Since I was a little girl, I would periodically spend a day rearranging my bedroom furniture to achieve a completely different look and feel. If you can imagine an 8-year-old pushing her Laura Ashley canopy bed from one wall to the next…that was me.
As I’ve grown older, I still love to change the appearance of many rooms in my home. Altering the look of your living spaces does not need to be a costly endeavor. In fact, it can be a fun experience and give you a renewed love if you know a few tricks…
Add Throw Pillows with Color and Design
One of my favorite moves to freshen up any living space, whether it’s a bedroom or living room, is to change the pillows. I always buy a neutral colored sofa, upholstered chairs, and bed linens purposely so I can swap out pillows, throw blankets and accent pieces.
In my article “Accessorizing Your Home For a Fresh Look,” I mention buying fun, nautical pillows to spruce up a room. Don’t be afraid to mix and match designs (stripes with prints) or colors. Try choosing one dominant color to pull through so the pillows coordinate. After that, have fun with integrating different hues and patterns!
Tip: Remember to buy down pillow inserts (or down alternative) one size bigger than the cover. This will better fill the pillow and allow it to maintain its shape over time.
Add Bold Paint Accents
While painting an entire room may be time-consuming and challenging, adding an accent wall is quick, inexpensive and will really give your room a makeover. Plus, depending on the color you choose, it can add warmth, dimension and interest to your room.
Another place to add a pop of paint color is on the inside of bookshelves. I love dark, bold colors but I shy away from painting an entire room this way for fear it might be too overwhelming. l recently painted the back wall of our living room bookcases a deep blue. Adding chinoiserie vases and white pottery really makes the shelving design pop.
Tip: Try painting just the back wall of the bookshelves. Keep the actual shelves and sides of the bookcase the same color as the trim. I find less is more when utilizing a strong color.
Swap Silver Accents for Gold
Gold is making a huge comeback! And the quickest way to warm up any room is to change your silver accents to gold. In our kitchen, I simply replaced the original knobs with brass and the room now has an entirely different appearance. It was a very inexpensive fix and the installation took me about 15 minutes.
Adding pops of gold anywhere, like this sailor’s knot sitting on books, can really dress up a room and make it feel warm and inviting.
Tip: Be careful of the color gold you purchase. Some golds can be overly brassy and can create a harsh look. Also, decide whether you prefer a brushed or polished gold. Both are beautiful and you can’t go wrong!
Change Window Curtains
There is no question that window treatments make a strong statement in a room since our eyes naturally look toward windows when entering. So changing your curtains, to add a new color or pattern, will have a major impact on refreshing your room.
Tip: Hang your curtains high and wide. Placing the rod higher than the top of your window will create a look of height. Extending the rod wide, and hanging the curtains on the outer window casing, will show off your beautiful wood trim and make the windows look larger. Plus, it will allow extra natural light to pour into your living space!
Rearrange your Bookshelves
In my article, “Top 5 Design Mistakes,” I discuss how clutter has a way of creeping into our homes. A great way to refresh a room is it to get rid of the clutter by reorganizing your shelves. Try taking all items off, decide what you want to keep that adds decorative value, and put the rest out of sight.
Tip: Decorating with hardcover, colorful books adds an elegant flare. I also like to add small, gold framed pictures which I place on easels. Whatever great decorative accessories you decide to include, make sure you don’t overcrowd your shelves!
What are your easy, design tricks? Happy decorating!
