Decorating & Design
10 Fast Facelifts To Wake Up Your Home Now
With the start of a new season, the desire to freshen up your space begins to creep in with the cooler weather. Turns out, small changes can have a major design impact — it can be as easy as reframing your artwork or adding a bold light fixture. We rounded up 10 quick fixes to take your home from drab to fab this weekend — no expensive renovation required.
Add Character With Moulding
New-build condos and apartments can feel boxy and a little soulless. The addition of applied trim in this condo’s open-concept living and dining space creates instant character. Although painted entirely in white, the subtle architectural detail gives the room depth and makes an elegant backdrop for the homeowners’ mix of modern and vintage furniture.
Let Layers Tell A Story
Don’t be afraid to layer multiple textures and patterns in order to create a cohesive effect. With its grey-painted floors and smooth new drywall, this bedroom was a blank canvas. The play of blue and white stripes, lattice and dots against the glossy grain of the live-edge headboard, and the addition of a braided jute rug results in an elegant yet bohemian bedroom.
Reframe Art
In a space containing multiple prints — cheetah, paisley, stripes — something has to take a back seat. The original artwork in this living room was framed with bold red mats that would have competed for attention in the updated space. Switching to narrower white mats and frames gives the new photography a chance to shine while maintaining the salon vibe the homeowner was after.
Tour this fashion-forward condo on H&H TV.
Consider Flow
A space filled with large, heavy furniture leaves little breathing space. This covered porch was a perfect example: the round table and wide wicker chairs were eating up the room. Swapping in a rectangular table and smaller-scale side chairs works to improve the flow, and the cheery striped rug and hanging glass lantern better define the dining area.
Use Drapery Instead Of Doors
Choosing drapery instead of standard closet doors provides another opportunity to add color and pattern to a space. In this bedroom, the overall colour scheme is muted with varying shades of white and grey. The punch of color from the yellow floral fabric gives the space flair, a look the homeowners liked so much they repeated it on their bed’s accent pillows.
Try A Statement Light Fixture
In a home with an open floor plan, it can be challenging to establish where one room ends and another begins. Choosing a bold light fixture in a dining space is one way to create definition. Consider the size of your table, as well as its style, when choosing a chandelier or pendant. Warm-toned metal fixtures continue to be on trend, like this stunner from the Canadian design team at Gabriel Scott. Its large scale is offset beautifully by the lightness of hanging chains.
Dress Windows With Color
The addition of moody blue drapery and a few printed throw pillows has a big impact in this creamy white living space. Not only does the color add a burst of energy but it creates a backdrop that accentuates the lovely curves of the sofa. A room that was pretty before, now feels fresh, lively and finished.
Make Doors Disappear
In many cases, what you remove from a space is just as important as the new items you bring in. For a serene atmosphere, consider replacing inexpensive bifold closet doors with slab doors that “disappear” into walls, thanks to hidden hinges and baseboards that continue across the surface.
Resist Going Cutesy In A Kid’s Room
Opting for a sophisticated color palette — and overall approach — will mean fewer makeovers to a child’s room in years to come. In this sunny space, neutral animal-print wallpaper, a graphic rug and elegant drapery are sure to look great long after the crib is swapped out.
See more of this traditional-meets-modern home on H&H TV.
Paint Everything White
A little decorating can go a long way in a transitional zone such as an entryway or stairwell. This formerly dark space got an instant makeover with a crisp, light-reflective coat of white paint on the walls, panelling, railing and trim. The addition of warm brass sconces, a mid-century chair and simply framed artwork creates a space that invites you to stop for a moment rather than rush through.