“My house is a place I have spent many years improving to the point where I have no desire to leave it.” –Paul Theroux
How does a house become a home?
It is not upon occupancy; neither is derived from the number of years you have spent living in it—no, a house becomes a home by how one chooses to introduce and incorporate character into it. It is in the little details—the tiny things that personalize your home and make it truly yours. You may have lived in a house for quite a while, but what gives it that “homey” is what you do to it that make it distinctly you. So, if you are looking for nifty ways to update your home décor, here are nine things you can do.
1.) SILVERWARE IN LIEU OF ARTWORK
If you no longer have storage areas for your silverware, hang them on your walls instead of keeping them hidden inside kitchen drawers. This is an offbeat and attractive alternative to hanging expensive artwork on walls.
2.) STOOLS AS SIDETABLES
Try your hand at a DIY project starting with repurposing an unused but functional seat into a handy stand. This would be an ideal and quirky alternative to side tables. To create visual interest, cluster redecorated stools of varying heights in one corner and adorn them as you wish.
3.) USE REAL FLOWERS
Go au naturel by utilizing real flowers instead of plastic ones. This is one way to give any room an organic feel and a vibrant splash of color. For best results, display your flowers in an equally colorful vase.
4.) FILL IN EMPTY OPEN SHELVES
Having empty open shelves is an invitation and an avenue for creativity and redecorating. Do not leave them bare! Take out all your beautiful plates and gorgeous glassware and put them on display. Showcase your best china for your visitors to see!
5.) BE CREATIVE WITH MIRRORS
You cannot create a hole in a room without doing any major home renovation work. So, while you are still hedging as regards this big change to your home, find a good compromise instead by using mirrors for the meantime to create the illusion of space. For an excellent visual impact, choose a mirror with a cute frame.
6.) DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE COLOR
A monochromatic theme may give your rooms a classic edge, but it is also very dull and quite predictable. Apart from that, the similar shades and tones look very generic. Instead, dare to go bold by choosing many different hues that are not the same but do not necessarily clash either. For an instance, you can create a whole lot of flair if you insert an unpredictable red in the form of couch pillows in a room that is predominantly black and white. Be creative and do not limit your color options.
7.) ADD MOLDING
Installing a set of moldings is one of the easiest ways to give any room a touch of class and elegance. Whether it is the dining room, the living room or even the great-room, any common area would look instantly better with this finishing. Just be sure that your molding choices would complement your home’s architectural style.
8.) PAINT OR PAPER A WALL
Use self-adhesive or repositionable wallpaper to create visual accents in various areas of your home. They function as wall stickers and can easily be peeled off and reused. Stick these decals in painted walls and quickly achieve a creative accent. Kick it up a notch by using mirrors of odd shapes to outline your design.
9.) DISPLAY PERSONAL ITEMS
Turning your house into a home is all about personalization. So, with that in mind, do not neglect to show the various artworks your children have made in art class in your fridge. Use some of the paintings you had made when you took an art class several years ago—the possibilities are endless. These are those personal touches that can never be recreated by anyone else because these touches are personal—made only by you.
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Author BIO:
Mark Joshua Santos is a Filipino blogger and a freelance writer who blogs for Ayala North Point, a 2-story Technohub designed to drive the growth of IT and BPO enterprises located in the City of Smiles, Bacolod City.
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