Decorating your home can be a challenge. Once you get past a sofa and a couple of chairs, details are what pull together a room. But if your budget is like mine, it probably rarely allows for pricey accessories. Finally, no matter how large your home, storage is always a concern. The Southern Living project plan collection can solve these issues with more than 50 plans that can be built to address your specific needs.

Plate Rack Project
A plate rack above a mantel makes an alternative to art. We stained this one a dark brown, and then washed over it with green paint to pick up the color in the bold chair fabric. We hung the rack on the wall and filled it with a few accents. Framed botanicals and potted bromeliads add a finishing touch.

Chest on a Stand Project
The chest on a stand works as a table in a tight spot. Although it is the most difficult of the three projects to build, this practical side table offers convenient storage for magazines and remote controls. The yellow wash on the wood picks up yet another color in the fabric on the chair.

Library Stool Project
For an empty corner in a room, this library stool is a perfect perch for a plant. We used mahogany and added a soft shine with furniture paste wax to complement the deeper colors in the tile floor. You could also use a less expensive wood and paint it a coordinating color.

Ordering Our Project Plans
To order, send a self-addressed, stamped (with two first-class, letter-rate stamps), business-size envelope to Southern Living Projects, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201. Enclose a check for $4 payable to Southern Living Projects for each plan ordered. Please note which plan(s) you want. Allow six to eight weeks for delivery.

To see more plans, visit southernliving.com, and click on "marketplace" and then "products."

"Furniture You Can Build" is from the November 2004 issue of Southern Living.