pexels
Nothing is quite as satisfying as revamping your place when you’re feeling stuck in a rut. It’s the perfect place to start when you’re desperately in need of a life makeover. Once you feel comfortable again in your own home you’ll be more motivated to get on with your life. Don’t worry you don’t need to spend a fortune to spruce up your living space. Give your place the personal touches it needs to reflect your unique character, and finally, make the place your own.
Upcycle and uplift
Overspending on lavish or ostentatious furniture is not the done thing anymore. If you really wanna show off your living space, you’ve got to decorate it yourself with recycled materials. Get creative by refurbishing with used fabrics. Choose your favorite designs to spruce up your chairs, sofas, bedding, and cushions. Upcycling is trending massively this year. If you’re feeling able to pysch yourself up for a bit of a project why not give it a go? Get your friends to join in or look for a group or a workshop near you, if you need a little bit of help or inspiration.
Lighten up
Nothing is more important to interior design than light. Learn how to use light to your advantage, both natural and artificial. This year it’s all about staying as sustainable as possible, this will more often than not, also save you a lot of money. Replace your existing lightbulbs with LEDs as these will last you a lifetime. They are way more energy-efficient and durable. You can buy them suitable for any interior or exterior lights. You will save a lot on electricity as they don’t lose heat energy, or take forever to turn on.
Consider giving your place a lick of paint to brighten it up. Stick to white or lighter colors for the main walls and ceilings. This will help to light the room. Put up wall lighting or sconces to highlight more artistic features. These could be interesting artwork for example, or parts of the architecture, such as naked brickwork. Lower hanging ceiling lights are trending at the moment, these can also be used as a feature piece. Look for some cool lampshades in a second-hand shop near you, for a cheaper and more individual look. You don’t need to worry about matching as you can get a collection of feature pieces and fun items.
Get arty
Have a look online or in vintage or second-hand shops for unique pieces of artwork. Choose the ones that best reflect your sense of humor and personality. Vintage posters are in style and always create a timeless look if you’re stuck for ideas. Vintage advertising can be really fun and quirky.
If you’re feeling brave enough, why not create some art yourself? You can go to a painting or drawing workshop to learn the basics if you’re not an expert. If you don’t feel up to it yourself, why not ask a friend with a more artistic touch? Something more personal will definitely add a lot of character and sentimental value. You could create a piece out of recycled materials again, or photos, if you’re not feeling very inspired.
Plant pots
Nothing adds life to a room more than plants or flowers. There are plenty of low maintenance options if you’re not naturally green-thumbed. Plants eat air pollution and help to refresh the atmosphere. They are also proven to improve your mood and to create a relaxing and welcoming environment. You’ll be hosting tea parties in no time.
Get your place ready for spring with a vase of daffodils. These will add color and fragrance to any room. There’s always an opportunity to be creative. What used items around your house can you turn into a vase or a plant pot? You can find more inspiration online. Getting in touch with nature a little bit can be very therapeutic indeed, so utilize any outdoor space you might have. You can start by setting up window boxes or move on to gardening. Gardening is a popular wellness trend at the moment and many city dwellers are choosing to rent allotments, to put their green thumbs to good use.
Nostalgia
A nice touch to add to any room of the house. Place around items from your childhood or that remind you of a different time. These could be photos or whimsical toys. If you’re still into stuffed animals, don’t be afraid to leave them out on display to greet visitors. Antique items also give this effect, so go to a local antiques market and get some nicknacks to create a fun timeless look.
Collections
Collecting is actually considered pretty trendy nowadays. Pick something that interests you. There are many cool things to collect this year such as old tech, vinyl and music memorabilia, toys and basically anything vintage. You can set up areas to display your collection, for example, an old record player in the corner displayed next to your collection of vinyl. Bookshelves are also a great way to display your collection of books and these familiar reads will make you feel more like yourself in your home. Hipster-types tend to go for old video consoles and technology, such as typewriters and other household machines. Go for something that reflects your interests, however, and don’t worry about following the crowds.
Maintenance
Keep on top of any maintenance that needs doing to keep your place as comfortable and livable as possible. This will save you a lot of money in the future on major repairs, or replacing fixtures. Ensure that go through necessary checks from now and again, or have someone in to look over electrics, plumbing, and general maintenance. Replace all your old windows with double-glazing. This might cost a bit, but it will save you a great deal on your heating bill. A lot of heat is lost through older windows and you want as much insulation as you can get. This will also help you to create a more sustainable home, which is fundamental. Companies such as Mortice and Green can help you to revamp your windows.
Textures
Add some comfort to your living room and bedrooms with rugs, carpets, pillows, and throws. This can help to create insulation and warmth as well, particularly carpets as you won’t lose as much heat through the floors. Again you can go for the second-hand option and find some cheap bargains. Choose patterns with white or lighter lines to help to throw light around the room. Color schemes trending this year are navy against white, natural blues and greens and soft pinks and peaches. Go for as wild a pattern as you like. As for patterns in 2020, anything goes so choose whatever best suits your personality.
Functioning spaces
Create areas that have a purpose. You could set up a reading area, next to your book collection or the window. Set up a place to eat breakfast, or to have coffee with friends. If you have a TV set up a snuggly area where you can fall asleep in front of a movie after a hard day’s work. Try to make every inch of the place appear as though it has a purpose and really utilize your space.
High-tech equipment
If you can stretch to it, it’s a great investment. It won’t cost much for you to update your place to a “smart home”. You can configure the electricity, heating and other appliances to be programmed and activated from your smartphone. This will save you a lot of money because you can set things to come on when you’re on your way home, thus reducing your consumption overall. You might want to consider slowly updating your appliances to smarter, more modern designs. You’ll be grateful for the money they save you in the future as they are much more energy-efficient. It’s another way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Aromatherapy
A great way to relax at the end of the day is with incense and meditation. You could set up an area with scented candles or oils. You could even refresh your bathroom with more welcoming scents. You can also investigate the different properties of certain herbs, as they can be very beneficial.
Pets
You can introduce a new roommate to help welcome you into your house every day. You don’t have to choose a high maintenance animal, but make sure you are ready for the responsibility. You can do some research to find the right pet for you.
Friends
Now that you’ve spruced up your home you’re ready to be the best hostess. Start organizing more gatherings at your place. You could host dinner parties or cocktail parties or even book clubs or groups related to your hobbies and interests. Remember that your home is somewhere to have fun as well, and you want to make it as welcoming as possible. Don’t be afraid to show off your efforts and invite your friends and family over.
~ This is a collaborative post, and may contain affiliated links. ~
