Forget expensive renovations – aim for these simple but effective goals to change up your home.
The idea of changing up the look of your home is brilliant in theory, but in reality, it can be an incredibly daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. While you may have big ideas and inspiration, creating a manageable blueprint for your dream space shouldn’t leave you feeling overwhelmed.
So, Where do you even start? And how do you make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew?
The good news is that you don’t have to embark on a major renovation to make a big difference to your home. There are endless upgrades you can make to your space that will lead you closer to your end goal, without breaking the bank or your sanity.
Whether you’re looking to brighten up a small space or create a more homely feel, we’ve curated a list of unique upgrades that can really elevate your space. Our first tip is to set achievable goals and tick them off as you go, this will give you a welcome sense of accomplishment and the encouragement to keep going. So here are some goals for your home that are easy to achieve:
Six Simple Upgrades to Elevate Your Space
1. Give Your Walls the Wow Factor
Do you have stacks of photos from holidays, weddings and other special moments saved on your phone or email that you keep forgetting about? Make a point of printing them off and getting some frames to hang them around the house.
Empty walls can leave a room feeling empty and lacking warmth. Upgrading your space with a few framed photographs is a great way to add that sentimental touch to your home while creating a warm and inviting interior.
Expert Tip: Fun prints and funky mirrors are a great alternative to framed photographs that will give you the same upgrade to your space!
2. Re-Home your Clutter
Decluttering your space can be an intimidating project, so it’s best to start with your busiest areas, as these are often collection points for clutter in the home. Clutter hotspots often include desks, kitchen countertops and hallway tables.
Start by throwing away any items you no longer need, such as documents, sticky notes or expired coupons and grab a few unique baskets or storage boxes. These will give your clutter a home and can act as a catching point for future items!
Expert Tip: Don’t forget to sort through your clutter baskets every few months!
3. Go Green in Your Favourite Space
Research shows that looking at green spaces can help us feel calmer, which is why having plants inside makes such a big difference to the energy of your home.
A fig-leaf fern in a corner, a spider plant hanging from a shelf, a glossy-leaved peace lily bringing tranquillity to your bathroom countertop – the effect is subtle but significant.
Make sure you research the best plants for the amount of sunlight in your chosen locations, and how much maintenance is required.
Expert Tip: For those lacking a green thumb, fake plants can give your space the same energy with half the work!
4. Create Ambience with Lamps
Throw some light on the subject – literally – with a selection of carefully chosen lamps, all sitting at different levels, instead of relying on your main ceiling-mounted light. Freestanding lamps diffuse light around the room, allowing you to highlight different accents which can create a softer ambience to living spaces for very little cost.
Expert Tip: For a softer light, opt for lightbulbs listed as “warm white” and stick to lampshades in warm tones such as creams and earthy tones.
5. Upgrade your Cabinet Handles
If your kitchen is dated and you don’t have the cash or time to remodel it, changing up the handles on the cabinets and drawers can go a long way to modernising the room, and it’s easy enough to do yourself. With a few new screws and pulls, your kitchen will have a fresh new lease on life.
Expert Tip: Match your cabinet handles to the tone of your room. For warm tones such as oak, and white marble, opt for gold or brass accents while silver accents are better suited for cool tones and dark wood kitchens.
6. Make a statement Bookshelf
Never underestimate the power of a bookshelf to make your home look stylish. Tricks like grouping the spines of the books into similar colour tones to create a rainbow, alternating the piles of books from horizontal to vertical, or adding striking ornaments to break up the book piles, can make sure your bookshelf draws attention.
Expert Tip: Don’t overlook the power of bookends on your shelf. These elements can add a touch of personality to your space and can liven up any room!
To complete the home of your dreams, don’t stop here!
‘The Inside Story’ on HomeMakerCentral is packed with Blogs, Insights & Expert Hacks and we’re adding more all the time, and don’t miss HMCentral Life eMagazine for even more ideas and inspiration!
