7 Surefire Ways to Refresh Your Space

Have you ever walked around your house and decided that you’ve become a little bored with the same old look?  You don’t want to do anything major or spend a lot of money.  But every once in a while it’s nice to shake things up a little. And the best part? It's fairly easy to freshen your space yourself!

When you refresh your space, life just seems to look a little brighter.  I know that any little change I make around the house gives me a new boost of energy, and I can see some progress with the overall plan.

Tip #1 – Start With A Clean Space

• It’s less daunting if you only do one room at a time
• Take everything off the bookshelves and off the walls
• Go through the rest of your house to see if there is anything that can be added to this room
• Start re-grouping accessories and re-hanging art work into a new scheme

Tip #2 – Move Furniture For A Fresh Perspective

When we feel blocked or stuck, sometimes just a little re-arranging will get the energy flowing again. It might also be time to refresh your space with something new from someplace like One Kings Lane (photo above).

Maybe you've been eyeing a chair or rug in your favorite store and it's on sale? Or a friend has admired something of yours, and you'd be happy to trade it for something she has that you've always admired.

Tip #3  Recycle, Repurpose & Re-Design

• Look at your accessories in new ways by getting creative with a new use for them.
• Turn an old pitcher into a vase.  Hang a wooden box on the wall and make a shelf.
• The possibilities are endless….

Refresh Your Space Tip #4 – Add Color and Texture

• Paint your room in a new color.  Or if you’re not that ambitious, change out your pillows, throws, placemats, towels, etc.
• Roll up your “winter” rug and add a sisal rug for some new texture.
• If you seem to have pottery everywhere, like I do, add some new pieces in rough, unfinished wood, or sleek glass.
• It’s always a good idea to mix the textures no matter what we collect.

Tip #5 – Reframe, Re-Shade, and Re-Group

• Have a picture or painting you love that’s still in an antique gold frame but you’ve moved to the beach?  Time to reframe!
• Are your lampshades looking a little dingy and dusty?  Time to re-shade!
• And when you’ve finished, think about moving updating the way you group them.

Refresh Your Space Tip #6 – Rugs

• Add a throw rug where there wasn’t one before.  Maybe at the foot of the bed or under a coffee table if you have a solid color carpet.
• It’s a great way to add color and texture to a drab space.
• Remember to add a rug pad so no one trips and falls.

Tip #7 – Change The Back of Bookcases and China Cabinets

• While your selves are empty, another way to do things differently is to add paint, wallpaper or fabric to the back of the bookshelf or china cabinet.
• Remember to be mindful of the colors of accessories you’ll be placing there.  You want them to pop, not blend into the background.

Contributed by Randi Destefano (RandiDestefano.com) has been an interior designer for over 25 years. She helps homeowners design their dream kitchen and bath…and much more. Randi's passion is helping homeowners blend their authentic lifestyle and design style, to create a home that's a perfect reflection of who they are and the life they live