Tired of looking at the same decor day after day? We all crave change from time to time, but not everyone has the budget for a major home renovation. The good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune to give your home a fresh new look.
With a little creativity and effort, you can transform your space to feel revitalised.
Small updates to your home’s decor can make a surprisingly big impact.
Read on for 8 fun, innovative ideas to refresh your home’s style without lifting a single tool.
1. Add Indoor Plants
Plants instantly liven up any space in your home. Whether you opt for a large, leafy plant in the corner or small succulents scattered around, greenery brings life and freshness to your decor. Plants purify the air while providing soothing colours and textures that invite you to relax and unwind.
Start by identifying ideal locations for plants in each room – near windows and in corners work well to maximise their visual impact. Search for low-maintenance varieties suited to your light conditions. Mix pots and planters in different shapes, sizes and materials for eclectic styling. Groupings of 3-5 plants in coordinating colours make a bold statement.
Trailing vines and hanging plants also work beautifully to add a playful, bohemian vibe. Greenery frames windows nicely. Use plants to divide spaces or direct foot traffic. Pay attention to plant heights – mix tall statement plants with lower, bushy varieties for a pleasing dimension.
With the addition of a few lush, vibrant plants, you can bring new life and vitality into any area of your home. Let their graceful forms and verdant hues help create a relaxing sanctuary.
2. Display Children’s Artwork
One creative and sentimental way to refresh the decor in your home is by proudly displaying your kids’ artistic creations. Children’s artwork can instantly infuse a space with colour, imagination, and love.
Frame your kids’ best drawings, paintings, and crafts to decorate the walls. Choose unframed canvas or paper artwork to pin up on a gallery wall or magnetic board for an artsy display. Pick a few special pieces to frame professionally and hang in prominent areas like the living room or hallway.
Displaying your children’s artwork shows them how much you value their creativity. It brings a sense of achievement and encouragement. Watch their skills progress as you rotate new pieces in and out over the years. Witnessing their imagination come to life on the walls will warm your heart.
Highlight your family’s uniqueness through the artwork pieces you select. Mix in photos of your kids creating their masterpieces for extra meaning. Let visitors and guests get a glimpse into what makes your family special. Children grow up so fast, so memorialise these artistic snapshots of their childhood while you can.
3. Hang Family Portraits
Nothing makes a house a home than filling it with happy memories. In this digital focused world, we tend to leave our family memories behind on our phones and hard drives!
These memories are a PERFECT opportunity to fill your walls with love, laughter and custom artwork that nobody else has in their homes.
From framed hero pieces and modern canvases to carefully designed wall collections, there are SO MANY beautiful options to showcase your family document your family history.
Check out our Family Photography Experience here.
3. Design a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is a creative way to display a curated collection of art, photos, prints, mirrors, shelves, and other decorative objects. It instantly becomes a focal point and makes a bold style statement in any room.
When designing your own gallery wall, start by mapping out the arrangement on the floor before hanging anything. Play around with different frame sizes, groupings, and layouts until you find a format you love. Mix and match coordinating and contrasting pieces for visual interest.
Aim for your gallery wall to look collected over time, rather than overly matchy. Hang pieces asymmetrically at varying heights for a dynamic look. Leave a bit more space between groupings to allow the eye to rest.
In terms of content, include a range of colour palettes, textures, subjects and sizes. Black and white photography makes a chic statement, while colourful artwork adds a fun vibe.
Feature special keepsakes like family photos, your children’s art, vintage finds and personalised pieces to add meaning.
For a family-friendly gallery, hang your displays at the eye level of a child to make the artwork more accessible. Add shelves to break up the arrangement and display cherished objects.
No matter your style, a captivating gallery wall makes a stylish statement and creates an ever-changing display in your home. It’s an artistic way to showcase what inspires you most.
4. Refresh With Removable Wallpaper
Removable wallpaper is an easy and affordable way to refresh your home’s look without the commitment of painting or permanent wallpaper. It allows you to experiment with different patterns and colours to find the perfect look for your space.
Some creative removable wallpaper ideas include:
Black and white graphic prints – Try bold geometric or graphic black and white patterns to create contrast and interest. Black and white is always in style and works in any room.
Nature inspired patterns – Florals, leaves, branches and other natural motifs can help bring the outdoors in. They work great in bedrooms, bathrooms or even kitchens.
Textured or flocked wallpaper – Go tactile with soft flocked wallpaper in velvet or suede effects. Textured patterns like horizontal stripes or dimples can also add visual interest.
Removable brick or wood plank wallpaper – Faux brick, wood planking or shiplap effects are trendy options for accent walls, especially in living spaces.
Mural wallpaper – Transform a blank wall into a scenic focal point. Removable mural wallpaper allows you to customise it over time.
Removable wall decals – Another easy DIY refresh. Wall decals featuring shapes, words or designs can make a statement.
When installing removable wallpaper, begin with clean walls free of flaws. Measure the area and cut the wallpaper to size. Use a smoothing tool and take care around edges and corners. Change it up whenever you feel like a new look!
5. Update With Bold Cushions
A quick and easy way to refresh your home’s look is by adding bold, colourful cushion covers. Switch out those plain cushions for some eye-catching patterns and colours that make a statement.
Pick some vibrant cushion covers featuring your favourite bright colours, fun prints, or graphic designs. Abstract shapes, geometric patterns, floral prints, and striking stripes are all great modern options that will instantly liven up a neutral or dull room.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and colours – clashing complementary hues and prints creates an eclectic, bohemian feel. Go for cushion covers in a rainbow of different colours and mix stripes, florals and geometrics together for maximum impact.
Cushion covers allow you to inexpensively change up your decor any time you feel like a new look. Make switching them out a seasonal routine, swapping lighter colours for darker ones in winter and vice versa in summer. Or pick colours that align with upcoming holidays and events.
Adding eye-catching cushion covers to your sofas, beds and floors brings vibrancy, character and Individual style to your home. It’s an easy, affordable way to refresh the look of a room without completely redecorating.
6. Rugs to Refresh
Introducing new rugs is an easy and affordable way to refresh your home decor. They can make a space feel cosier, redefine areas, and tie a room together.
Look for colourful, patterned rugs to brighten up a room and make it feel more welcoming. Bring in a rug with bold, eye-catching colours and fun prints to transform a space. Alternatively, a subtle print or texture like a natural fibre or braided rug can soften a room and make it cosier.
Use rugs to delineate spaces in an open concept room. Define the living room from the dining area with a rug under the coffee table and couch. Use another rug under the dining table to mark that space.
Shape rugs are on-trend and can add flair to a room. A round, oval, or octagonal rug makes a statement under a dining table or seating area. Or try a runner in a high-traffic area or hallway.
When selecting rugs, make sure to get the right size for the space. Focus on determining the main furniture pieces or conversational areas you want the rug to define. Anchor a rug under the front legs of seating like a couch or chairs. Size it large enough that there is at least 18-24 inches of floor showing on all sides.
Refreshing worn rugs is cost-effective. Try cleaning high-traffic rugs to restore their appearance. Rotate or flip rugs to even out wear patterns. Add rug pads or tape to repair curled edges or slippage.
Introducing stylish new rugs, or restoring existing rugs, allows you to inexpensively rejuvenate the look of a room. Rugs add colour, texture and definition to refresh your home’s decor.
7. Up-cycle Furniture
Give your existing furniture new life with a few simple upcycling projects. Not only is this budget-friendly, but it reduces waste by repurposing what you already have.
Sand and paint – Sand furniture down to remove any gloss or paint drips. Then paint it a fresh new colour with acrylic paint. For best results, use painter’s tape to define edges and apply 2-3 thin coats of paint.
Stain or re-stain – Wood stains come in a variety of hues from light natural to dark walnut. Remove old stains or finish with sandpaper or a remover liquid. Then apply your new stain and protective topcoat.
Replace hardware – Swap out dated hardware like knobs, pulls, and hinges for newer hardware in brushed nickel, black, or bronze. This simple change modernises the look instantly.
Reupholster – Give a sofa, chair or ottoman a makeover by reupholstering with bold printed or textured fabric. Use a staple gun to attach new fabric over foam and batting.
Build new base – For tables or dressers, cut wood planks to size and attach to create a new base. Sand, stain or paint the new materials for a modern sleek look.
Add trim – Affix trim pieces along edges, seams or asymmetrically across the front. Choose moulding that contrasts against the main furniture colour.
With a dash of creativity and elbow grease, you can give tired furnishings new purpose and character. Upcycling saves money while allowing self-expression and sustainability.
8. Feature Artwork
Adding a large, eye-catching piece of art can instantly become the focal point of any room. Look for an interesting painting, print, sculpture or other artwork that makes a bold statement.
The piece should reflect your personality and style. For a family home, consider involving the kids to make or pick out art together or use a Hero image from a recent Family Photography session. Not only will it get them engaged in decorating, but it will give them a sense of pride when they see their chosen art displayed prominently.
When selecting a location, think about the room’s layout and where people’s eyes are naturally drawn. Art over the fireplace or an accent wall tends to stand out. But even placing a captivating painting in an unexpected spot can catch people’s attention. The artwork itself will draw focus, so ensure it’s prominent and able to be seen up close as well as from afar for maximum impact. With the right striking piece as your inspiration, suddenly the entire room can feel fresh, original and full of personality.
Conclusion
Refreshing your home’s decor doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. With some creativity and effort, you can give your home an updated new look.
Of all the options discussed, some of the best and easiest ways to refresh your decor include:
Adding new houseplants – plants instantly liven up any space and improve air quality.
Creating a gallery wall – this is an easy DIY project that allows you to display meaningful art, photos, mirrors and more.
Updating cushions and rugs – new cushions and a fresh rug can completely transform a room by adding colour, texture and visual interest.
Displaying your children’s artwork – kids’ drawings and paintings add a personal touch and colour to your home.
Repurposing old furniture – with a little paint or new hardware, you can give old furniture new life.
The key is to not be afraid of making changes. Experiment with new colours, arrangements and decorative accents until you find a look you love. Refreshing your decor is a great way to welcome new seasons and give your family a stylish, comfortable home they’ll enjoy.
