Whether you’re decorating a new place or you’re looking to liven up your current home for spring, adding some new little touches is an easy way to amp up your living space. It can be something as little as adding a new flea market knick knack or as large as refinishing a piece of furniture – regardless of what your new addition is, your house will feel fresh and lively with it.
Here are 10 ways to add amp up your living space this spring:
1. Mirrors
Mirrors are a great way to open up any living space and they add some life to any room. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes you can play with a lot of different styling options here. If you have the space, try a floor-to- ceiling length mirror. If you’re a little more limited, try sitting one on top of a buffet or hanging a couple on a wall.
Restoration Hardware Levico Mirror, $680 (on sale)
Target Round Mosaic Wall Mirror Medium, $44.99
*Quick Tip: Mirrors can get pricey and I’ve learned some of the best places to look for them are garage sales and flea markets. I picked up a heavy, quality full length one a couple years ago for $8 and just refinished with a new coat of paint. It’s now a great piece in my living room.
2. Wall Art
Wall art is a really fun and super simple way to add some creativity and personality to an area. Wall art can be anything – fine art, DIY pieces, posters and prints, tapestries, and, of course, your personal photos. You can have as much or as little as you’d like and adding just one piece can really liven up any room. If you’re looking to add art but don’t know where to start, go with what you gravitate towards first and eventually try some more interesting or avant-garde pieces to add some extra punch to your home.
Bird Dial Framed Print by Ztlatka Paneva, $99 (for 16’x20’)
Urban Outfitters Geo Paisley Tapestry, $39
3. Pops of Color
The great thing about pops of color is that they can be as bold or subtle as you want, but adding even the slightest hint to offset against the rest of your décor will instantly brighten up your room. Items like decorative pillows and vases to even colorful coffee table books and coasters can add a touch of oomph to make your space feel energized.
Zara Home Algae Pillow Cover, $35.90 (pillow stuffing an additional $6.90)
Anthropologie Celestial Coaster Set, $32 for set of 4
4. Paint.
Painting even just one wall in a room can really make a difference with the energy of a space and it’s another great way to add some serious color if you’re not too into the decorative stuff. Plus, it’s always a fun project to embark on with a roommate, friend, significant other, or just you. The hardest part is picking a color, so start by gathering a ton of swatches from your local hardware store and play around with ideas. Once you narrow down your selections, head back to the store to see if you can get some paint samples to test the colors out and get a feel for what the color will look like. And remember – you don’t have to paint in just one color – consider painting patterns or stencils, too. You also don’t have to make a bold jump – switching up neutrals is another great way to make a change. When you settle in on your new wall color or colors, make sure to research how to paint if you’ve never done it before and then rock on! Hey, what’s the worst that can happen – you hate it you can always paint over it.
5. Re-Finish a Piece of Furniture OR Invest In a New Piece of FurnitureOne way to really kick up your living space is to refinish an existing piece of furniture or invest in a new one. If you’re looking for a challenge or you’re a DIY-er then repurposing is a great way to go. It’s cheaper, and you’re really just giving a piece of furniture you already like a facelift. There’s also nothing wrong with buying that amazing piece of furniture you’ve had your eye on for months to add some newness to your living space. And if you’re into both ideas, find yourself a great vintage piece that still has loads of life left and fix it up for a new & refinished look. If you’re going the DIY route and need some guidance, there are a TON of really fantastic blogs and how-to videos available on the internet.
This is a great DIY tutorial on how to refinish a table – myshabbystreamsidestudio.com
ZGallerie Eddie Accent Chair, $1,299
6. Add some fun
It’s always good to have some fun, quirky items incorporated into your décor because it shows character and a little sense of humor. Adding even just one strange or off the wall element to your overall décor will add excitement and keep things interesting. Flea markets, vintage shops and garage sales are great places to pick up knick knacks for your home, but there are plenty of great online sites that offer fantastic old and new options, too. The great thing is that there doesn’t have to be any rhyme or reason for having it or it could hold a story about how you found the piece on a memorable vacation with your sweetheart. Either way, it keeps things light in your overall scheme.
Kate Spade New York Woodland Park Giraffe Figurine, $55
Vintage Old Barn Lantern Collection, $58
7. Add a Rug
A rug is a great way to break up space, especially when you have hardwood or concrete floors. Adding this home accessory will not only add some pattern or color but it will also make your room more inviting and cozy. It’s also a great way to help open up a room and especially make a small space feel larger (look out for an upcoming article on how to make your small space feel bigger).
Crate and Barrel Olin Black Rug, $19.95-$299
Jonathan Adler Light Blue Greek Key Rug, $650
8. Add Life
Fresh plants and flowers are a great way to add some life and color to any room and are instant mood boosters as well. They’re pleasant to look at, relatively easy to take care of, and flowers provide an easy way to instantly change things up. If you don’t have much of a green thumb, try creating a terrarium or investing in a plant that doesn’t require much upkeep and if you’re more of a flower kind of girl head to your local farmer’s market or florist to pick up some great blossoms to stick around the house.
Click here for a great tutorial on how to make a terrarium.
9. Add Lighting
Poor lighting can make a fabulous room look drab, so it’s important to have enough inside your house. What you choose may depend on how much space you have available and, of course, your personal preference, but with so many options for chandeliers and hanging lights to table and floor lamps, you’re lighting doesn’t only serve as functional but also as a really awesome accessory to add into your space.
Target Owl Lamp, $39.99
10. De-Clutter
Clutter is one of the easiest ways to make your space look drab and small. Leaving unnecessary items lying around not only eats up space but it definitely takes away from the décor you strive so hard to achieve. The easiest way to avoid this is to have plenty of storage space – open and hidden – so that there’s a place for things to go instead of piling up. And always remember to go through your inventory from time to time to help you get rid of things you don’t want or use to help ease on the unnecessary clutter.
Ikea Shelf with Drawers, $54.99
Organic Modernism Peacock 3, $1,895
These are just 10 ways that you can amp up your living space and there are so many more you can do to help give your home a face lift. Pinterest is one great place to find inspiration and help you discover some really great bloggers who can help get you excited for your new décor project. Whether big or small, making any kind of change will help make your space feel new and inviting.
Xoxo,
Emiko
Emiko Vaughn is a personal stylist and wardrober from Cleveland, OH. She currently co-owns and operates personal styling company Lageson & Vaughn with her business partner, Kirsten Lageson.
Find her here:
www.emikovaughn.com
twitter.com/emikovaughn
pinterest.com/emikovaugh