by Lisa Truesdale
simple swaps can upgrade your space for the interim or the long term
THINKING ABOUT REMODELING? While you’re mulling over the endless possibilities for a full-scale renovation, we asked local designers to share their thoughts about refreshing and updating your space—no demolition required.
First, though, there are a few important things to keep in mind: Before you start shopping, edit what you already have. “You’ve likely been living with things that you don’t really like or need,” says Moses Zabek. Get rid of what you don’t want, then decide if there is anything you want (or need) to purchase new.
Next, take the pieces you kept and rearrange them to create a new look, says Jennifer Ashton. “I enjoy moving my art and furniture into new configurations, and sometimes into new rooms, as often as each season, or every six months,” she says.
As you’re rearranging your space, J. Douglas Bradford says having a focal point in a room is crucial: “You always want to have something to draw the eye inward, and it doesn’t even have to be a piece of furniture or art.”
Here are our experts’ tips and tricks for quick design facelifts.
Transform Your Walls.
“Paint, paint, paint,” says Zabek, adding that it’s his No. 1 tip to make a difference. Walls are the largest structures in any room and painting them a new color creates a dramatic transformation. “Simply changing the interior paint color throughout refreshes the feeling of the home overall,” says Jeannette Salazar. Remember that colors convey different moods; blue and green can have a soothing, calming effect, for example, while red, orange and yellow can raise a room’s energy level.
If you’re not up for painting your walls, consider wallpaper, which has come a long way from the days when hanging it required hours of struggling with sticky, messy paste. Today’s peel-and-stick wallpaper, available in hundreds of designer patterns, is easy to install and remove, even on textured surfaces.
Painting (or staining) is also an easy and efficient facelift for cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, adds Salazar. Cabinet doors and drawers can also be easily updated with new pulls and handles.
Upgrade Light Fixtures.
“Lights are like jewelry,” says Zabek. Decorative lighting is a finishing detail that catches the eye and sends instant messages about the style of the room. “I always encourage my clients to use dimmers on everything,” says Bradford. “Lighting can really help set the mood.” Major lighting projects, like rewiring, often require the help of an electrician, but even just a fun and colorful new lampshade can make a big impact in a room. Also consider swapping out bulbs in existing fixtures; some areas of the home need warm-white bulbs, which are soft and calm. Others need cool-white bulbs, which are much brighter and ideal for tasks like working or reading.
Switch Out Window Coverings.
Window treatments can be functional, blocking out the light, adding privacy or insulating your home to help cut down on energy costs. Yet they’re also highly decorative, creating a focal point in the room, adding color and pattern to your decor, and helping to highlight the views outside. Ashton suggests “window treatment panels installed floor to ceiling for dramatic impact and to softly frame the room.”
Add Splashes of Color.
New pillows and table linens are one of the quickest ways to refresh a room and introduce colors and patterns at the same time. New rugs can also help. “They provide a layer of luxury and beauty with exceptional texture and softness,” says Ashton.
“I love bringing nature in,” she adds. “We’ve heard it over and over, but it works. I go outdoors to see what I can find, like flowers and branches, and I place them in vases in various focal points like the dining table, kitchen island and main living space.”
Update Your Entrance.
The entrance to your home is the first thing guests see, conveying the “spirit” of your space and offering a warm welcome. Paint the front door a fresh new color. Accessorize the front porch or stoop with plants, a welcoming doormat and decorative accents that you can easily change out with the seasons.
resources
Jennifer Ashton Interiors
jenniferashtoninteriors.com
J. Douglas Furniture & Interior Design
jdouglasdesign.com
Jeannette Salazar Interior Design
jeannettesalazar.com
Moses Design Group
