The thought of giving your home a makeover may seem intimidating. Ideas of renovating, or even moving out some of the old and replacing it with the new, feels like a commitment of both time and money. But it is the small touches like a new piece of wall art or an attention-grabbing centerpiece that have the ability to make a home feel cozy and tasteful. Fortunately, there is no shortage of projects that can improve your home in just a couple of days time.
Fill Your Walls With Stories
Adding to your walls is what makes a home uniquely yours. Whether you choose to display family photos, handed-down trinkets or décor that exhibits your personal style, walls are essential—quiet literally—in bringing the home together. You just need to determine what stories you want to share. Collections are a great way to display your interests in a striking way. You may have a compilation of pictures, vinyl records or decorative plates, and all it really takes is fixing them to the wall in whichever formation you desire to create a statement piece. Placing your collections tightly in an irregular formation or overlapping them does a brilliant job of creating a textured accent wall for added dimension. If you find yourself without a collection to display, you can easily enough find or make one of your own.
A more recent trend for dorm rooms and homes alike is creating personalized canvases. Whether it’s a simple “welcome to our home” or you are pulling quotes from your favorite authors, what could be more telling than a phrase that speaks specifically to you? Personalized canvases can be painted in any number of ways but lettering can also be created from fabrics and old magazines.
Using unique shelving devices is another great way to add a bit of personal flair to the room. By merely fashioning a sturdy piece of string through an old board, a hanging shelf can be made to display whichever items best complement the room. Should you prefer a more traditional shelf, try buying a plywood board and fasten brackets that are unique, such as recycled piping or vintage brackets that can be found in a second-hand store. For the book lovers and collectors who appreciate the aesthetic appeal that bindings offer, utilizing floating bookshelves allows the opportunity not only to display your favorite stories but also emit the gift of illusion guests will forever be intrigued by.
Creating One-of-a-Kind Windows
Arguably, windows are the most important feature of any home. They are the intersection that connects the inside to what the outside world has to offer. While rooms are often designed so that we may appreciate the view, light and sounds provided, having a barrier of privacy is also essential. Luckily, this can be achieved with style. One such way is by adding a bit of life to your blinds or shades. Roller blinds, or blackout shades, do a fantastic job of keeping out the light for a reasonable price. For a personalized shade, try sewing or even gluing on a fabric that complements the room’s décor.
If your goal is to keep the sun at bay, blackout curtains will do the trick. But if you only wish to gain a bit of privacy while allowing the light to stream in, privacy screens are an easy DIY project that are also aesthetically pleasing. All you need to do is measure the dimensions of your window while taking into account the area you wish to be overlaid. Generally, privacy curtains are used for the lower half of the window, so it is easiest to follow the line of the lower window sash. Doing this will also allow you to insert the screen into the lower window casing on days when you want to let in the breeze. After stapling together the screen panels, finish by sewing on a lace fabric of your choice. Frosted glass is also another option, though more permanent and sometimes uneven if applied to a larger glass surface. To add a bit of design, try laying stickers or decals on the glass before using the spray. Once it has dried, remove the stickers to create a truly original window.
If you have little ones running around the house, functionality and safety are probably your top priorities. However, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. There are tons of great, modern window designs and treatments that will give your home the appeal you’re seeking and keep your children safe. One of the best options for child-safe window blinds is a cordless blind or shade, which has grown in popularity over the years and is now available in almost every color and style to fit your exact taste. They are easy to install and can work wonders in transforming a space.
Give Old Furniture a New Makeover
With minimal time and effort, a broken down piece can be reclaimed to look new and original. Painting is almost always the best way to refinish furniture. This can be as plain as applying a couple of fresh coats of paint, but you can also get as creative as you want by applying stripes, fun designs and decals to produce one-of-a-kind furniture. For furniture that has had a tough run, try running a bit of sandpaper over the finish for a distressed appearance. By constructing a rougher surface to a piece with existing scars, you can achieve the ultimate shabby chic look. A less conventional option is wrapping it up. Decoupage with magazine clippings, fabrics or actual wrapping paper to add an artsy element to any piece. Unfortunately, not all furniture can be saved. If a piece is worth salvaging, you can give it a new purpose, like taking the drawers of an old desk and converting them into decorative baskets or knocking out the bottom and using the remaining frame for a new and unique shelving unit.
What better way to spend your weekend than by adding crafty new touches to your home? Updating doesn’t need to require a lot of time and effort. With a bit of imagination, the whole family can have fun helping to make your home as cozy and original as possible.
Author Bio: Kenneth Gordon serves as the Assistant VP of Factory Direct Blinds. Kenneth is responsible for overseeing the planning, development and execution of all Factory Direct Blinds marketing and advertising initiatives. Before joining Factory Direct Blinds, Kenneth served 6 years in the United States Air Force as a Military Police Officer. Kenneth enjoys spending time with his two sons and beautiful wife Brittany when he’s not working or writing.
