery walls are trending right now so why not add something current and trendy to the room?  It would give the room a contemporary feel.  I love this whole display from Pottery Barn.

 Potterybarn

A gallery above the sofa would look great!

home happy home

You can check out  gardenberger  for great tutorials on arranging pictures!

Here’s a look at the whole collection that I put together.

Here are examples how to put them together.

Add a comfy, cozy throw blanket over the couch.  Light a few candles.  TaDa we just made lemonade out of lemons!

What accessories would you suggest to make the furniture not so “hotelish”?

We all have had and still have furniture that really is not our style, how do you make yours work?