Let's face it, we all want our homes to look polished, customized and perfectly curated. The problem is, most of us are extremely busy and attempting to stick to a budget (is anyone else still floored by how much they're spending on groceries lately??). But fear not my friends, there are several projects you can take on yourself to make your home look intentional and well designed. The projects below require little to no DIY/construction experience - if you have access to Youtube and bring a can-do attitude, I promise you can handle them! These projects are also lower-budget so they'll help you save those precious dollars for more important things like, oh I don't know, gas and food. Weird times we're living in.
Anyway, give the projects below a go and I promise your home will experience a serious glow-up. Happy designing my friends!
DRAPES
One of the simplest ways to add warmth and sophistication to your living spaces is mounting drapes. I always opt for drapes that are nearly the same height as the walls and I mount the curtain rod close to the ceiling. This creates the illusion of a taller room; drapes that stop at the top of your window make the space feel cramped. For budget drapes, search Half Price Drapes on Amazon. This company makes my favorite drapes for a tight budget and they have an excellent selection!
LIGHT FIXTURES
This project requires a few tools and more time, but the impact is huge. Most homes come with builder-grade lighting (hello boob lights), so when you enter a home that has unique lighting it definitely stands out and feels custom. Some of my favorite sources for budget lighting are Build.com, Lowe's, Shades of Light and Lumens. This is also an area that, if you have a little more budget to play with, you can spend a bit more because you can always take the lights with you if you decide to move or reinstall them if you decide to renovate.
PAINT
You all know this so I won't beat a dead house, but paint is truly the most powerful and approachable way to transform the look of your home! Here are a few of my favorite paint colors:
Whites: Chantilly Lace (BM), Simply White (BM), Greek Villa (SW)
Greens: Wethersfield Moss (BM), Rosemary (SW), Storm Cloud Gray (BM)
Grays: Downpipe (FB) , Kendall Charcoal (BM), Iron Mountain (BM)
Blues: Hale Navy (BM), Waterloo (SW), Smoky Blue (SW)
Pinks/Purples: Thistle (SW), Dead Salmon (FB), Glamour (SW)
Taupes/Browns: Rustic Taupe (B), Pashmina (BM), Keystone Gray (SW)
CABINET AND DOOR HARDWARE
Small change, huge impact. Swapping out your dated or builder-grade cabinet hardware and/or door handles makes your home feel considerably updated and generally the only tool you'll need is a screwdriver. For door handles I love the look of black or brass hardware, however it really depends on what other metals you have going on in your space. Like lighting, this is another area you can spend a little extra to get high quality hardware because you can always uninstall it and take it with you.
OUTLETS AND VENT COVERS
Why did anyone ever think 'almond' colored outlets looked good? We have them all over our house sadly. Updating your dingey old outlets to modern white ones is subtle but makes a big difference. This does require some electrical work so please exercise caution and do research before taking this project on. That said - if I can do it, you certainly can as well. Updating you HVAC vent covers is also a great way to add a little character to your home. You can order custom covers via websites like Vent Covers Unlimited and Pacific Register Company. These kinds of details matter in your home!
PEEL AND STICK WALLPAPER
A huge way to add visual impact in your home is wallpaper. If you want something you can easily install and take down later, I recommend peel and stick wallpaper. A few things to note: if you want to make sure the paper stays, you want your wall texture to be smooth which may require some sanding on your end. Easy, but messy. Personally I love wallpaper in a powder room, dining room or bedroom! Wallpaper does not hold up well to moisture so avoid using in a high traffic bathroom. Some excellent sources for peel and stick wallpaper are Chasing Paper, Rifle Paper Co, and Hygge & West.
I hope this sparked some inspiration for you. As always I'm here to help, let me know if you have any questions!
Comments