5 No Fail Ways To Change The Look Of A Room
Have you ever had the urge to give any of the rooms in your home a whole new look, but don’t want to go to the trouble or expense of a whole remodel? I’m right there with ya! I love the idea of being able to make small changes in a room, but wind up with a totally “new” space. Check out these 5 no fail ways to change the look of any room in your home!
ADD THE UNEXPECTED
To me, nothing catches a person’s eye more than adding something unexpected to a room! Think back – how many times have you walked into someone’s home and been taken aback (in a good way!) by something unexpected they used as part of their decor?
I did just that when I gave my very dated, cheapo bookcases a total makeover with paint and with addition of a sliding barn door. Who expects to see a barn door on bookcases – right? But, I get more oohs and aahs over that one thing than I do over the entire office remodel!
BOOKCASE MAKEOVER – TRADITIONAL CHERRY TO FARMHOUSE FAB
UPCYCLE OR REPURPOSE SOMETHING
Think outside of the box when it comes to adding functional items to your home that you want to look pretty. You can do more with many pieces of old furniture than just repaint them! I took an old hutch apart and repurposed the top half into a dropzone and hung it near my back door. This thing is a real workhorse, but it still looks pretty in the space and compliments the rest of my home.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE SPACE FOR A MUDROOM
PAINT IS YOUR FRIEND
You’ll rarely hear me talking about giving rooms a whole new look without talking about the power paint! It is one of THE most affordable and easy ways to make changes that I know of.
My dining room makeover is a prime example of where I opted to paint my existing furniture, to get the look I was after, instead of replacing it. Yes, I was definitely a bit scared, but I’m sooo glad that I took the leap! I even went to far as to have a paint store color-match some spray paint that I was using.
FARMHOUSE DINING ROOM MAKEOVER REVEAL – BEFORE AND AFTER
TAKE SOMETHING AWAY
We’ve all heard the adage – edit, edit, EDIT! The theory behind it is to get something looking just the way that you think you want it….and then take something away. You can apply the theory all the way from how much jewelry you wear to the way your decorate your home.
I’ll volunteer to be the guinea pig here – what do you think I should have taken away from last year’s fall mantel? Be honest, but please be gentle on this thin-skinned girl!
RUSTIC FALL FARMHOUSE STYLE MANTEL
ADD SMALL DOSES OF COLOR
My home is mostly neutral, but I’ve come to realize that I can’t be happy in a totally neutral room. I need little bits of color here and there! How much color I add depends upon the season or holiday that I’m decorating for. If I’m not decorating for anything special like fall or Christmas, I tend to add color sparingly and in more muted tones.
BUDGET FRIENDLY WINDOW TREATMENTS AND HARDWARE
I bet you know some other ways to get a whole new look without completely redecorating a whole room. Please share with all of us!
Your vignettes are always beautiful! You asked what to take away on your fireplace. I would leave the vignette on the right side of the hearth and remove the left side. As I like to play around with the look of the mantel, I was wondering how it would look to remove the shutters behind the lanterns. I think your beautiful arch would pop more and become more of a focal point. It’s always easier to see it in person, just a “try it and see” suggestion! Thx for sharing your pretty home!!
The wood back back drop and the basket is too much. A nice mirror with the removal of Yellow wall would be good. You could add a subtle gall floral arrangement in front of the mirror. The overall picture is too busy.
Somehow, what I previously submitted got somewhat distorted. It should have read “The wood backdrop and basket of flowers are too much. A nice mirror with the removal of “Hello Fall” would be good. You could add a subtle fall floral arrangement in front of the mirror. Overall the scheme is too busy.
I love the basket of fall foliage hanging but I don’t care for the wood board behind it. The rest of the decor on the mantel and hearth look great. Wish I had a mantel to decorate.
Yep, totally agree…remove board behind flowers to see arch/flowers more!
I agree remove barn wood behind hanging basket. The arch piece is so beautiful, its a shame to cover it up with the barn wood.
I think the wood board thing behind the basket of fall foliage, the twig wreath below it and the amber / brown bottle could be removed and the remainder of the mantel decor would be outstanding! Thanks for sharing all your beautiful vignettes with us!
Oh my, the mantle looks perfect just the way it is and I really don’t see anything that needs to be taken away. I guess if you have to take something away it could be the small sheaf of wheat? I love the way you decorate and I always get good ideas from you.
Linda
I love, love, love your bookcase! As for your mantle, I would take away the wood behind the hanging basket of fall flowers and maybe remove the wheat on the left side. Whatever you do, I’m sure it will look amazing!
Well after looking at your mantel about six times, I wonder if “editing” the grapevine wreath would better as there is plenty of texture in the big basket above? So glad the link was corrected..was driving me crazy!
This is what I’ve done when I couldn’t decide what to edit…Remove everything from the vignettes then add only 3 of those things back. After looking at it for 24 hours, add 2 more things. Then 24 hours later, add 1 more thing and continue adding 1 every 24 hours if necessary. I love vignettes but sometimes I need to see blank space again to rest my eyes and see the space differently. That’s just something that works for me. I think your rooms are beautiful by the way!
While I love that you brought color up high with the flowers, basket, etc, it seems awkward to me somehow. Maybe you could rework that idea keeping the color pop but making it less heavy.
I so admire your style and wouldn’t miss a post for anything!
Great tips Suzy. I agree with most in removing the wood board to expose the beautiful iron work and wall color. I would also remove the grapevine wreath and wheat. Let the hanging basket be the “star”.
Green advice. Thanks!
I love the sliding door you put on your bookcase! That’s probably my favorite thing you’ve shown – very out-of-the-box thinking!
All great tips! As far as your mantle…I’m more of a simple girl. I would remove the board behind the basket of florals…to see more of the iron work. And I would simplify each vignette on either side on the hearth. But, that’s me…simple. Your home always looks warm and welcoming! 😉
I wouldn’t change a thing! I think you are brilliant!
I always love to see what you do to something to give it a new look! I have stolen some of your ideas for sure!!
Your home is beautiful and your vignettes stunning. If there was anything I’d edit from your Fall vignette would be the rustic board that your floral basket is hanging from. The basket would look lovely hanging from that gorgeous iron gate (is that what it is?).
I would first remove the twig wreath and try that first, leaving a little empty space (I forget too that “white” space is important). To me the hearth looks too heavy. Left side crate and lantern are too similar in size and too tall. The right is too much wicker. Maybe less repetition of materials although your colors are good.
Your fireplace and mantel look amaaaaaazing!! I love the baskets! I agree with removing the board and would also remove the shutters.
Thanks for fixing the link. Love your style!
Ok, for what it is worth….;-) I would personally lose the wreath as it strikes me as being too close to your focal point hanging basket (which I LOVE, btw). Then I would take away the wheat & brown bottle as well I would then bring the lanterns and pumpkins in a little closer to the center point of the mantel and not center them directly in front of the shutters and see what it looks like at that time. You can always add the other stuff back if you don’t like it, right?
I really like all of your Fall decor and I know it would be hard for me to edit out anything that I really liked, too. Good luck with that.;-) Thank you so much for your advice and sharing ideas!!
I always look forward to your posts…I love your style! As for your fall mantle, I really couldn’t suggest much of an edit other than possibly switching the bottle and the wheat. I love the overall look! I’m going to search through your posts in case you don’t see this but did you paint your mantle AND the brick. I still have the blah oak mantle and brick fireplace that I’ve had for 17 years and really want to paint it like yours but have to admit I’m terrified and have no idea what paint to use lol!