From time to time, everybody experiences those occasions where they see somebody else’s lovely house and then come back and look at their own with disdain. The decorations that they once loved suddenly look dated and unappealing – a total overhaul is needed. Or is it?
Refurbishing even just one room, furniture and all, is expensive and time-consuming. And while it might be nice to do so on occasion, there are plenty of easy, low-cost upgrades that you could try in the meantime which can have a transformative effect on your home without the hassle. Small changes can have a bigger impact than you might think, and they can refresh the look of your existing furnishings.
Here are some of the easiest and most affordable ways to upgrade the furniture you already have and elevate your home’s style.
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1. Frame your mirrors
Mirrors make great decorations because they are useful and because of the way they guide light around and make rooms feel bigger. While simply having a mirror on the wall can look good, if you are looking to refresh the style of your home then you should try framing them, or changing up the frames if you have already done so.
Mirror frames are generally a lot cheaper to buy than a whole new mirror or other decorative piece to place on your wall, but they can make just as big a difference. They add sophistication and elegance to your home’s decor, as well as texture and depth.
2. Swap out cabinet hardware
Cabinet hardware refers to the knobs, handles, and pulls which are used to open things like your cupboards and wardrobe. Although these sound like things that will not make a huge difference, trends in these change over time and they are one of the simplest ways to instantly give your home a more modern look.
Swap out the old ones for those in modern finishes like chrome, brass, or matte black, and you will find that it gives your cabinets and drawers a whole new vibe.
3. Cushions and throws
Your bed, sofas, and chairs are prime opportunities for adding textures, layers, colours, and patterns to your home. These are things that create visual interest and they can have a dramatic effect on the decor. The key is to achieve balance, so generally you will want to have fewer large items like throw blankets and more smaller ones like cushions. It is also best to have only a few pieces with striking patterns or colours.
As these are some of the easiest things to change about your home, it is worth buying a few spare blankets and covers for your cushions so that you can change them seasonally or anytime you feel like shaking things up.
4. Use decorative trays and centrepieces
There is no need to swap out existing furniture such as coffee tables or side and dining tables. These can easily be spruced up with a few small decorations, such as flowers, books, and candles. However, to avoid making things look cluttered and like you have accidentally left them there rather than deliberately placed them there, you can organise them inside of a decorative tray.
Flowers or other plants inside a decorative bowl or vase or also a good alternative that can instantly brighten up old furniture.
5. Add rugs
Rugs are another great accessory to have at home because they are both functional and highly fashionable. They protect against cold floors while also dampening echoes, but they can also look great and act as a quick way to tie a room together.
You can use rugs to add patterns, textures, and layers to a room to make it more visually interesting. Patterned rugs have been popular for centuries – think about the Persian rugs you see inside expensive homes – but for a more modern look you might focus on layering instead. This could be something like placing a small patterned rug over a bigger, neutrally coloured one.
6. Use light strategically
Using a different source of light can completely change the ambience of a room, and sometimes make it feel like a different place entirely. Think about the atmosphere created by candles in the centre of a table versus glaring overhead electric lighting. This is just an example and you do not have to use candles, but you can experiment with things such as lamps and fairy lights to create the kind of warm atmosphere that you enjoy.
One popular way of using light to create a modern look is to place LED strips on the undersides of bookshelves and cabinets so that they illuminate the items on the shelf below.
Conclusion
Small, simple adjustments like adding frames, rugs, throws, and new lights can be surprisingly effective at refreshing the look of your home. By working with your existing furniture, they also save you a lot of money and hassle, and you do not have to go through the disruption of doing a complete renovation.
