Sanibel-Captiva Daily

Sanibel Island Tip Expert, Melinda Graham, Home Decor

New look…same old stuff
You may be thinking it’s time to update your space, but your bank account does not agree. Here are a few stylish ways to make a needed improvement that will hold you over.

Consider repurposing and accessorizing instead of purchasing and renovating… Sanibel Island Tip Expert, Melinda Graham, Home Decor

Repurpose

Turn a fresh eye to something you already have and think about how you might be able to camouflage, repurpose or reimagine it into something new.

1. Paint a simple dresser from a guest bedroom with a few coats of shiny paint and change the hardware. Place the once boring dresser in your dining room for a fresh new serving piece or side board.

2. Purchase heavy cream canvas slip covers for your furniture. It’s a lot less expensive than purchasing new furniture and a practical way to change the entire look of a space. You can add color and texture with pillows.

3. Rearrange your furniture. It’s a great way to add new life to a room. Create a new grouping for seating in the living room, angle your dining room table or move your bed.

4. Get creative…move furniture from room to room. Take a pair of dining chairs and flank a small occasional table or place on either side of a fire place. Place a bench at the dining room table with a few elegant pillows. Take a chair from the living room and create a reading corner in your bedroom.

Accessorize

Almost anything can serve as an accessory, you can use found objects and household items that cost practically nothing.

1. Seashells and driftwood collected at the shore can be used to create a lovely, natural grouping in an entry or on a hearth.

2. A bowl filled with crisp green apples or golden pears lends a bright pop of color to a kitchen counter or breakfast table.

3.Pile a stack of vintage hardback books for height, dimension and character to a coffee table.

4. Fill the bottom of wine glasses with sand and secure a tea light in the sand. Group the glasses in a row on a fireplace mantle or cluster on a mirror and place on a table.

5. Get out a bunch of miss-matched frames that you have stored away. Paint them all in the same color or shades of the same color that match your room. Fill the frames with family photos and group on a table or hang on a wall. For a stylish approach, spray paint all the frames black (or white) and have your photos printed in black and white before framing.

6. Add a crisp table linen to your dated dining room table. It will instantly give the room a bright lift. Cluster a few pieces of clear elegant glassware in the center of the table. Add flowers for color or keep it simple with a few white candles.

7. Layer throw blankets and toss pillows on an interesting chair. This will not only change the look but it will also add depth and comfort. You can do the same trick on a bed or sofa or bench…

Imagine

You truly do not need to financially invest in order to have a mini home makeover.  You can make changes with a great deal of impact with a simple investment of time and creativity.

Remember that adding or changing accessories can make a refreshing difference.

A helpful hit to keep in mind for any room makeover is to eliminate clutter. Any time you can free a room from unnecessary items it will add sophistication and give the appearance of a larger space.

Do not be afraid to experiment. Afterall if you are not purchasing anything, you don’t have anything to lose.

Be clever and creative…and just give it a try!

Sanibel Island Tip Expert, Melinda Graham, Home Decor

 

Surroundings by Melinda

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