It's unfortunate that although homeowners entertain frequently, they rarely use their elegant, formal living rooms. These rooms often have impeccable furnishings, heirloom antiques and plenty of accessories. So why do these lovely rooms sit empty most of the time? Often it is because the living room simply does not "invite you in."

Let's look at an example. In the before photo above the placement of the furnishings is neither intimate nor cozy. With the back of two dark, non-matching chairs facing the entry, the impression is, "you are not welcome." The arrangement of the sofa and chairs opposite one another does not lend itself to friendly conversation, and the love seat against the wall is too far away to feel a part of the grouping.

Placing the two heaviest-appearing pieces (the upright piano and large curio cabinet) on the same wall gives the room the "Titanic" effect -- unbalanced and sinking.

The lighting is inadequate, and poorly placed, creating dark pockets. The coffee table accessories do not add any drama and lack sufficient height to fill the dead space in the center of the room. The selection and placement of art does little to enhance the furnishings, and accessories are haphazardly placed around the room.

If it sounds as though there's no solution except to buy new furnishings, you might be surprised to learn that nothing new was bought to create the "after" effect. We "shopped the house" to find what was needed.

The solution to the room's shortcomings became clear when we cleared out the room. With a blank canvas, the fireplace emerged as the focal point of the room.

First, we re-positioned the area rug and placed the sofa across from the fireplace. The loveseat was moved to form an L with the sofa. Placing the tapestry side chair next to the fireplace rounded out the seating area. This was the beginning of a conversation grouping. We decided the tall purple chairs were too contemporary for the room, and moved them out.

The large curio cabinet was angled in the space where the piano had been, and the piano was angled in the opposite corner to remove the Titanic effect.

The coffee table was best in front of the sofa, and a drum table worked between the sofa and loveseat. A small chest was placed on the opposite end of the loveseat, and a small round table went next to the tapestry chair.

The next layer was lighting, the element that can make or break any design. The attractive urn lamp worked on the round table between the sofa and loveseat, with a smaller lamp on the chest next to the loveseat, one lamp on top of the piano, and another lamp on top of the chest diagonally across from the lighted curio cabinet. The room was beautifully illuminated, with no more dark pockets.

A tall ficus tree (with an uplight behind it) added color and texture, and balanced the height of the curio cabinet at the far end of the room.

Some existing artwork from the room was used, along with artwork taken from other rooms in the home. Selection was based on color, theme and size. A mirror placed across from a window brought in the light, opened up the space and reflected the view.

The final step was accessorizing. The mantel now has a wonderful display of items from throughout the home. The asymmetrical arrangement of accessories balanced the weight on either side of the mantel and showcased the art above it.

A tall floral arrangement created with faux hydrangeas in an attractive vase, and candles and accessories on the coffee table added sparkle and visual interest.

Finally, the hearth was anchored with dark architectural objects, and the pillar candles lit inside the fireplace to complete the inviting room.

The transformation was accomplished in a matter of hours, and no new purchases were necessary.

Ruthanne Hatfield, of Napa, owner of Art of Interior Placement, specializes in one-day decorating and real estate staging using existing furnishings. Her work is featured on Home & Garden TV's Decorating Cents. She can be reached through www.interiorplacement.com or 1-877-441-2844.