Your Home: 5 Minor Changes for Major Impact!
You probably have a room (or two) you would change if it weren’t for two things in your way -- time and money. Ah yes, those pesky culprits that block so many of our plans. As a mere blogger I can’t give you time or money. Okay, I can’t give you time and I won’t give you money…but I will give you five ideas to change that room in a major way with only minor impact to your schedule and bank account.
1. Change the Light Fixtures. This change can involve anything from getting a new ceiling fixture to adding a great accent lamp, floor lamp, or table lamps. If a new light over the dining room table would spruce up your space for the holidays but money is tight, consider visiting your local Habitat for Humanity Restore. I’ve noticed lots of cool lighting fixtures the times I’ve been there. For table lamps, floor lamps or accent lamps, consider taking a stroll through your own house. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve switched a floor lamp from the guest room to the living room or swapped family room table lamps with bedside lamps. If you’re after new, don’t forget to check online. Sometimes you’ll find big discounts and there’s no place with a bigger inventory.
2. Paint the Ceiling Non-White: Big impact, little expense, some work. You can add drama to a room by painting the ceiling a color rather than standard white. Search images online legwork to see if this option may interest you. And if your ceiling is vaulted or a cathedral style, you may want to enlist a painter to do the job for you. That DIY can be a major pain in the neck, literally.
3. New Artwork: “Shop” in your own house first (or even homes of friends or relatives). You may find a spectacular new focal point for your room. Thrift stores are another good option. Be diligent and peek in the corners beyond all those teal and mauve flower paintings from the 80s. Have a big wall to fill? Consider incorporating cool empty picture frames or mirrors with your artwork to create a high impact look. Another way to make a splash is with an oversize piece or two. While extra-large art can get pricey, creating your own can be inexpensive and highly fulfilling. You’ll find many online tutorials to help you make a personal statement. And for the cost of canvas and paint you may discover a whole new form of expression. Plus, you get the added bonus of using the exact colors you want.
4. Rearrange your Furniture: This one is free, free, free and will definitely create that new room feel. If you think there’s only one way to arrange your room, you’re wrong. At the risk of sounding boastful, I welcome your biggest no-way-to-rearrange-my-room challenge and I’m 99% sure I can solve it for you. To see if I can put my space planning skills where my mouth is, send me a note and tell me about your biggest challenge. I’ll address as many requests as I can. If you don’t want to play “challenge the blogger,” here are some quick simple tips: look for furniture to swap from other rooms or storage, look for ways to turn furniture at different angles, or use furniture to break rooms into separate seating areas. One extra pro tip: be sure to pick up gliders that fit under furniture legs to make moving the bigger, heavier pieces easy.
5. Re-group Accessories: Look at all of your accessories with fresh eye and consider how you might showcase them differently. It’s really as simple as playing with the items in many different combinations until you find a grouping you like. You may want to introduce inexpensive items like candles, mirrors, photos, plants, dry arrangements, or anything else to add interest. As I’ve shared before, when you take individual items and place them in a group to display, the impact is magnified. And don’t forget the magic that lighting can bring. For example, if you have a grouping of plants or vases of varying heights, uplighting can create stunning effects. Bonus! This can also create a new focal point, which will make your space feel very different.
I hope these suggestions lead to a brand-new feeling room. Better yet, I hope you tap into a fun creative outlet along the way. Don’t be afraid to try things and see if you like the change. If you don’t, try again. Like anything else, in order to reap the reward, you need to be willing to take on some risk. Have fun trying!
Now, what will you do next to love where you live?
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