As a designer, I spend lots of time attending markets and looking at beautiful and pricey items being produced by the leading designs and manufacturers around the world. It is definitely a privileged to have access to those items and know that I can create a design plan with the best the market has to offer. But, one of the most favorite parts of designing for me is being able to design and decorate a room or home for FREE.
By FREE, I mean using the things that already exist in the home and creating an entirely fresh and new look with just those elements. This is when I become most creative and really force myself to think outside the box.
So many homeowners today can’t or don’t want to spend lots of money re-decorating their homes. They love the things that have, but feel like their home environment is a bit stale and tired. In many of these cases, it’s really a matter of reworking what you own to create a new look. When faced with this design challenge, here are the techniques I use to make something old, new again!
HOW TO RE-DECORATE YOUR HOME FOR FREE
SWAP–I walk through the entire house and take inventory of what items exist, and begin to envision how things can be used or positioned differently within the home. Who says the neutral chair in the guest bedroom has to stay there? It might just look great in the family room. Shopping your own home and swapping items from one space to another is a quick and easy way to give your decor new life.
RE-ARRANGE–Has your furniture been in the same spot for years? Try a new floor plan to give the room a new perspective and point of view. Move the sofa to the other side of the room, change the positioning of the area rug or put the console table that usually sits along the wall, behind the sofa. Look at your room layout in a different way.
Re-arranging furniture can give a room a total over-haul. In many cases, you might create a new focal point for the room or allow for a better traffic flow within the space. Try moving things around and see what a difference it can make.
DE-CLUTTER–I’m a bit OCD when it comes to organization, but I know for a fact that a space feels better and functions better without clutter. Use baskets and decorative boxes to hold items that you use on a daily basis, and turn bookshelves into a display space as well as a place to store things. There are so many great accessories out there that will allow you to control the clutter while keeping your space stylish.
RE-ACCESSORIZE–Not only do I love moving accessories around in my home, but I have a stash of items that I pull out at different times of the year to give me something fresh and new to look at.
Create a new look out of ordinary objects.
Re-hanging artwork in a new layout is a great way to update your space and make it look new. Instead of two framed pieces on a wall, pull other pieces from around your house and create a cluster of art. Gallery Wall statements are really popular now and can add a lot of impact to your decor. Another trick I use is to change out some of my art for quotes printed out on my computer. The graphic impact of lettering can give your home a fresh, modern vibe.
CHANGE THE MOOD–Sometimes everything about a rooms design can be good, but the mood of a space is off. Open the windows and let light in, add scented candles to a space or bring in fresh flowers. Or, try adding a mirror to a room if one doesn’t exit. Mirrors work magic on a space, enhancing the light, creating dimension and adding visual interest. These little changes can and will make a room come alive and “feel good”.
Creating a new look and feel doesn’t have to be costly. Take stock of what you already own and try making a few changes with your furniture placement, accessories and wall decor. You’ll be surprised at how a little creativity and thinking outside the box, can turn an old look into a fresh new statement.
Happy Decorating!
all images via pinterest
p.s. I’m off to stage items for an UPSCALE GARAGE SALE a client of mine is having on Friday and Saturday. I’ll be back with more details tomorrow for those of you that live in the Atlanta area. You don’t want to miss this garage sale.
I am in love with the white dining table. Where is that from?
Like your suggestions – the image with the potlids hanging on the pantry door, are those towel racks? They look thinner than regular towel racks. It’s a great idea and one I would like to try – what do you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Wendy,
Yes, the photo of the pot holders is showing a towel bar. There are different thicknesses available in towel bars so definitely look for a thinner style. Here’s the link to a great style, available from Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ12ky/R-100634484/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053.
You can also check Bed, Bath Beyond and even Home Goods carrys these styles of towel bars. And note, the standard width for a cabinet door is 24″ so you’ll want a towel bar measuring 18″. Good Luck. Would love to see photos when you’re all done.
Shelly