Easy Ways to Refresh Your Space
Some of the best home refreshes don’t require a renovation; all you need is a plan and a weekend. From switching out easy accents such as throw pillows and blankets, changing the paint color of your walls or furniture to adding a plant here or there, we’ve got just the fuel to feed your new home decor vibes.
Try painting a piece of furniture or a wall with decorative Chalk Paint®. Skim readers, be warned! Chalk Paint is not synonymous with chalkboard paint. Chalk Paint was first branded by Annie Sloan, but other companies offer a similar type of paint that gives a chalky, vintage appearance with distressed details. The paint is known as a friend of both professional designers and DIY-ers alike, as it requires very little preparation pre-painting. Perfect for indoors or out and eliminating the need for sanding or priming, Chalk Paint gives new to life to furniture, not to mention walls, ceilings and floors. Its matte, velvety finish has a smooth look that gives even the oldest of furniture or materials a fresh appearance.
Or, to get more of a washed look, you can simply add water to the paint before beginning your project. If the furniture or material you’re working with is a darker color, it’s best to use a darker shade of paint. You can easily find types of chalk-finish paint at your choice of retailer and in a variety of color options.
Do you hear that callout for paint? It’s your ceilings talking! Ceilings account for one-sixth of a room and they can act as a statement in the space for dramatic appeal, whether painted light or dark. Painting your ceilings a lighter color will generally make them feel higher or as if you have an increased amount of space, while darker ceilings evoke a more closed in or intimate feel. The trim, wall color and natural light in the space will play an important role, either adding contrast to the overall room or enhancing its lightness or darkness, so keep that in mind.
A cozy, inviting trend that’s easy to incorporate is layering area rugs. No matter whether it’s over carpet or hardwood floors, this addition of color, texture and size will make any room feel unique and cozy. Choose rugs that are in the same color or pattern family to create a cohesive, yet distinctive, look. Find the subtle or abrupt contrasts between shades of blue or stay within a soft neutral palette such as gray; whatever evokes your emotions or adds the right vibe to the space is the correct answer when layering rugs. If you start with a more neutral rug or have neutral carpet in your home, it’s easy to incorporate colors and patterns on top. Natural hides lend themselves to layer over any other carpet or rug, as their organic shapes go with any size, and their colors are usually within the neutral brown, blonde, black, tan or white palette. You’ll want to allow at least 12 to 18 inches of space on all sides of the first rug you lay down so you can see the contrast between the two rugs.
Similar to layering rugs, layering your throw pillows also falls within a few guidelines to make your space feel both personal and purposeful. Scale, color and texture or pattern will ensure your mix of pillows looks cohesive. Opt for pillows in the same color family, whether it’s a color already incorporated in your space or one that you want to mix in, and then choose a variety of sizes and patterns or textures for that eclectic look. Generally, a square pillow, a rectangular pillow and an oversized pillow create the trifecta of timeless appeal. Once you have your colors and sizes selected, you can have some fun with the patterns and textures.
One of two done-in-a-weekend projects is to spruce up with plants. Jade, aloe, spider plants and various succulents all thrive indoors and require little maintenance. Create a terrarium or fill a planter to sit on top of your coffee table or across your window sills to maximize your indoor greenery. Or hang your plants at varying heights to add easy visual interest to your space. The second project is to swap out the photos or artwork in your frames. Change them to reflect your musings of the moment, to show your favorite parts of the current season, or to include friends or family members who might be making a visit in the coming weeks. Arranging a frame or gallery wall can tell the visual story of things that are important to you; whether it’s an eclectic or measured grid arrangement, it’s easy to lay out the look by first taping off parts of your wall to outline your arrangement and hanging once you’re satisfied with the wall. ■
Sources: anniesloan.com, bhg.com and hgtv.com.