Whether you’ve been in your house for five years or 15, it can start to feel a little stale after a while. But a few simple changes can breathe fresh life into your living space and help you fall in love with it all over again.
Get inspired
So you’ve decided your home needs a makeover, but where to start? Spend some time gathering inspiration so you know the kind of look you’re aiming for. Websites such as Pinterest and Houzz are great places to source and save design ideas you love.
Paint your personality
A fresh coat of paint is an easy place to start when it comes to adding pizzazz to a room. Whether it’s just one accent wall or the whole room, you can use paint to express your own personality and style without making more expensive alterations or additions.
You can colour yourself calm with neutral tones that won’t overstimulate the senses, or add a pop of something bright to liven things up.
Move the furniture
A free way to update a room is to shift the furniture around. A different layout can make a room feel brand new. Remember to keep large and tall pieces around the perimeter of the room, and don’t forget to consider any walkways within the room.
Change your artwork
While you’re shifting the furniture, why not change up your artwork too?
Try moving paintings to different walls, test out different arrangements if you have a gallery wall, and update photos if you have any family shots.
If you want to purchase new artwork, make sure you truly love a piece before hanging it on a wall where you’ll see it every day.
Read: Turn photos into works of art
Get organised
Another cheap approach to revitalise a room is to get rid of clutter and organise what’s left. A build-up of junk is a quick way to sap the energy from a room.
Take stock of everything in the room, including things in closets, on shelves, and in drawers, and be realistic with yourself about what you need and what you could do without.
Take stock of what you have left and get creative with organisation solutions. Use boxes, bins or crates to separate and store items in a tidy way.
Consider a rug
Never underestimate the transformative power of a properly sized area rug. One of the most common mistakes people make in decorating is buying rugs that are too small for the space. A rug that’s too small can actually make the whole room feel smaller.
Light it up
Lighting is another design element that can make a huge difference. Especially if you’re spending a lot of time at home.
Ideally, there needs to be a contrast in lighting from getting up in the morning and getting started with your day, to unwinding and relaxing in the evening.
Consider swapping any dated light fixtures for more modern ones – and don’t skip over your lamps. Switching out a lampshade is an inexpensive update that can make a big difference.
Adding lighting like table and floor lamps all around the room can also help the space feel bigger.
Read: Improve the lighting in your home
Add texture
Layering is key in achieving that cocoon look, so it’s time to add tactile throws and textural cushions. You can mix everything from bouclé and velvet to linen and cotton to keep the senses occupied.
Liven things up
Plants are a great way to bring more life into your home. If you don’t have a green thumb, try lovely fresh or everlasting flowers throughout your space.
Clean that thing you’ve been putting off
Whether it’s the windows or the skirting boards, we all have that one job we tend to put off a little too long. But a clean and tidy home is a lot easier to fall back in love with.
Not only will this make your space feel better, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment.
Read: Thirty-day deep cleaning challenge
Fix those little snags
Things like dripping taps, a stiff drawer or a squeaky floorboard can start to get really annoying once you’ve been living with them for a while.
Walk around your house with a notebook and pen and make a list of all the little things you have been putting off.
Then, either fix them yourself one by one, or bite the bullet and get a handyman in to tackle the whole lot. While you’re at it, think about other irritations that can be solved, if your mugs are in a cupboard that’s too far away from your kettle, now’s the time to move them.
How do you keep your home feeling like a sanctuary? Share your tips for freshening up your space in the comments section below.
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