The interior of a home can often begin to look old and outdated rather easily. There is no need to hire a designer to come in and do the work as there are plenty of DIY projects that can be done to spruce up the space. Take ideas from magazines and home improvement television shows if you need some inspiration. The looks shown in those situations can be recreated or embellished with your own tastes quite easily.
Some rooms of the home just need a facelift. This can easily be done with a new coat of paint. Keep in mind that there are a variety of paint styles and techniques that can be used. Stripes add dimension and flair to a wall. Most of the time when stripes are used, it is only on one wall. Striping an entire room can cause it to look too busy. If you choose to do stripes, be sure to measure the tape lines from top to bottom to ensure that each line will be straight. Also make sure to measure between each stripe to ensure an equal distance.
When selecting a paint color, pick something that is going to complement the space or make a smaller room look larger. Smaller rooms should have lighter paint colors or neutral tones. Color can be added in different ways. Large spaces can look cozy with a warm paint tone or an accent wall in a different color. Staying with a neutral color palette in the entire home is going to make it appear to be monotone, dull and boring. Color is a good thing.
Change the Carpets
If you have carpeted spaces in your home that are just tired looking, the remodeling period or changing of a space is the ideal time to make it happen. Yes, you can lay carpet on your own. You will want to measure the space and add on about two inches to each measurement to allow the carpet enough room to go under the baseboards and be stretched into place. Don’t forget the padding and sub-floor protective layer. These are important. Also be sure that these are not attached with adhesive glue as it can ruin the sub-floor or natural hardwoods that are underneath.
If you prefer not to use carpet tacks, double-sided carpet tape can work just as well. It is a much longer process but it will still keep the carpet in place. You will want to stretch the carpet under the baseboards and tuck it in tight. Use the carpet tape along the edge with no gaps between pieces as the entire edge needs to be covered. Then work your way inward, slowly, with only about 2-inches between strips of paint in width and length.
Add Texture with Throw Pillows
When the walls and carpets in a room are rather neutral in color, texture can be added with throw pillows. Select complementing colors in alternating patterns or a variety of textures. This will help to break up the monotony of the single color use. Texture can also be added with a throw blanket to match the pillows if you wish.
Consider New Curtains
Curtains can be a statement item in a room. Custom options as well as vibrant or ornate patterns can be used to add more texture and/or dimension to the space. The idea of curtains is to make a space look taller. The dual function of curtains, being for shade and depth perception, makes them useful in family sitting areas and living rooms. Bedrooms can also benefit from drapery. The good thing about drapery is that there are hundreds of textures and thousands of patterns/colors to choose from. This is a simple DIY project because all you will need to do is hang a curtain rod by using a cordless drill and thread the curtain onto the rod. It literally just takes a few minutes.
Rearrange Furniture
Sometimes nothing needs to be done to a space; it just needs a different view. This is simple to achieve by just rearranging furniture. It can also help to create more space as some items will be found to be extra or not needed. The arrangement of furniture in a space defines just how large it looks. Consider placing a long table behind a sofa in order to put it along the outer edge of a wall but bring it in closer to the other seating areas. The table behind it can serve as an additional option for accessories, plants or candles.
Repurpose Furniture Items
Older furniture items can easily be repurposed with a bit of imagination. Rather than throwing out furniture pieces to make room for new items. Look at that piece and envision it as something else. For instance, a cedar chest makes a great bench. All it takes is adding on some legs and building arm rests while permanently affixing a back rest to the area and adding a padded cushion on top of the seating area. This will double as storage and will be unique. Another idea is to take an old table and turn it into a magazine rack or cut off the legs and turn it into a floating shelf on the wall with a fresh coat of paint or stain.
Consider New Blinds
Blinds are a good way to help regulate the amount of sun that comes through a room. There are so many different types, sizes and the option of them being vertical or horizontal. Blinds can be made from plastic, wood, bamboo and a variety of other materials such as vinyl. Vertical blinds allow you to move them completely to one side if full sun is wanted. If you need some help with ideas, see here for a few nice examples of what is available and how they could work in your space.
In combination with curtains, window treatments such as this can add warmth to a space and make it seem more inviting with added privacy for a romantic evening at home or a bright space when guests fill the room.
Accessorize Accordingly
Accessories are important to a space. At the same time, it is important to keep them to a minimum. Too many can make a space seem cluttered. Changing out accessories from time-to-time is also ideal. In your local area you may be able to locate a consignment shop that you can take your old items to in order to obtain funds for more updated items. Accessories in a space always need to look fresh and modern, unless the décor or style of a room is done with a vintage or retro design intentionally. Less is more when it comes to accessorizing in a space.
These simple DIY projects can help you to update a boring or tired space with minimal time, money and effort. All of these things can be done by yourself and without the need of a contractor or designer. Before painting, get a sample and try it on the wall next to a window or where direct light hits to see if that is really the color that you wish to have on the walls. These simple changes can make a room feel bigger and look rejuvenated!
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