But for those in search of a simple beige-lift or those trying to narrow their options, read on. We asked pros about the above scenarios—changing the look without reconfiguring the spaces.

The Florida-based team of Anita and Bill Unger at Anita’s Interiors (www.anitasinteriors.com) have rescued more clients than they can count, and last year won an Interior Design Excellence Award for their refit of Christine, a project that turned a commercial vessel built by Oceanfast into a 132-foot (40.2-meter) yacht (SBI Nov. 2005). "The first thing new owners need to do is decide direction. I encourage people to stay with the genre [of the yacht]. I don’t think a trawler should have the interior of a megayacht or a speedboat. The next consideration is chartering; it will affect the fabrics and carpets choices," Anita says.

If you want to keep the carpet but you don’t like the sofa, restyle it, she adds. "We can change the arms and back while reupholstering. You can cut down a traditional tuxedo sofa or add big rolled arms to a contemporary grouping and still keep the pieces that will fit the existing furniture tie-downs."

If you aren’t willing to change the carpet—an item that can cost $75 to $250 per yard—consider overlays with area rugs. Take a tip from Ralph Lauren Home and pick an area rug bound in leather or contrasting fabric for a chic way to tie a new seating area together. In the skylounge, you might want to replace the old wall-to-wall with a wood or environmentally PC bamboo floor and area rugs to create a more relaxed, youthful décor.

"A lot of what we are doing today is transitional rather than traditional, and a number of my clients want a more tropical look," says Anita. "I use this opportunity to remove a layer of window treatment and suggest shoji styles or grass-cloth shades."