Want to give a room in your home a fresh vibe but don't have the time or money to spend on a full redesign? There are little changes you can make throughout your home — as often as you like — to give a space a new look that won't cost an arm, a leg or an afternoon.
Create scale.
Many of the most unforgettable rooms I've seen have one thing in common: scale. Sometimes it's a cheeky oversize lamp, other times it's a sofa that appears to span the entire room, and often it's a big, tall indoor tree. The trick is to work with what you've got: Consider placing a planter on a plant stand or raising an adjustable lamp up a few inches. The results might be dramatic.
Frame your artwork or mementos.
Whether you have a drawer full of your children's artwork, newspaper clippings from a special day in history or a cool drawing or print you've been hanging onto, the time to frame the artwork and mementos you own is now. Just pop them into a frame and hang them on an empty wall — your home will instantly feel more "you."
Accessorize your mantel. Some of my friends with fireplace mantels take a "one-and-done" approach, styling the surface as soon as they move in and rarely again. In my opinion, the shelf should be switched up seasonally for a fresh look. Poke around your house to see what accessories might be worth displaying, or even just shuffle your existing accessories around in a new way.
Toss on a sheepskin or throw.
Starting to feel sick of that investment chair you thought you'd love forever? Toss on a sheepskin or a simple throw to give it a fresh face and a cozy textural quality.
Swap different photos into your frames.
It doesn't cost a dime to swap different photos into your picture frames. This one small change can make your rooms look new to you every time you walk through them.
Restyle your bookshelves.
Try stacking your books instead of standing them. Move your bookends around. Organize them in a new way — by category, color or alphabetically.
Style your coffee table.
In my house, this happens at least once a month. There's never a right way or a wrong way: The trick is just to do it differently than before. Pull out a coffee-table book you haven't looked at in a while. Fill a bowl with nuts. Stack books. Display a sculptural accent. Restyling will make the space feel livelier and fresher.
Create a vignette.
Find a table or surface in your home that is empty or staid — the dining table is often guilty — and style some accessories there. Arrange candlesticks, flowers or other favorite items, and follow the rule of threes. Try setting a few accents out at varying heights. Have fun and play around.
Fill an empty corner.
Ever walk into a room and feel like something is missing? Look in the corners of the room and any nooks. Is there furniture there? Or art? Move an armchair or hang a frame, and the area may not feel so blank.