Oksana Schak
Our daily routines have changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined. For one, a lot of us may be finding ourselves staying home more than usual to practice social distancing. This extra time at home has probably made several of us realize how much our environment influences our mood and how important it is to make our home a place where we find true comfort.
Surveys, like this IKEA Life at Home Survey, for example, have found that one of the most significant contributing factors to our ability to relax and feel present in our homes is designing them to reflect our personalities through color, lighting, furniture, and other materials.
Keeping this in mind, we’re sharing some easy ideas of things you can do over the weekend to upgrade your space:
- Play with lighting
Lighting can have a dramatic impact on your home or a particular space. Whether you need to bring in light or dim some of the light you already have, adjusting the lighting can make a definite difference in your home.
2. Hang Curtains
Curtains can soften sunlight without blocking it out completely. They can instantly transform any room and can be a focal point if you play with texture, pattern, and color.
3. Add plants
Plants make any space in your home come alive. There are plenty of low maintenance plants that grow happily indoor and require little attention. Another option is silk plants, which tend to look very real. For added visual appeal, choose some decorative planters and unique stands.
4. Use throw pillows
Throw pillows are the ultimate home accessory. They make any bedroom, living room, or kitchen nook seem lusher and adds personality to your space through color and fabric choice.
5. Utilize storage
The messier the home, the smaller it looks and the less relaxing it feels. Whenever possible, utilize storage boxes to keep large and unused items away from common areas. You can also invest in multi-functional furniture pieces for some additional storage space.
6. Bring in a mirror
Mirrors can trick the eye into thinking a room is larger than it appears. Position the mirror so that it reflects the most light, and it will add dimension to your room. The design of the frame and material can also add drama to your room.
7. Switch out your bedding
Your bedding sets the tone for your room. Depending on the fabrics you choose, this can help determine the comfort level of your bed. Feel free to arrange different sized pillows and throw blankets to make it feel more luxurious.
8. Include rugs
Area rugs can make your place feel personalized and cozy. While rugs are a no-brainer in a wood-floored living room, they can be added to any room in the house, from the kitchen and hallways to bedrooms and dining rooms.
9. Incorporate a bar cart
A well-placed bar cart can turn a corner in your home into a surprisingly functional space. For a simple decorative touch, decorate your bar cart with different glasses, bowls, and trays.
- Work with color
When adding pops of color, try using accents in only one or two colors throughout your home. This is an easy way to update your color scheme and make your home look more pulled-together.
Have additional ideas that you’ve used to easily upgrade your space? Let us know in the comments below.
