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 an entire remodel? I’m right there with you!
I love the idea of being able to make small changes in a room, but still wind up with a totally “new” space. Check out these 5 no fail ways to change the look of any room in your home!
Change the Light Fixture
Swapping out a light fixture is a surefire way to change the look of a room. A new fixture helps set the room’s overall style – whether it’s classic, modern, or somewhere in between.
Here’s a before (in the lower right corner) and after look at my breakfast room when it was in the very beginning stages of me giving it a makeover.
I was experimenting with different curtains at the beginning, but the chandelier was the first permanent change that I made.
Above is a before (in the lower right corner) and after of my breakfast roomOut with the industrial/farmhouse look. In with a classic style light fixture that will stand the test of time and serve me for years to come.
Paint Your Fireplace
A fresh coat of white paint on a red brick fireplace will instantly brighten a room and gives it a fresh, clean look.
The ‘before’ of my fireplace is in the small inset image in the lower right corner.
It’s a simple process, but proper prep is key. Clean the brick thoroughly, allow to completely dry, then use a high-quality primer, followed by your favorite white paint in a semi-gloss sheen.
If the fireplace surround is the original wood, painting that white as well will create the most cohesive look, soften the contrast and allow the fireplace to blend seamlessly with the rest of the room.
The result is a fresh, updated focal point that makes the entire space feel lighter and more inviting.
Add Statement Art
Want something that will instantly catch a person’s eye and change the entire vibe of a room? Statement art is the answer.
What do I mean by statement art? Statement art is at least one of three things:
- it’s oversized
- it’s colorful
- it’s bold.
Even if you don’t particularly care for the art currently hanging above my sofa, you still have to admit that adding a piece of statement art has the power to totally change the look of a room.
Fresh Furniture With Paint
Painting wood furniture is a great way to refresh a room without buying new pieces.
It wasn’t in the budget to replace my entertainment center when I found myself moving away from farmhouse style to a fresh, updated traditional style.
Even though the wood could have worked perfectly fine, it didn’t fit with my definition of “fresh traditional”. Even with other changes in the room, it felt dark and dated.
After much consideration, I opted to have it painted white and I’ve never looked back. It totally transformed the entire feel of my family room!
Add Color
Want to bring personality or freshen a room without making a permanent change?
Then color is your best friend. If you’re a neutral lover, add it in small doses. If you’re already a color lover, then switch things up.
If the room feels too monochromatic, layering different shades of the same color creates depth without overwhelming the space.
As you can see, small changes can have a big impact when it comes to updating a room.
Whether it’s a new light fixture, or simply adding a pop of color, each of these no-fail ideas can help transform your space.
The best part? You can mix and match these updates to create a home that feels fresh, inviting, and perfectly suited to your style.
Hi, I will make some comments on your mantel. While I feel everyone decorates for their personal tastes, and that is the way it should be, it will be seen different from everyone. I love the way you layer the décor. To me this makes the setting much warmer. I would change two things. Take all or several of the small items off the mantel. I think the hearth would look better with only one piece of décor in the middle of the hearth. Also, to add some color and more sitting area, I would add two boxed seat cushions in a color that coordinated or matched some of the fabric in the room. Having two cushions would allow you to decorate the center with a cushion on each side or use one cushion and decorate on each end of the mantel. Everything you do looks great, I want to do the shutters for an area I have in a bay window.
The one thing I would like to ask is I have a huge wall hanging from Kirklands that is metal and I would like to spiff it up. It is painted with a mingle of gold paints now that was damaged in a recent move. Could you offer some help on how you painted? Thank you so much,
Hi Beverly. If the piece that you’re asking about is all metal, then I might consider spray painting it with a solid color. If you’re wanting a bit of a layered look with the colors, you could then dry-brush another color(s) on top on the spray paint, once it’s dry. If you try that approach, keep a rag handy while you’re dry brushing so that you can wipe any excess paint off as you go. Hope this helps!
You made some wise furniture choices in the beginning. You update traditional furniture and transformed it beautifully (so clever). We have the same taste and style so you help to visualize how to transform my decor to more stylish fashion. Thanks for sharing your secrets!
Hmmmm…I think the wood backdrop behind the hanging basket would be a good idea. Also the grapevine wreath. I think the Fall branches in the basket are beautiful and would look even better against the black and white piece.
Thanks for sharing and being so brave!
Thanks for these great tips, Suzy… and for being willing to be vulnerable to some loving critique. You are a wonderful sport and blogger!
Do love the barn door on the office bookcase….great idea, again! Enjoy the waning days of summer.
Thank you for inspiring the endless possibilities, Suzy!
I like your video…keep it going!!
Brand new to your blog. Right away I like your use of color! I too, need some color in my home. And love the barn door on the bookcase.
I love this blog for decorating tips! I especially like this post about 5 ways to change the look of a room without spending a lot of money!
And I look forward to more fall decorating ideas.
I would take away the light-colored stack of wheat near the front of the mantel. The color seems out-of-sync with the rest of the decorations.
Great suggestions. Thanks for sharing.
I love the gray desk in your office. You’ve done a beautiful job refinishing it. The dark stain in the grooves highlights the beauty of the woodwork. Love the stained top as well.
I enjoy your blog and I love that you asked us to suggest any changes we would make to your mantel. This inspires me to take a closer look at my home for ‘editing’. Thanks!
We are in the process of repainting. ripping out carpeting and putting in laminate flooring in our home office/den right now. It looks so much nicer now! I love all your ideas and am constantly running to the computer to check out your blog.
I added an unexpected piece to my office yesterday. My daughter had a dresser she needed a new home for an I decided to take it. It’s 43″ wide, 20 inches deep and 5 feet tall so it makes quite a statement! It’s also antique white with a wood stained top so it adds some color to a room full of stained furniture. I was a little worried about how it would look since I was replacing a shorter table but I love it!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Suzy,
This post is so timely. Last week, a friend gifted me a beautiful chair; which has triggered a re-do of my guest room. I do love most of the existing pieces, but recognize that it is time for a change. Paint is the perfect solution. Can you share the name of the brown paint you used for the dining room. I know you mentioned it was mixed to match a can of spray paint. Do you recall which one? I have pulled so many lovely ideas from this post to borrow with pride 🙂 I have been following your blog for quite some time now (years) and am always grateful for the inspiration. Thanks for ALL you do. Blessings!
Hi Vanessa. You can find all of the information you’re looking for regarding the paint that I used in the dining room in this blog post: https://www.worthingcourtblog.com/dining-room-finishing-touches/ . Have fun in your guest room!
Live the way you can stroll through you house from room to room. The east transition with color and coasyness…wish I could have you come to my place and do your magic.
The bottom of the fire place is beautiful. I would remove the wood board, the shutters and black lanterns from the top. They all look to over powering and then i would spread the rest out to either side giving it a softer look.
I love your desk in your den. Can you tell me where you purchased it? Thanks for all your décor ideas. I always look forward to all your ideas!