Small Changes For A Big Impact In the Home
If you’re anything like us, you know it can be tricky to strike a balance between (a) fully making a space your own and (b) not wanting to spend a bunch of money or time settling in if you know you won’t be living somewhere long term. Whether you’re renting, sharing a space with roommates, or looking to save some cash, I’ve rounded up affordable & simple changes you can make your space home & have your personality shine through. Our blog Keeping a Fresh Space also has great content on how to freshen up your space through tidying, antiquing, and reusing items you already have. Combining tips we have both used in our homes/apartments!
Add Life
Bring life to your space through fresh flowers and plants. Plants add color & texture and can even purify the air by absorbing pollutants through their leaves and roots. Terracotta pots are timeless, affordable, and easily accessible, but even unique texturized/colorful pots can be spotted at hardware stores for decent prices. I’ve found hardware stores to have reliable plants too - there’s usually a decent selection and good condition without a heavy markup. Check nurseries for more specific varietals or boutiques for pre-planted, curated options.
2. ADD HIStory
Through books, frames, and vintage artwork! Books are your best friend! They fill out coffee tables, side tables, dressers, etc and come in so many sizes and colors (if you don’t love the color of the book, try removing the dust jacket if there is one for a simple swap)! It’s a great way to add a touch of your personality as well - find a book on a topic you’re interested in and it’ll double as entertainment & decor. Goodwill/second-hand shops are great for books and vintage art - what was old can be new again! I’ve been looking for a large art piece to go above my dresser, and recently scored a beautiful oil on canvas original artwork for $20 at a local vintage shop. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find anything on the first trip - eventually you will get lucky! In a similar vain, even printing updated family photos to refresh frames is a fun way to freshen up without much effort or cost.
3. ADD Practicality
My two biggest tips in this category are to add storage & add coziness. Storage will help to maximize tight spaces like cozy cottages or apartment living. Coziness will help you to use/spend time in the spaces of your home by adding inviting furniture or designing a more practical layout.
For storage - add some open shelving, declutter cabinetry, and utilize baskets for easy catch-alls. Open shelving can be a great way to add dimension/visual appeal to a blank wall as well as provide storage for books, plants, dishware, etc. Can also be a more affordable option to traditional cabinetry in a kitchen remodel. With that, it’s always a good idea to clean out cabinetry/cupboards every couple months to make sure you’re maximizing space and using what you have. Baskets (!!!) are super convenient and add a lot of texture. I keep woven baskets by the door for shoes, storing doggie items, to organize towels & linens, and in closets as clothing/laundry bins.
Add practicality to your space by designing an intentional layout. Openness in a living area creates an inviting appeal, while smaller nooks may be great for a side room or corner. Since adding a cozy chair & drink table to our spare bedroom (which we mainly use as an office), I’ve noticed I’m drawn to the space when I want to read or do some computer work. Simply changing the layout of a room can have a big impact on how often it’s used!
4. ADD COLOR
A little more effort but a of reward - Paint!! Paint goes such a long way in a home and comparatively, it’s an easy task to add lots of dimension and personality without taking up a bunch of space or adding more “stuff.” A few years ago, Charlotte painted one wall in her sunroom a gorgeous deep green. What was a simple white room transformed into a space with much more character! Depending on where it’s placed, paint can change the perceived size, mood, and aesthetic of a room. Professional help will most likely result in a cleaner finished product (especially if it’s a large project), but DIYing can be super fun & is a great way to save some money!
4. MODernize
This can be done in a variety of ways/budgets. For example, Charlotte DIY’d a renter & budget friendly kitchen makeover a couple years ago - their 1960s kitchen is definitely due for a complete flip, but in the meantime they decided to freshen up the space with a fun and easy DIY project for about $250. They purchased contact paper, peel & stick tile, and knob hardware from Amazon. It took them a weekend to complete and was a little tricky at times (primarily the contact paper and lining up the tiles), but it was relatively easy for two people to complete and really freshened up the space. They added some styling pieces like books & plants to finish which helped as well!
Similarly, refreshing things like window dressings/drapery and rugs have a big impact on the feel of a room, as they are focal points that help to ground a space. Small touches like cabinetry knobs and brighter lighting can also help a space feel brighter/more aesthetic without a large investment needed.
Before & after their DIY kitchen makeover - they used contact paper to create a lighter countertop look, more modern peel & stick tiles, and added knobs & lighting for more dimension.