MD: 2021 is here. It’s a new year and time to give things a little refresh. Here are 5 ways to update your home without undergoing any major renovations.
Many of us have been stuck in our house for months and, now that we know our homes inside and out, we’re eager to make a few changes here and there. This guide will show you how to spruce up your pad and give it that new-home feel without all the big renovations, time and heavy costs spent.
H2: Where do you start?
It’s best not to rush into a home overhaul all guns blazing, but instead to sit down and carefully plan out the changes before you make them.
Consider the amount of time you have available to set aside for a project – if you’ve got a busy schedule and upcoming events you might want to do smaller redecorations like adding, removing or rearranging furniture in your house. This way, you won’t end up taking on a task too large like a full colour scheme change in your living area and rushing it due to fear of running out of time.
It’s also worth thinking about creating a budget for each room and sticking to it, prioritising the important rooms that need the most TLC above others. Keeping up to date with home renovation blogs, magazines and tv programmes can often help with offering inspiration and nifty tricks and tips to make items you already have look like a completely brand-new object.
Note the factors that have changed in your house since your last redecoration. Have you started a family? Adopted a dog? With a new addition of muddy paws and sticky fingers to the household you’ll want to carefully think about materials, colour palettes and surfaces that are not only safe but can be forgiving to dirt and damage.
H2: 5 cost effective ways to update your home without major rework.
- Re-painting the walls and doors
A lick of fresh paint can work wonders for your home. Not only does this help to cover up any paint chipped away over time by pets scratching at doors or scribbles made by your, ahem, talented 4-year-old, it also helps to brighten the room and can provide a chance to try out new colour schemes and patterns. Light colours open the space and give the illusion of a bigger room, whilst dark colours can create a cosy nook for reading and resting.
You don’t have to be an artist to paint. There’s a number of handy tools and guides online available for when you’re redecorating so you don’t have to worry about missing a spot.
- Let there be light!
Those lampshades from your great aunt Margaret were sweet at the time, but now they’re just outdated and don’t really go with that flat screen tv. Changing the lampshades and light fixtures in your home can create a new feature piece for guests to marvel at. Ditch the harsh lighting and add flair to your house with a dimmable industrial style floor lamp, perfect for cosy nights on the sofa.
If you’re a big fan of tech and new products, invest in some smart bulbs – some of which are as cheap as £6. With these bulbs you can change the colour, brightness and even time of day that your lights come on all with a tap of your phone.
- Upcycle what you have
Upcycling is an environmentally friendly, cost effective way of making something that you already have look brand new. This style of furniture has fast become popular with modern trends and can be done as decadently or as simple as you like.
Take a cabinet or chair and strip it down to the basics, then build that same cabinet or chair up with different paint and materials, or completely repurpose all together. Resin coffee tables are all the rage now and can be made at home by using sandpaper to smoothen old pieces of wood and pouring over resin to create an oozing marbled effect.
- New door hardware
Over time, doorhandles can become rusted, damaged and tarnished with use. Sprucing your door up with a brand-new set of handles along with a touch of paint can make it look like you’ve had a complete refit. New handles are inexpensive and can be easily fitted, most doorhandles come with the right screws and fixtures needed to replace your old ones with.You can go as crazy as you like here, as there are some interesting and unique designs available online. Or if you’re just looking to get a newer model of the same thing, pop down to your local hardware store and see if they have anything similar.
New bathroom décor
- Smartening your bathroom up doesn’t have to mean ripping out the whole suite and replacing it with a fresh one. Although modern bathrooms are quite affordable and inexpensive, you can cut costs even more and still have the desired look of a new bathroom by updating your towel rail, toilet seat and storage units.
Due to the nature of a bathroom, wooden units can become water damage and warped. By updating these pieces and sealing them correctly, you’ll keep your bathroom looking like you’ve just moved in for much longer.