You may not be in a position for a full-scale remodel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve the effect of a different space with a little time and effort! These 5 tips for how redecorating with what you already have will get you a fresh look.
1. Create a Vision
Is there something that you don’t like about your room? Maybe you lack a strong color scheme or there’s just too much stuff. Try to identify any design problems you want to fix before starting any heavy lifting – trust me, your back will thank you for it! Perhaps you like your space but just want to update or breathe some fresh life into it. Before you start, evaluate what you want to accomplish, and keep that goal in mind as you work. For more on this planning process, check out our post on Decorating with Designer Secrets.
2. Remove It All
The best way to get a fresh viewpoint on a room is to remove what’s there. If you’re already planning on some spring cleaning, this is a great opportunity to accomplish both things at once. Remove as many items from the room as possible, cleaning those hard to reach places as you go, and then evaluate each item critically to decide whether it should return to the room or find a home elsewhere. Make sure you use the criteria or plan that you came up with in step 1 to decide whether to use an item or not.
3. Rearrange
One of the easiest ways of redecorating with what you have can be done simply by rearranging your furniture. While you have the room emptied, ask yourself what other location an item could have in the room. If you find yourself at a loss, do a little homework on the rules of furniture arranging or how to arrange your furniture. You might also find it valuable to book a consultation with a designer. Even the budget conscious homeowner may consider the money very well spent for the peace of mind you’ll get knowing that your efforts to change things up are done right.
4. Re-Imagine Function
Do the items in your rooms have to be used as they are intended? Perhaps you have a console table that could serve as a desk or vice-versa. Can your ottoman serve instead as a coffee table? Look through your house to find pieces in other rooms that might work in the room you want to redecorate. When mixing and matching, look for unifying elements that will keep your redecorated room from looking too mish-mash. It also pays to do a little homework!
5. Get Creative
A little crafty know-how or elbow grease can give you the feel of a new space without a large dent in your wallet. Use the main colors you already have in your space and redecorate with a new accent color. Some paint or a little bit of fabric can transform an accustomed item into something brand new! Custom pillows are also a great way to bring in a new accent when redecorating. If entirely new pillows aren’t within your redecorating budget, perhaps you can find pillow covers that will fit over your existing pillows, or, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, create new pillow covers. Maybe you have a piece of art or some photos in another room that can have a new life elsewhere.
Do you remember TLC’s Trading Spaces? Each episode paired two designers with two sets of neighbors charged with redecorating a room in each other’s houses on a very limited budget. One of the things those designers did frequently was to check out other rooms in the home or storage areas to find items that the homeowners already had that could be used in the redecorated room. Don’t be afraid to do just that; you may be surprised with what you find!
Rent a designer’s eye to help you with your redecorating, to undertake a full remodel or for anything in between, contact me today!
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