When it comes to your home, even small updates can significantly enhance its look and feel. Design upgrades that make it feel instantly more pulled together can range from high-impact, low-effort upgrades to slightly higher-cost improvements that deliver a big return. In this guide, we’ll look at how little design tweaks can make your home feel more stylized and much more comfortable.
High-Impact and Low-Effort Upgrades
To make your home instantly look more cohesive, try these effective and easy ideas.
Be Ruthless With Decluttering
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This is a tactic my husband and I plan have already started employing this year! As empty-nesters who have been living in our home more than 20 years, we have accumulated a lot of stuff! We’ve discovered that when it comes to decluttering, you have to be ruthless! We’ve found that the single most effective—and free—improvement you can make to your home is to clear surfaces of non-essential items. Clutter can make a space feel very disorganized and draining!
Don’t worry—you don’t have to clear it out all at once—a helpful tactic I’ve found is to simply take a box or bag and then spend just a few minutes decluttering. Then, decide whether to trash or donate the items you don’t need. Using this tactic, it won’t take long to create a tidier and more organized space.
Layer Your Lighting
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Lighting can greatly improve the look of your home. It’s therefore worth looking at ways to layer your lighting rather than having a single overhead fixture, which can be harsh and result in dark corners. My husband and I are putting this tactic into use—we recently ordered two additional lamps to make our family room brighter. The earlier sunsets have made me notice how dark our home can be at night. We opted to get two craftsman-style lamps (which features stained glass), since we both really like that style.
Also make an effort to mix in some ambient task lighting with accent lights in the form of floor lamps, wall sconces and table lamps. Dimmer switches are also helpful for creating a warm and inviting ambiance.
Go Big with Art and Mirrors
Artwork and mirrors can add drama and make a statement in a room—for a better impact, avoid smaller pieces and go big instead. For example, one large painting or a mirror will bring a much more impressive feel to the space. Mirrors can also reflect light, making a space feel brighter and larger.
Upgrade Hardware
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Swapping out outdated cabinet knobs, light switch plates and drawer pulls for modern finishes can instantly transform your space without a big investment.
Opting for brass or matte black finishes really provides a wonderful change in areas like your kitchen and bathrooms in particular. For example, premium brass designs by Corston are worth looking at for inspiration.
Incorporate Greenery
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Adding a natural touch here and there in your home can be very transformational and soothing. Plants, whether they’re real or high-quality faux, can provide a lot of color and life to a space, as well as a feeling of freshness to any corner or surface that feels a little bare.
Add Soft Furnishings and Texture
Soft furnishings are important because they can bring interesting textiles and textures into a space. Look at incorporating anything from velvet to wool, to linen or natural fiber rugs.
These all add a lot of depth and warmth, so don’t forget about those throw pillows and cozy blankets to make your furniture more inviting.
Style Surfaces with Trays and Books
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Don’t forget surfaces like coffee tables and side tables. For instance, place a decorative tray on your coffee table, and then add items–such as a coffee cup or two, a candle, a small plant, or a book–to add an interesting and decorative element. A simple styling trick like this can make your items look more curated.
Mind the details
Of course, it’s good to pay attention to the details too. Make sure you’re hiding all the electrical cords—such as with a cord-hider kit—and swapping out old towels for new ones that match.
When combined, these small but meaningful design updates can transform your space and make your home feel more cohesive, welcoming and better designed.
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