The Week brings you inexpensive ways to breathe new life into any room. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can spruce up your home in minutes.[break]
Treat your windows
Sometimes all your need is a tieback or an interesting curtain rod to change the look of your windows with dramatic results. You don’t need to have draperies or new curtains made. Instead, try a new set of blinds, valances or window shades in a new color or print. Revamp the windows and make them the focal point of your room to brighten your décor with minimal effort. You can also hang a bird cage next to the window if you have a thing for indoor pets, or put plants in the bird cage if you don’t.
Plant a new look
Get creative with flowers and plants. You can use artificial flowers/plants or opt for real ones. Set your arrangements on the floor, tabletop, windowsills, or you can even hang them on the wall or from the ceiling. Place an artificial floral arrangement in an old-fashioned watering can for a vintage feel. Pepper a room with different colored vases that you can move around anytime you want to instantly change your décor.
Photo Courtesy:Arjun Shah
Add a cozy rug
Rugs do more than cover the floor. Lighter colored rugs can brighten up a space and an oriental-style rug will add elegance to the room. A rug can also be used to align your seating space. You can place one at the center of the room and arrange your sofas and chairs around it, or opt for several small ones that you can move around as per your requirement. Try placing a small vibrant rug on top of a larger neutral one for a different and contemporary look.
Light it up
Change your current lighting by changing lampshades or recovering your old lampshades with new fabric. Add a string light under, above any cabinet or next to the door or window for a festive look throughout the year. Redirect some lights to focus on an artwork you have on display. A subtle splash of light here and there in the form of string lights and lamps can make a typical room interesting.
Shelve it
Shelves can hold your books and family photos. You can create a new look in any room as well as get more organized by adding a small shelf. You don’t have to buy new ones. Just take a look around your house and see if you can move a certain one to another area. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to plain boring ones.
Fun with fabric
A change in bedspread, tablecloth or upholstery can change the entire mood and feel of your home in a jiffy. Simple fabric changes allow you to change your décor without spending a lot. You can change the cushions and pillows. Buy or make matching or contrasting pillows for your bed, couch, chair or floor. Big ones, small ones, fringed pillows, leather pillows – the options are endless!
On the walls
Innovative picture frames can bring photos and paintings to life and make them the highlight of the room. If you are not sure about giving an entire wall to an artwork or don’t actually have a favorite to display, consider framing your favorite card, picture, quote (printed on a piece of paper) separately and hanging them up in a cluster. Pay attention to the frames, though, while clustering them together. Stick to basic black, white or wooden as too much of variety will make the area look claustrophobic.
Add colors
Colorful throws, pillows and paintings are simple, affordable solutions to a monotonous color scheme. Red throw pillows provide a dynamic contrast when set on a black or white sofa. A purple or green throw on the back of a black leather sofa gets you out of that comfortably dull style. You can prop large cushions on the floor for extra seating space which will lend a relaxed and casual feel to your home.
Fill empty spaces
Empty spaces in your living room don’t do much for the décor and often gives the impression of a neglected space. In an awkward-shaped or small room, consider whether a corner sofa would be more practical. Corner sofas are also extremely comfortable and stylish and you can choose to mix and match. You can also put a small table and chair in a corner to make a reading nook.
Mix textures
Having matching furniture in a room can look nice but a variety of textures when you choose to mix and match your furniture will make it look more interesting. Textured throw pillows, carved frames, wicker baskets can add a slightly rough finish to an otherwise dull décor. You can also use wicker tables and chairs instead of wooden or leather ones if you want to give your space a more rustic feel.
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