Does everything in your house visually blend into the walls, and nothing pops out anymore to grab your attention or to start a conversation? Does your home’s interiors elicit no more excitement when you come home from work every day? Does your place seem generally dreary, sad, or bland at best? If you said yes to any of these, you’ll know that it’s time to finally change the look of your home.
The good news is that it does not cost much effort and money to upgrade the interior design of your abode. There is a wealth of information and inspiration available from magazines, books, and online resources, and all it takes is a little imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness to breathe new life into your place of residence. However, if you still feel stuck or overwhelmed by the prospect of a do-it-yourself home improvement, here are a few quick and simple but effective tips:
Liven It All up with Color
Sometimes, all that a space needs is a new, clean coat of paint. A simple change in color or a fresh coat of the same one can often result in a dramatic transformation. Change things up by painting an accent wall with a strong color of your choice, such as red or blue. You can also go neutral by going with beige or gray.
If you are up to it, experiment with the wide variety of textured or patterned paints that can be applied with the right techniques. The results can sometimes look like actual art more than anything else, what with the raised brush strokes and bold splashes of color.
Keep in mind as well the different effects or moods that various colors elicit. For instance, green is mostly calming, while red is stimulating. Thus, make sure to choose a color that suits your mental and emotional needs.
Hang Drapes and Curtains
Apart from paint and color, another way to freshen up your walls is to dress up your windows with curtains or drapes. Window treatments and fabric hangings are a great way to add more visual detail and depth to any living space. Drapes and curtains also serve the practical role of blocking out the sun, keeping a room cool, and providing you with privacy.
With drapes and curtains, there is a seemingly endless variety of fabrics and designs you can choose from. Simply measure the dimensions of the windows you wish to cover with drapes, and choose the type of fabric, color, and design that you prefer. With online drape and curtain suppliers, you can even place orders through the Internet and have your chosen products delivered to your doorstep.
Bring the Outdoors In
Nothing makes a space more refreshing and vibrant than nature. Not only do plants and flowers bring touches of color to the indoors, but they also provide health benefits by purifying the air of indoor pollutants.
There are many varieties of low-maintenance indoor plants you can choose from. Find out the ones that are sturdy and hardy in indoor settings, and learn how to take care of them. Aside from the living room and bedroom, plants are also perfect for outdoor areas of the home like the lanai or the veranda.
Accessorize with Personal Objects
Many homeowners forget to look into their own possessions when upgrading the look of their home. Objects with personal meaning and sentimental value can be used as great accessories or decorative pieces. After all, a home is an intimate reflection of one’s style and taste, and so what better way to express yourself than by displaying your cherished photos, mementos, and keepsakes? For instance, if you have a few cultural craft items you’ve collected from your travels abroad, you can use these as accents on your shelves.
However, to keep everything organized and tasteful, curate your stuff and choose those that have strong visual impact or possess an interesting, unique design. These are great statement pieces that can likewise become conversation starters during parties and gatherings.
Improve Lighting
Illumination is a commonly overlooked aspect of interior design. Lighting is actually both a science and an art, and there are interior designers and decorators who actually specialize in this field. Lighting is very important to evoke certain moods, so determine the kind of energy or ambiance that you want to create in a living space, and try to achieve that with the right type of illumination. You need not hire an expert, but start by researching online or asking some friends who are knowledgeable in the subject.
For starters, you should note that warm, artificial light is generally more flattering for a majority of skin types. Daylight, on the other, may be effective in keeping you more alert, active, and awake even indoors. You may also want to switch to more cost-efficient LED lightbulbs, which are not only long-lasting but also energy-saving.
Sprucing up your home need not be expensive or complicated. By implementing simple changes like installing window treatments, displaying decorative elements, or putting on a fresh coat of paint on your walls, you can upgrade the look of your house without having to break the bank!
About Jammie Morey
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