Have you just taken a closer look around your home and realized much of the décor could do with updating? Have you recently put your house on the market and feel it needs refreshing or it’s going to turn prospective buyers off? When it comes to decorating your home, funds may not always be there to spend on top of the range additions and decorations. Sometimes, what is needed is a freshen up that won’t break the bank. It’s easy to do, as long as you’ve got a few ideas up your sleeve. The good news for you is that here is where you’re going to find them.
The best way to tackle this kind of project is to do it all yourself. A few simple adjustments are all that’s needed. No need to buy expensive furnishings, window treatments and art for the wall. Just moving what you’ve already got to a different place in the room will make a significant difference. If it’s the exterior of your home that needs a makeover a fresh coat of paint, some trendy lighting, and well-thought-out landscaping ideas and accessories will change your home’s curb appeal for the better.
Here are some more changes you might want to make.
Organize after Cleaning and Decluttering
The first step in any renovation project is to give your rooms a good clean, from top to bottom. Seems a pretty simple idea, but you’ll be amazed at the difference. Decluttering and then organizing what’s left will also be a transformation. The best way to approach such a job is to concentrate on one room at a time. Clean, declutter and then organize anything that’s left.
Rearrange Your Furniture
You’ll be astounded at the difference if you move some of your furniture around. First, you’ll need to remove any pieces of furniture you no longer use. Donate them to a charity or sell them for a few extra dollars to add to your decorating fund. Once all the unnecessary furniture is out of a room, you’ll have more options for moving around what’s left. If your sofa has been in the same position for years, as in up against the wall, place it at an angle. You’ll be surprised how this will open up the wall space and make the room look larger. It might also be better for the room’s Feng Shui. Move any other furniture to complement the sofa’s new position. If some of your other pieces are looking a little weary cover them with slipcovers or treat them to a lick of paint. Add some colorful pillows and a throw over the back of the sofa for an interesting accent.
Bring the Outside Inside
A great way to freshen up an indoor space is to bring in some plants. It’s entirely up to you how far you want to take it. You might be happy with a single potted plant in every room, or you might prefer to freshen up your bathroom decor by adding an evergreen jungle. If your fingers are not all that green, vases filled with flowers might be a better option. Even this will brighten up a room. Why not start a herb garden in your kitchen window? As well as adding a splash of color you won’t need to worry about buying toxic air fresheners. You’ll also have a ready supply of fresh herbs when you need them.
Fill a Wall Space
Rather than buying new pieces to put on the wall work with what you’ve already got, gather up some of your framed art and photos and consider making a feature wall. If you’ve got stand-up frames on your desk, bedside table or bookshelf add them to the wall and leave yourself with more space. An interesting wall to hang this type of thing would be above your bed. Make it as eclectic as you want as long as it’s personal.
Another way to fill a wall space is with wallpaper. You don’t have to do all the walls, just choose one and make a statement. There are even removable wallpapers that you can install and then take down later when you’ve had enough of looking at it.
Let in Some Additional Light
During the cold winter months, you’ll be glad you did this little project. Having more sunlight in your home will also help to stave off the winter blues. It’s not always warm enough to throw the windows open, but you can bring in the sunshine by raising blinds or using gauzy curtains rather than heavy drapes. To add more brightness choose pale colors for the walls, crisp linen for the beds and minimal accessories. All of these things will help to make the darkest of rooms feel lighter, brighter and airier.
As well as allowing more sunlight in, an inexpensive way to change the look of a room is to add some different lighting. There are a vast array of different lighting fixtures to choose from. You can get that designer feel for just a few bucks. A couple of accent lights can energize a dark corner or cozy up your bedroom.
Add Some Splashes of Paint
You may not want to paint the whole house, but it is possible to freshen up your rooms with an accent wall or by repainting some of the older furniture in bright colors. It’s a very economical way to repurpose an old piece of furniture. Bold colors will energize a room and when you’ve had enough and want to tone it back down, just repaint it using a subtler color.
Changing things around in your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It’s easy, quick and can be very cost-effective to bring new life into your home. Many of the suggestions above cost nothing at all. Visitors to your home will be fooled into thinking you’ve spent far more money than you have. Refreshing your home is good now and again as we can all get stuck in a rut and need new surroundings.
