Photos By: Unsplash

Once somebody sees the interior of your home, they’ll immediately know the kind of attention to detail you put into the things that you care about. That’s huge. But sometimes styles wane and seasons change. At a certain point, you’ve got to change it up. When this time comes around, you can either haul everything to Goodwill and start from scratch (there are cases like this), or you can put a few good detail changes in place and bring out a massive pop by tweaking some key things. Here’s how you can do it. 

Fresh Paint 

The biggest thing you can do to a room, short of overhauling the furniture is to paint it a new color. Giving that room a completely new character by adding a fresh coat of paint is so simple, yet so effective. You can keep the themes you already have in place, too. Color is the context for which the players in your design can present itself. If they’ve been on the stage of greens for a decade, maybe earthier tones or a warm cream might change the mood. The kind of paint you use matters, as well. There’s a series, the Marquee Behr, an interior eggshell enamel, that delivers what it promises. That kind of pigment is a higher-end product. If that’s the kind of detail you want in your home, that class of paint is what you should aim for. After all, it’s going to last you years.

Play With Lighting 

Playing with light sources is traditionally an artist’s playground as a proof of concept. You can apply this kind of artistry in your living space quite easily. Drapes and other window treatments come in and out of style, but most people put them in for privacy. Swap them out or completely change them. Find ways to bring in the light and manipulate its intensity through new, thoughtful means. Whether it be a transition film, you have installed or rearranged furniture to match when an area comes in contact with light, playing with that natural source is a fun way to experiment with your interiors. 

Add Art 

Those who are fans of interior design are inadvertently fans of art in general. When we talk in design circles, there’s always mention of bare walls. A bare wall is such a waste of good real estate. You might as well fill it with something beautiful. Invest in originals and prints from your favorite artists. Or you can find a tremendous classic. There are sketches made by Pablo Picasso that are surprisingly affordable. Other massively prolific artists have volumes of work that you can buy in auction or online from a reputable collector. Suppose it appreciates, even better. Do it for the walls, but as an investment, it also bears considering. 

Simple changes in your interior design are as simple as adding, subtracting, and re-painting. There are so many combinations you can work with. The feeling of a blank canvas can be overwhelming sometimes. But with a bit of focus and some premier paint cans, you can turn any room brand new.

It was American author Charles Bowden who said: “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” Apart from sporting long, sunny days that are perfect for everything from lounging next to the pool to tending to the garden,summer is also a great time to tackle a new interior design project. Whether you want to redo your entire home’s interior or just change certain elements, here’s a closer look at some of the hottest interior design trends to embrace this summer.

Natural Fibers Reign Supreme

Natural fibers are back with a bang this year with an increasing number of homeowners looking for ways to gives their homes a more natural look overall. Furnishings made from natural fibers are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also environmentally friendly and increasingly durable as well. Cotton curtains, table cloths, and cushion covers can lend a sense of calm and authenticity to a room while raffia upholstery, rugs, headboards, lampshades make for interesting conversation pieces. While many homeowners possess enough creative flair to tackle such an interior design project on their own, not everyone is equally as confident in their decorating abilities. Thankfully, there are countless renowned design teams headed by designers such as Jennifer Fisher and Nate Berkus who can provide invaluable insight and assistance with regards to any design project.

Indoor Greenery is a Hit – again

Summer is the perfect time of year to incorporate some greenery into your interior design.  Indoor plants and other natural elements such as wooden floors and decorations can add bursts of color and texture to a room.  While some plants may be better suited to a homeowner with green fingers, others require very little maintenance in order to flourish. Succulents are known to do exceptionally well in bathrooms while an indoor herb garden is a welcome addition to any modern-day kitchen. Even if you do not want to put actual plants in your living spaces, you can still invite parts of nature inside by making use of nature-inspired shapes and prints. Anything from foliage to florals to animal print can be used with great success to breathe some new life into a room.

Nautical Themes are Loved by Young and Old

Shades of blue, white, and gray are particularly popular this summer and can be effectually combined to create a soothing or even somewhat whimsical nautical theme. Although these colors can all come across as very strong, adding natural elements such as wood and rope can help you balance your design with ease. Nautical decorative elements such as rivets, portholes, nautical maps, lifesavers, and ship’s wheels can all be used to transform a drab room into a refreshing living area. When embracing a nautical theme, do not be hesitant to experiment with different hues and finishes. You may be surprised at just how well different types of wood combine with bold fabrics and more intricate decorations.

Summer is the perfect time to give your home’s interior a makeover. Even if you do not want to redecorate the entire house, making a few changes to your décor can make your home appear increasingly fresh and vibrant just in time for summer.

Photo: Immy and Indi

Create a Budget

Unless you’re Daddy Warbucks then you’ll need to start your decorating project by creating a budget for yourself. While it might not sound like much fun, if money is tight, in fact even if it’s not, you should always start any home renovation project (even small redecorating projects) with a budget. The amount of money you have in mind for this project should indicate how much time you should spend on your budget. The bigger the project, the more time you should spend sitting down to nail down a budget. Once you have decided what you can safely spend on your needs and wants, you should practically carve it in stone.

Stick to Your Budget

Yep. Actually stick your budget. Sounds like a no brainer right? It is, but it’s incredibly tempting to forego your budget that you carved in stone earlier to make room for that gorgeous new couch, or that expensive rug. If you’ve found a piece you absolutely can’t live without then instead of changing the number of your overall spend, you can switch some numbers out. If you’ve found the perfect end table, reduce your spend across other areas, like furnishings and home décor to put more money in your furniture kitty. This will help you stick to your original budget but this is the kind of thing you can only do once, or you’ll end up blowing it.

Photo: Home Goods

Buy Second-Hand

Instead of buying everything new, you can drastically cut costs and stay within any budget by buying second-hand furniture instead of new catalogue pieces. There are a number of ways you can purchase high quality second-hand homewares. Online used and second-hand shops will cater to your every need but if you’re more of an in-person shopper, then there’s bound to be a bunch of used shops in your area. Don’t overlook charity and op shops, there are often great bargains to be had, especially for good quality used furniture. Antique stores often have bargains as well, so it’s always a good idea to check even the more pricey stores. And of course don’t forget your local pawn shops as well.

Photo: The ZHush Blogspot

Redecorate Over Time

One of the best ways to decorate is to do it over time. Of course this is only possible if you are “re”decorating. If you’re starting from scratch then you will at least need to purchase the basics right away. Otherwise, redecorating over time can help you stick to your budget and get pieces you really love for your home. Start by giving yourself an overall budget for the entire year for your redecorating project. Then, leisurely shop on the weekends until you find those furniture pieces and décor items that you can’t possibly do without. Not only will this help you stay on budget, you’ll end up with a cohesively designed home that’s truly unique and you.