New Year, New Look
10 Ways To Update Your Interior Without Breaking The Bank
by Shelagh Duncan
You might be quite happy with your current interior decor, but like any solid, long-term relationship, it can get a bit stale. With the New Year upon us why not try a few simple ideas to reinvigorate your space and make it look fresh and new – so you can fall in love with your home all over again!
You don’t need to buy a bunch of new stuff to give your home a fresh look. Just take what you’ve already got, and mix it up! That’s what interior designers do. First we look through what clients already own, because treasures may be hidden in a cupboard or closet or sitting on a shelf that no one ever notices. Have a look around your own home, open the drawers, clear some shelves and counter tops and start fresh. Swap out mirrors, table lamps, throw blankets and pillows. Rotate artwork into different positions, rearrange the books and try out new objects on the coffee and dining table. Here are some ideas to get you going.
1. ADD SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO YOUR ENTRYWAY
Change the wall art to a mirror – or vice-versa, change up the lamp or the table. Painting a wall in the entrance will give completely new first impression of your home. Just making a small change can make a big difference.
2. CREATE A NEW CENTERPIECE FOR THE COFFEE OR DINING TABLE
If you’ve got a few tablecloths sitting in the drawer, get them out and use them. Arrange one like a table runner. Head outside for a large plant leaf or two, add some fruit, candles or a vase of your favorite tropical blooms, or use 3 identical vases in a row with one Monstera or Philodendron leaf in each.
Remember that a centerpiece needn’t be alive. A favourite large bowl, a sculpture, a piece of driftwood, a runner dotted with seashells or candles can make a wonderful dining room focal point.
3. TREAT YOURSELF TO A NEW SHOWER CURTAIN
Small room, big change. It’s not expensive, and one panel of fabric or plastic can completely change the look of your bathroom. A large-scale pattern can have a huge design impact, while a white or translucent curtain can make the room seem brighter and more open.
4. TREAT YOURSELF TO NEW LIVING ROOM CURTAINS
Set the tone of any room with fresh new curtains. Ready-made panels are very economical and even on wide windows they can frame the view beautifully. Still on a budget, then look at switching out a pair from another room. Some of those accessories may work in that room too, so keep an open mind and have fun experimenting.
5. MOVE SOME FURNITURE AROUND
Move furniture away from the walls. Change around the seating in the living area and arrange in conversation groups, or switch the dining and living areas for a while. You never know what inspiration you will get from looking at things from a different perspective. Try the bed on a different wall and if space permits add a small chair, desk or table to the bedroom. Exchange a night table or two for your living room end tables.
6. PAINT SOMETHING A STRIKING OR BOLD COLOUR
…or a pretty pastel, a glossy black or distressed white – it doesn’t matter! It’s only paint, after all: go for it! You can paint one wall, the inside of your wardrobe, or bookshelf, a door or a piece of furniture.
Accent walls give any room a new dimension. Choose one of the new colours for 2019, which include Mushroom, Mist and my favorite, Mustard. There is also a soft green and a mid-blue among the new trending colours.
Gloss paint will give an even bolder statement, but will accentuate any surface imperfections, however a flat or matte paint will be more forgiving on those less-than-perfect walls.
7. SWAP A MIRROR OR A LAMP
That large mirror over the powder room sink might look fantastic over your dresser or buffet. Would those living room lamps work in the bedroom? Saw a great floor lamp on Sale? Try it at the side of the bed… why not?
8. CLEAR YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS
Coffee grinder, espresso maker, kettle, toaster… do all the small appliances really need to be out? Try putting them all away and notice how much cleaner (and bigger) the kitchen looks. Take everything off the counter top, give it a good clean and then reassess.
Perhaps you’ll create a more organized coffee-and-toaster station for the weekday morning – or maybe you’ll realize you only make coffee at home on the weekends, and there’s no need to have the gadgets out for the rest of the week. Perhaps you’ll find a place near the range to tuck all of your spices. If you put everything away, and take out only what’s needed, within a week you’ll soon find out what items really should be on the countertop, and which can go into the cabinets. (Tip – try doing this in the bathroom too)
9. CHANGE UP YOUR BEDDING
This might be as easy as flipping over the bed throw so the other side is facing up and adding a couple of colour coordinated pillows. What about taking the living room throw pillows and trying them in the bedroom? Need some colour – try your beach sarong as a bed runner. Think outside the box and you’ll get the look of new bedding without spending a cent.
10. DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE
Getting rid of the things you no longer use or need is perhaps the most quoted way to free up space and can change the look of any room. If you find it hard to part with some of those treasures from your past, take photos of them – and then donate or sell. Your memories are captured for any time you want to revisit them, and you gain the space while someone else gains the benefit of your generosity.
So with the new year comes a new look, and it can feel like a fresh start. You will begin to enjoy and appreciate your home even more after trying a few of these simple changes.