Problem 2 - Bad View
"Elaborate curtains in velvet or a colorful pattern will help draw your eye away from the bad outdoor visual," say Alysa Weinstein and Bella Zakarian, of the popular design firm Ruby. "We also like Roman shades kept half-mast, and a window box of nice greenery to cover and ugly view. We have an obsession with Target -- they carry a really great Levolor line of affordable curtains (target.com). You can't go wrong with their design simplicity."