Renovating your entire living room or splurging on a new bedroom set likely isn’t in the cards at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some changes to make it feel new again. If you’re tired of the same old furniture layout, try moving the couch, adjusting where your armchair sits or mixing things up by swapping rugs from one room to another. Even switching a lamp from a side table to another spot in your house can lend a whole new perspective.
BRING OUT THE "SPECIAL OCCASION" DINNERWARE
There’s no better time to add a bit of drama to your table, so bust out the china, special silverware, or fancy wine glasses. Now that we’re all eating at home, it’s the perfect chance to sip and savour at the dinner table using our favourite pieces.
RESTYLE YOUR BOOKSHELVES
If you’re more focused on the content, then consider arranging your books in alphabetical order or by theme/topic. If aesthetics are your top priority, then group your books by size or colour for the best look. When styling shelves with a variety of content for an overall look, then remember these three tips from designer Emily Henderson: Declutter, use neutral colours and focus on a few standout pieces.
STRAIGHTEN - OR REDO - YOUR WALL HANGINGS
From photos to artwork to TVs, the items on our walls become crooked over time. Take a stroll through your house and straighten everything—you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. Alternatively, take down all of your photos or artwork and make a new gallery, perhaps moving items to a new room to keep things fresh.
TOUCH UP YOUR PAINT
Many of us have a few cans of paint tucked away in our homes, from the last time we did a project or from when we moved in. Make sure it matches your current walls and then walk through the house and touch up the high-use areas, especially door frames, baseboards, and doors.
PUT EMPTY FRAMES TO USE
Photo projects require a ton of time and energy to complete, which means they sometimes never make it off of your to-do list. Go through the house and add photos to any frames you’re not using; alternatively, you could also swap out older photos for new ones. Wall galleries with assorted frames in various sizes and styles are very popular right now - so don’t worry about having all your frames match!
REPLACE LIGHT BULBS
It's such an easy task, but it’s crazy how often homeowners put this off and then simply “get used to” having burnt-out light bulbs! Don’t wait until you are down to one bulb - go through the house and replace any that have burnt out. It will instantly brighten the space! (Both literally and figuratively). While you are at it, make sure that all your light fixtures contain the same kind of bulbs - nothing looks more bizarre than a bathroom vanity light with a variety of bulb shapes and differing tones.
CLEAN YOUR LAMPS AND DRAPERIES
Sometimes the culprit to bad lighting isn’t a dead lightbulb, it’s dirt. Unplug lamps and clean the lampshades with a dry microfiber cloth or vacuum cleaner attachment. For other types of lamps, clean the bulbs and use a cloth to dust off the hardware. (Note that you should always do this when the light bulbs are cool to the touch.) Drapes and window shades can also be a magnet for dust and insects - taking a vacuum or roller brush to these can make a world of difference.
This blog was adapted from an article on Curbed.com
BRING OUT THE "SPECIAL OCCASION" DINNERWARE
There’s no better time to add a bit of drama to your table, so bust out the china, special silverware, or fancy wine glasses. Now that we’re all eating at home, it’s the perfect chance to sip and savour at the dinner table using our favourite pieces.
RESTYLE YOUR BOOKSHELVES
If you’re more focused on the content, then consider arranging your books in alphabetical order or by theme/topic. If aesthetics are your top priority, then group your books by size or colour for the best look. When styling shelves with a variety of content for an overall look, then remember these three tips from designer Emily Henderson: Declutter, use neutral colours and focus on a few standout pieces.
STRAIGHTEN - OR REDO - YOUR WALL HANGINGS
From photos to artwork to TVs, the items on our walls become crooked over time. Take a stroll through your house and straighten everything—you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. Alternatively, take down all of your photos or artwork and make a new gallery, perhaps moving items to a new room to keep things fresh.
TOUCH UP YOUR PAINT
Many of us have a few cans of paint tucked away in our homes, from the last time we did a project or from when we moved in. Make sure it matches your current walls and then walk through the house and touch up the high-use areas, especially door frames, baseboards, and doors.
PUT EMPTY FRAMES TO USE
Photo projects require a ton of time and energy to complete, which means they sometimes never make it off of your to-do list. Go through the house and add photos to any frames you’re not using; alternatively, you could also swap out older photos for new ones. Wall galleries with assorted frames in various sizes and styles are very popular right now - so don’t worry about having all your frames match!
REPLACE LIGHT BULBS
It's such an easy task, but it’s crazy how often homeowners put this off and then simply “get used to” having burnt-out light bulbs! Don’t wait until you are down to one bulb - go through the house and replace any that have burnt out. It will instantly brighten the space! (Both literally and figuratively). While you are at it, make sure that all your light fixtures contain the same kind of bulbs - nothing looks more bizarre than a bathroom vanity light with a variety of bulb shapes and differing tones.
CLEAN YOUR LAMPS AND DRAPERIES
Sometimes the culprit to bad lighting isn’t a dead lightbulb, it’s dirt. Unplug lamps and clean the lampshades with a dry microfiber cloth or vacuum cleaner attachment. For other types of lamps, clean the bulbs and use a cloth to dust off the hardware. (Note that you should always do this when the light bulbs are cool to the touch.) Drapes and window shades can also be a magnet for dust and insects - taking a vacuum or roller brush to these can make a world of difference.
This blog was adapted from an article on Curbed.com
