We did a lot of work on the house last year. So much, that I promised we wouldn't have to do anything else for a couple of years. Last spring felt like a long hard slog to get rooms tiled, painted and decorated so I figured we deserved a year off. There's still a lot of work that needs doing on the house and, as soon as spring appeared, I was itching to get started again but I kept my promise. I'm hoping next year I'll be able to convince Laurie that he enjoys DIY (he doesn't) so that we can do some decorating but, until then, I've been focusing on little changes that are cheap and easily made but make the house feel nicer. Here are some ways you can freshen up a room without having to redecorate:
1. Declutter
We have so much crap. Toys, clothes and random unidentified wires seem to leak out of every cupboard and drawer in the house. Even the living room which I really want to be an oasis of calm ends up covered in homework and wooden blocks and random bits of paper by the end of the day. An hour spent decluttering and getting rid of the things we no longer want or need makes a huge difference. I always have a pile of things waiting to go to the charity shop. This is probably the easiest way of freshening up a room because it doesn't cost a penny and can make the room feel new again.
2. Rent some new furniture
I didn't even know this was a thing until recently, but if you're looking to change the feel of a room, renting furniture might be just the thing you need. There are plenty of furniture for hire UK firms that speclialise in rental furniture. You can rent a new sofa or bed or whatever you need. So it's easy to update a room without having to commit to exactly what you need or fork out to buy a whole room's worth of new furniture. This is a great way to try out different styles and give yourself time to decide whether they are perfect for you and your home.
3. Update your prints
One of the easiest ways to add character to a room is with wall art. Prints and photographs provide a focal point for the room. Adding a few new prints to your wall can lift a room. If you love the prints you already have, you could consider changing the frames or simply moving the prints around to make the room feel different.
4. Let the light in
Natural light makes a huge difference to how a room looks. I always think interiors look nicer in the warmer months when there is plenty of natural light flooding into the space. To let in more light, consider changing your curtains or blinds to allow optimum light into the room. You can also use mirrors to draw light in and reflect it around the room. When it comes to mirrors, the bigger the better. This article explains how to use mirrors to lighten a room.
5. Bring the outdoors indoors
Fresh flowers and plants are a great way of freshening up a room and adding a splash of colour. Some plants can even improve air quality so it's worth looking out for some of those so you can improve the health of your home. Brightly coloured flowers can be used to compliment or contrast with the colour scheme of the room so can make a huge difference to the feel of the room. And, even better, you can change them regularly to stop you getting bored.
This is a collaborative post.