Looking to refresh your decor but don’t know where to start? You might be surprised, but simply switching out your bed linens or creating a statement wall are only two examples of how you can refresh your home without needing a renovation. Continue reading to learn more about these 11 non-renovation ideas to give your home a fresh new look, including some that will only require a few hours of your time.
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Start by cleaning and decluttering.
A messy room can make you feel tired and overwhelmed, which is why the first thing you should do to refresh your home is to declutter, followed by deep clean. Getting rid of excess stuff will automatically make your rooms feel more open and airy, and doing a deep clean will give your home a facelift — no renovations required. These actions will also prepare your home for a bigger refresh if you feel like it needs more work.
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Put out seasonal decor.
Seasonal decor is one of the fastest and easiest ways to update a home as the year goes on. So if you don’t already have elegant home decor for all the seasons, consider this your permission to go shopping! If you’re short on storage space — for instance, you live in a small apartment — even a wreath on the wall or another small piece of decor will add color and help liven up the space.
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Replace linens in your bedroom or bathroom.
Switching up your bedding will instantly make your bedroom feel brand new, especially if you get a new comforter and throw pillows. In a similar vein, getting new towels, rugs and a shower curtain will give your bathroom an instant makeover without a considerable amount of money or time. If the bedroom or the bathroom are the targets of your home refresh, try these strategies before you commit to more extensive changes — they just might do the trick.
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Paint or put up new wallpaper.
Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to transform a room as long as you do it yourself. If painting a whole room sounds too big of an undertaking, then consider painting only one accent wall instead. Wallpaper is also a great option for an accent wall, though it can be a little much if done over an entire room. If you rent, get the removable wallpaper so that you can take it down when you move and avoid violating your lease.
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Create a statement wall.
While creating a statement wall can involve painting or putting up wallpaper, it doesn’t necessarily have to. In fact, you can make a statement wall simply by designing an artful collection of picture frames, paintings, mirrors and other wall decorations without ever picking up a paintbrush. If you like your paint color, but the walls still feel blah, a statement wall might be just what you need to breathe new life into your room.
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Swap your curtains and rugs.
Window treatments and rugs take up almost as much visual space as the furniture (and sometimes more), which is why updating them will make a huge difference to any room. Pick an indoor/outdoor rug and window treatments in tandem so that you can confirm they coordinate properly. If you are restyling the living room, go ahead and update the throw pillows as well to bring the whole look together and ensure that the old throw pillows don’t clash with the new decor.
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Update your lighting fixtures.
Painting the walls or switching out a rug won’t make that decades-old chandelier in the dining room look any better than it does right now. Even if getting an electrician to switch out a light fixture isn’t in the cards right now, or you don’t feel up to DIYing it, replacing your lamps and other lighting fixtures will go a long way towards making your home feel new once again.
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Switch out your hardware.
Lighting fixtures aren’t the only hardware that might need an update: Drawer pulls, door knobs, faucets and even light and outlet plates can make a room look outdated too. Thankfully, these items are easy to swap out yourself using a few simple tools, making this an easy fix to do over a weekend. If your house is still rocking the original hardware from decades ago, pay the hardware store a visit to check out your 21st-century options.
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Rearrange your furniture.
Moving your furniture around will instantly make the room feel new, even if you haven’t made any other changes. Be sure to get help for larger furniture pieces, and make sure to pick up some furniture sliders so it’ll be easier for you to move them. Consider trying out some virtual room visualizer tools in advance so you only have to move the furniture once.
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Purchase new upholstery or slipcovers.
Furniture is expensive to replace, not to mention it’s a total hassle to sell or donate the old stuff while coordinating the delivery of the new things. If you’d rather skip all that, consider giving your existing furniture a refresh with some new upholstery, or take the easy route and get a slipcover instead. Even throwing a blanket over an ugly old chair will change the look and feel of a room.
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Bring in some greenery.
If you want to make your space look alive (literally), you can’t go wrong with a bouquet or some houseplants. Flowers are generally more colorful, but they don’t last as long. Houseplants require ongoing care but are so worth the investment and can provide months or even years of a refreshed look to your home.
Do you have more ideas for refreshing a home without renovations? Are you currently in the midst of redesigning your home, or are you simply thinking about it? Let us know in the comments below!
