Sometimes it isn’t in the budget to do a full on home renovation, but this doesn’t mean you can’t breathe new life into a home that’s feeling tired and a little bit dull. I want to share with you some ideas to brighten and freshen up living spaces that can be accomplished with a small budget, or in some cases, no budget at all. My design philosophy has always been, “good design makes life better,” and yes I agree a hefty budget can make it easier, but spending big bucks doesn’t always result in good design. A little creativity, imagination and gratitude is the key to creating a beautiful home that feels good.
Let’s begin with gratitude. That might seem a funny place to start a redecorating project from, but I think if you take a moment to realize how lucky we are to have a home that provides places for gathering, connecting, and resting, you will look at your home in a new light. Not everything is bad or wrong or needs to be changed. Often when I am at a new client’s home doing a design/package, they’ll concentrate on the negative and group everything in that category. When I suggest certain pieces are lovely or can work in the space, my clients sometimes look at me strangely. In their minds everything is wrong and has to go. Often this is what paralyzes their decision making process. So let’s start with gratitude and approach a refresh with a different mindset. Now that we know there are lots of good things in your home, these gentle interventions will make your space feel fresher and brighter.
Introduce Lighter Colours
There’s one big way to bring in a lighter colour and change the mood of a space and that’s with paint. A new paint colour immediately freshens up a space. And while this may be easy to accomplish in a contained room, many homes are open concept and this means painting an entire main floor. I encourage you to try to lighten up the paint colour, but if that’s not doable right now, then try some of these other ways to bring in lighter, fresher colours.
Change out cushions to something bright and light. Rather than just adding a plain white cushion, select a warm white background with a large open pattern, providing a more layered look. Interesting toss cushions can make older furniture look good and there have been times that instead of buying a new sofa, I’ve added the perfect toss cushions and invested the saved dollars elsewhere in the home. Consider swapping out a dark area rug for a lighter one, and this too can have a subtle pattern. A cream based area rug will brighten up a space almost as much as lighter walls.
What about repurposing what you already own? If a piece isn’t making you happy then a slight modification may be in store. Recovering a small footstool or dining chair seat cushion isn’t that difficult, even for a beginner. A scrap of fabric, a staple gun and some confidence is all that’s needed. If you have dark wood furniture, think about painting it. There are many great paints on the market such as Annie Sloan Chalk paint, as well as Benjamin Moore Advance paint. Lightening up furniture with paint is an easy way to extend the life of a dark wood piece and give your room a jolt of fresh. And it doesn’t always have to be a light colour like cream or beige. How about a pop of magenta or chartreuse?
Check Your Plants
If you’re a big design follower, then you may have heard of Biophilic Design. It’s the name given to the design approach that connects people to nature within the built environment. This movement first started in architecture and urban planning. The biophilic philosophy is now making it’s way to residential design championing adding plants and indoor gardens to interiors. The aim is to enhance wellness and improve happiness. It’s becoming quite trendy right now to talk about biophilic interiors. It’s the ‘trendy’ part that makes me smile. Somehow grandma instinctively knew that tending to her african violets made her feel good. But never the less, whether we’re following a trend or just doing what generations before us did, having plants in the home is a good idea.
BUT … and I say this honestly, please throw out all plants that aren’t fresh and green and happy looking … AND … there is no need to keep a poinsettia past the end of January, even if it still has blooms. What you want in your home are plants that are alive, not half dead ones you feel guilty getting rid of. Take a page from the Dutch, they replace their plants regularly and never feel like they are committing a crime by tossing a plant that’s past its due date.
Tucking little plants here and there is a nice way to bring a feeling of freshness to a space. I like keeping a small plant on the kitchen counter to soften this area. When spring comes and the garden centres have stock, I always have a small pot of herbs by the stove. And my very favourite little touch is to keep a tiny sweet bouquet in the bathroom, even if it’s clippings from the cedars in our garden.
Rearrange Your Furniture and Art
Did you know that there’s actual scientific data that supports the theory that moving furniture around is good for health as it provides a spark of newness in the brain. Different placement of furnishings means the brain has to reprocess the entire space, creating a sense of freshness. A refresh that uses what you have is a great way to bring new life to a tired space. One of my favourite parts of using-what-you-have-to-change-it-up is seeing how colours change. That’s right, colours of your existing pieces will look different because colours play off each other depending on what they are paired with. It’s kind of fun to see how just changing around the accessories can make a room look brighter and fresher.
It’s not just moving around furniture that makes everything look new. Changing up the placement of art on the walls makes a huge difference. I just helped a client move a few pieces around and she was asked by several friends if the pieces were new. Don’t forget that art can be hung in creative places. Go high and go low. Get creative with placement and don’t be shy to hang art on top of wallpaper!
Swap Out Accent Pieces to Match the Season
Marking the seasons has always been important to humans. In the past we were much more connected to the changing seasons as our very survival depended upon it. Although less reliant today for survival, we’re still strongly connected to the seasons through agriculture, cultural celebrations and our mood. The seasons also affect how we use our homes and what we want from it.
I think it’s important to change up interiors according to the season we’re entering. Because most people today spend a lot of time inside, seasonal decor changes are a visual clue that helps us connect to nature. Not only that, bringing in some seasonal decor is another way to spark newness in the brain and keep a home looking fresh.
Now I’m not saying to get all tacky and fill your home with cheap pieces from big box stores. Seasonal accent pieces can be very subtle. To mark the passage of summer, bring out the cozy throws and candles. Wicker baskets full of books add a touch of coziness. These items can still be light in colour so as not to bring down a room. When it’s time to celebrate spring, lighten up what you put on your shelves. Sparkling glass vases are a refreshing addition. This doesn’t just have to be for spring. If your room is feeling heavy and uninspired, try adding some sparkly accent pieces.
These pretty Portmeirion Botanic Garden dishes displayed on a corner shelf bring the garden indoors. Interesting to note is that even looking at dishes rendered with plants and flowers triggers positive emotions, making everything a little more happy and bright. Call me crazy, but each month I change up my tea service to something seasonal. My secret hobby is collecting china (not a secret anymore) and every month I have a new and fresh pattern to enjoy.
Slowly Start Removing Items
Technically this last section isn’t going to be about de-cluttering and organizing. If you want to read about 13 Beautiful Organizing Ideas click the link here. I am going to politely suggest you slowly start removing some items from counters, coffee tables and built in shelving. Walk through your home with fresh eyes and really notice what’s laying around. Sometimes we get so acclimatized to our surroundings that we don’t even see the piles anymore. Simply by removing a few items a space will feel lighter and fresher.
Don’t panic. I’m not suggesting bare counters or highly staged surfaces, because after all, this is real life. Of course we still need places for our stuff. We just want it to look pretty and purposeful. One trick that always works is containing items with a tray. By grouping it all together, it reads as one item and not a bunch of random stuff. Coffee table books can also act as a container and look quite pretty sitting on a table with plants or a candle on top.
And if you’re now feeling inspired to make some changes and perhaps break into the piggy bank, then here’s two bonus ideas. First up are light fixtures. Swapping out a few dated fixtures will instantly transform a space. There’s a lot of fun and interesting fixtures available and something for every budget. It’s hard to explain what a huge difference this will make, but my clients that have added new fixtures can’t believe the difference it makes to a space.
While it may not be time to install new kitchen cabinets, changing out the hardware will give you a new look. Most cabinets have standard size hardware so it’s not difficult to find something to replace it with. Keep in mind that the size of the ends where the screw goes needs to be the same size or larger, otherwise there may be a mark from the old hardware. If you’re wondering what’s popular for cabinet hardware – it’s everything! With so many choices available, let the style of your kitchen dictate your selection and colour choice.
I believe that a well designed home makes life better. If we want our homes to provide sanctuary and comfort, then we need to tend them carefully and show some love. Easy swaps done regularly will keep your home interesting and fresh looking.
