Easy Steps to Upgrade Your Living Space

It’s amazing how simple it is to refresh your living space. You don’t need an interior designer who calls you ‘darling’. Just go room to room, make some changes to your space and surprise yourself!

Home decoration looms like a Herculean task for most home owners. But a little thought and planning can make it easy and fun. Try out the ideas suggested here and contribute more of your own to make your home the place to be!

The Living Room

Changing the light is everything. Make this room cosy yet spacious with light colours such as off-white, pink or blue. Hang the curtains high to make the room feel taller. Floating shelves to seat all your little artefacts will lend not only vertical space, but also a delicate beauty to your room.

Try to ensure that there is plenty of light – preferably natural light – to make the room look bigger.

Have a mirror on a wall, or alternatively put a large mirror behind a light source to spread the light. Keep the furniture light not only in weight but also in colour.

Use plenty of colourful throws, cushions and pillows to give your living room its own character.

Kitchen

Small kitchens need to be more functional than decorative. Galley kitchens on the other hand are on display and must be focused on show in addition to functionality. As with the living room, go light on colours. Open shelving works better than closed cabinets (make sure to keep them clean though!) as they add space and reduce the claustrophobic feel. Use the walls to hang all the utensils, such as knives and ladles.

Use glass wherever possible, such as on cabinet doors and shelves. Put your money into the counters. If you have the space, construct a granite (or marble if you prefer) table top, which can double as a work space in addition to your cooking area.

Have plenty of light, not just to facilitate working but to create the illusion of space. Strategically located incandescent spot lights will draw attention to certain areas, such as the shelves housing your favourite dinner set.

Floor lights in the kitchen can add much-needed vertical space. Pay attention to the floor. Having a functional marble floor is a good idea. It is low on cost as well as maintenance. Or you can opt for tiles or linoleum if you prefer.

Bedroom

Redoing your bedroom is more than just putting on a fresh coat of paint. Give your private space a new character by rearranging your furniture and adding a few choice pieces, which you can pick up at bargain prices from thrift stores and garage sales.

Put your money into long-lasting furniture which is low on maintenance. Add floating shelves to house your knick-knacks, such as keys and your mobile phone. Let your work table double as a make-up area with a mirror encased in a faux frame hanging above it. Or you can have a tallboy which has a pull-down writing desk.

If you are going for a new paint job, paint your furniture along with the walls to maintain colour coordination. Change the handles on your dresser drawers to match the new look, rather than investing in a new dresser.

If all you need is a patch-up job of paint, try wall decals. Decals are inexpensive wall decorations that help cover ugly patches, while lending new character to your room. Pssst! You need not spend a bomb on painting!

Bathroom

A white bathroom looks best. Always. White walls, towels, tiles, bath mats.

Blend white with wood and chrome, and you are set.

Shop the antique stores for French bathroom fittings and interesting items – they look fabulous!

Just changing towel racks or taps to new ones can make a really interesting feature.

Entrance Hall

Your entry way may be a warm and welcoming nook, or it may be a well lit and inviting hall.

Depending on the mood you wish to create, you can use warm, dark colours or bright colours.

You can have the entry hall wood panelled choosing from pine, oak or bamboo.

Or paint it in bright, inviting colours. Darker colours tend to make things look older, while bright colours enhance entrance halls and greet you and any guests. Flowers are fabulous too.

 

Lighting

Sometimes all your house needs is a new look to bring it back to life. Changing the lighting effects in your rooms is a great way to make rejuvenate your home. If you have a painting or fixture you want to show off, throw a spotlight on it.

One way to do this subtly is to have spotlights on all four corners of your room, with only one corner having a special piece to attract attention. Diffusing the lights from a single source works better than having multiple sources. Install dimmers so that you can create different effects for different moods.

Use bright lights for functional spaces, such as the kitchen and bathroom. In more intimate spaces, such as the bedroom, use subtle lighting. Floor lamps can create romance while concealed overhead lamps lend elegance to the room.

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