Even the most timeless decor can feel stale after a while. If your apartment needs a quick makeover, don’t worry about buying a new set of furniture or scrapping all your art. Instead, look to the easily replaceable stuff to get the job done.
Here are 11 simple design tweaks to make your home look and feel brand new — no major renovations or tedious DIY projects necessary.
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Home Design Ideas for Different Spaces:
1. Entryway
- Add greenery
Liven up your home (figuratively and literally) with some strategically placed greenery. Plants add color and texture to a space, plus they make your home feel more lived-in and approachable.
Even better than that is the fact that plants can actually reduce your stress levels (for real).
As for where to display your greenery, anywhere works. Place succulents on side tables, hang glass terrariums from your kitchen ceiling and tuck potted fiddle leaf figs or rubber trees in living room corners.
- Paint your front door
If your front door is run-down, faded, or covered in peeling paint, it can inadvertently make the rest of your home look and feel old.
To refresh your entryway, give your front door a new coat of paint. Try bright white, sleek black, a pop of neon, or a cool accent color to bring out the different shades in your decor.
Learn more: Check out these 15 amazing multi-purpose entryway storage hacks and ideas
2. Kitchen
- Paint an accent wall
If you’re too scared to paint your entire apartment, pick one wall instead. Choose an area of your home that looks lackluster or uninspired, then zero in on the wall your eyes are most naturally drawn to — that’s the wall you want to paint.
As for the color, there are endless options. You can stick to a soft, subtle shade or pick a bright hue to contrast with the rest of your space. To make your wall extra eye-catching, try painting a pattern like Vintage Revivals did in the above photo.
- Install a pendant light
A hanging pendant works for two reasons: 1) it adds light to your space and 2) it makes a cool focal piece.
Hang one above your dining table, work area, or entryway.
You can even get rid of the ugly fluorescent lights in your bathroom and hang a small, pretty pendant in there instead (the soft, flattering glow will make you smile every time you look in the mirror).
Learn more: 20 NYC Home Design and Decoration Tips & Budget-Friendly Ideas
3. Bedroom
- Change (or get rid of) your curtains
Curtains are the window equivalent of expertly applied eye makeup. They highlight the view from your windows, add drama, and open up your space. In short, they can completely change the vibe of a room.
If your place feels too dark or heavy, switch your curtains to something white and breezy to let the natural light flow in. Or, if your living room or bedroom feels stark and boring, hang a pair of fun patterned curtains à la A Beautiful Mess.
If you’re not a big fan of curtains blocking your small window, nix ‘em and go bare.
- Move your bed to a different wall
Before you groan about the amount of work involved, let’s get this straight: all it takes to move your bed is a helpful friend and 10 minutes of your time.
By moving your bed to a different wall, you can totally re-work the layout of your room to create more space. Not only that but moving your bed is a surefire way to feel like you’ve updated your room without actually doing much.
Want to go the extra mile? Here’s how to properly clean your mattress and your bedding for an even fresher look.
Learn more: Here are four easy decorating ideas to make your small apartment look bigger
4. Bathroom
- Install floating shelves
A set of chic floating shelves has the power to completely transform an ordinary wall. Of course, they’re ideal for storing and displaying your books, dishes, or vinyl records, but they’re also a simple, more functional alternative to regular old framed art.
- Hang art in your bathroom
The ideal bathroom should be functional enough to store your extra toilet paper and beauty products, but also attractive enough to actually enjoy spending time in (and hopefully make flossing less boring).
To spruce up your bathroom decor in two minutes, display a small painting, framed photo, or cool print above the toilet or towel rod.
Learn more: 12 extremely easy ways to declutter your bathroom
5. Living Room
- Swap out sofa pillows
Trading out your decorative sofa pillows is the easiest way to refresh your home. Don’t be afraid to mix it up — opt for pillows with different colors, patterns, and textures than your old ones.
If you want a cleaner, more minimalist look, try a set of pillows in complementary neutral tones. For a bold, eclectic aesthetic, mix in a few graphic and striped pillows in vibrant colors. To up the cozy factor of your living room, swap your plain fabric pillows for some with fur or velvet.
Want more ideas on how to create a cozy home? Read our guide on Lagom: the Swedish way of life that seamlessly combines semi-cluttered surroundings and being a full-on minimalist.
- Upgrade your rug
Rugs don’t just anchor a room; they also add depth, texture, and personality to your space.
If your living room lacks energy and intrigue, get a rug that has a vivid color or graphic pattern. If, on the other hand, you want to bring more calm to your space, swap out a visually interesting rug for one in a solid earth tone.
Don’t forget about kitchens, bathrooms, and long hallways, either — a fresh, cool rug will give these areas new life.
Learn more: 10 Life-Size LEGO Furniture Ideas: Fun Designs for Your Home
- Store your stuff with Clutter
The most underrated design trick out there? Decluttering and letting go of the stuff you no longer need.
For the things you do keep but don’t have storage space for (like your bike, luggage, or snowboard), use Clutter.
Simply schedule a pickup and pack your stuff. We’ll pick up everything from your home and transport it to our secure, temperature-controlled storage facility.
And when you want something back from storage, just browse the convenient online photo catalog of your stuff and click a button to get it delivered right away.
6 Minimalist Interior Design Ideas for a Clean, Simple Look
1. Focus on Design
SOURCE: PIXABAY
The first thing people picture when they imagine minimalism are empty rooms with maybe a couch and a table. It’s easy to confuse minimalism for bare spaces, but that’s not the point. Minimalist interior design focuses on quality instead of quantity. Instead of placing the same chair in every free corner of a room, an interior designer might choose a high-quality chair or two as the centerpiece of the room. When you invest in quality over quantity, it is perceived as a higher level of care.
2. Utilize Standout Furniture
Paint colors or wallpaper with minimalism typically stick to neutral colors. You shouldn’t be overwhelmed with bright reds or dark greens. Beige, white, and cream should be the focus of your color palette, except for a few accent pieces, such as furniture. Utilize standout furniture to act as the pop of color in a minimalist room. You’ll still achieve the vibe you’re looking for without splattering color all over the walls.
3. Hang Striking Art
SOURCE: PEXELS
No room is complete without at least one or two pieces of artwork on the walls. Find minimalist artwork by learning about the best artists or reading about key ideas. Minimalist art separates itself from the rest of the art world because it contains no biography or metaphors. Geometric images work best in minimalist settings, mainly if they use muted colors.
4. Use Multiple Materials
It’s easy to accidentally repeat design motifs in a minimalist room, but the theme lends itself naturally to playing with textures. Once you have an idea of how each room will look, use materials like bamboo to add a layer to your design and enhance the overall experience.
Learn more: Under Stairs: 25 Best Under Stairs Design and Storage Ideas
5. Embrace Natural Light
Instead of repeating table lamps or light fixtures in the ceiling, minimize your light sources by embracing natural light. It brightens a space better than any fluorescent bulb and prevents extra lamps from using up more space in the room.
6. Keep Decor Simple
Some people enjoy going overboard with decor at home, decorating with wreaths, frames and anything else they can find. A minimalist room should keep the decor simple. Use faux greenery in a single planter or a throw blanket as an accent piece to pull the design together.
How to Design a Home that Exudes Peace and Calm
Home is not just where the heart is. Ideally, it’s that one space in our lives that can provide the peace and comfort we need after a long day. You don’t need to turn it into a Zen garden for it to imbue the spirit of relaxation. Here are five ways to design a home that exudes peace and calm.
- Let There Be (Natural) Light
The way your home is lit can significantly impact how relaxed or wound up you feel in it. Harsh artificial lights make spaces feel much more impersonal, while natural light always makes for a more soothing experience. Try to allow in as much sunshine as possible. And for the days when there is no sunshine to speak of, place scented candles around your home for a dimmer and more meditative vibe.
- Bring some nature indoors
Modern faux plants are often so well-made that you can’t tell them apart from the real thing, but having a living plant is still the better choice. Greenery has a soothing effect on our minds and bodies, so why not find a plant buddy to share your space with? Some houseplants truly require minimal effort, so you won’t have to worry too much about keeping them alive, and they’ll brighten up your space. The living room, office space, and kitchen are ideal homes for your new plants. Your bedroom and a small bathroom might do better without them.
- Your nightly sanctuary
The one piece of furniture you especially want to be restorative is your bed. After all, if you can’t get enough decent sleep, all the calming tips and tricks in the world won’t be able to make up for it. Make sure you choose a mattress size that you’re truly comfortable with. People often make the mistake of believing something far slimmer will be enough space, and then end up sleeping on the edge night after night.
- Declutter often
The more items you have in your home (including everything down from your largest furniture pieces to the knick-knacks that decorate your shelves), the less calm the space is likely to be. Your eyes and mind will be distracted by the sheer volume of things, and you might find yourself a bit restless and stressed out. Even if you don’t want to adopt minimalism as a lifestyle, try to declutter every area of your home every so often (depending on how much new stuff you keep introducing into the space). Marie Kondo, of course, can help you get rid of the items you no longer use or love.
- Play some music
Finally, you might want to consider a speaker system throughout the home. Or, you can use a set of portable Bluetooth speakers that you can easily transport from room to room. You don’t have to play meditation music by any means. In fact, you can blast your favorite dance floor chart and dance around the place. Peace and calm don’t always just include rest and relaxation – sometimes you need to get your groove on to feel calmer!
6 natural ways to create a healthier living space
For most of us, our homes are our havens. However, many people often overlook the vast amount of toxins present in our living spaces. The good news is, that you can create a healthy space for you and your family without breaking your budget or making any huge changes. Just follow these six simple tips and your home will be healthier and more of the haven it should be.
1. Use chemical-free cleaning products
Traditional cleaning products are full of chemicals and additives that can reduce your home’s air quality and potentially cause problems for people with sensitivities. However, you can combat this by making and using chemical-free cleaning products. They’re excellent because you can personalize them to suit your individual tastes and needs (and the possibilities are virtually endless).
For example, you can make a powerful but natural disinfectant spray using water and essential oils. Lemon oil is a very popular choice because it has a fresh and clean citrus scent combined with powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Tea tree oil is also very popular, and it effectively fights viruses, germs, and bacteria. To make your natural cleaner, get a spray bottle, add one cup of water to one cup of vinegar, and mix in 10 to 15 drops of lemon or tea tree essential oil.
Learn more: How to Incorporate Lagom into Your Home Design
2. Add greenery with indoor house plants
Did you know that adding live houseplants to your home can help improve your mood and reduce your stress levels? Additionally, houseplants work to clean your home’s indoor air. All you have to do is place them around your house and let them get to work. With a little light and water, you’ll have a thriving green space.
If you’re not sure which plants to get, you may want to start with ones that are easy to care for. Devil’s Ivy, Lucky Bamboo, Jade, Peace Lily, Spider Plant, Dracaena, and a variety of succulents make great first-plant options. It’s important that you dedicate time to water them at least once a week or more, depending on the care instructions.
3. Optimize your lighting
Natural light can do wonders to improve your living space, especially during the cooler months when you don’t get as much light. Natural light can help combat depression symptoms, and it’s also less of a strain on your eyesight compared to fluorescent lighting. Take advantage of any windows and opportunities to flood your home with sunlight.
To start, you can switch out heavier curtains for sheer panels. These panels allow you to take advantage of the light without having to worry about opening and closing the curtains as the light moves. They’re airy enough to let any fresh air pass through as well, and they work well for both large and small windows. You may want to spend more time in areas of your home that get the best natural lighting to take full advantage of it.
4. Let fresh air in
If it’s warm outside, you may be tempted to keep your windows shut tight and not let any fresh air flow through your space. However, this can lead to an increased number of allergens or irritants in your air, and this isn’t good for people with respiratory conditions like asthma or allergies. If you’re worried about the heat, open your windows in the cooler morning or evening hours.
You can create a nice cross breeze that flows through your home by opening windows on both ends of the home. Not only will this help to flush the stuffy air out, but it’ll also help to remove irritants or allergens that may still be floating around in your air. It’s a good idea to open several windows at the same time to get the full health benefit and the maximum amount of fresh air possible.
5. Switch to durable goods
Do you have a lot of plastic containers around your home? If so, there is a slight chance that the plastic could seep into your food items, and it’s also not healthy for the environment when you toss those plastic items out. Instead, switch over to reusable glass containers, and opt for sustainable, durable goods over disposable ones whenever possible.
If you use plastic cups, swap them for ceramic or glass. You can also get reusable batteries and reusable razors instead of disposable ones. This will work to create a healthier environment inside and outside your home, as you won’t be throwing away items that don’t break down or decompose. You can also recycle your items when you’re finished with them. The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity take donations of gently used items.
6. Plant a garden
A garden isn’t good for your body and mind. It’s also a great way to sustain yourself with the food you grow. You can even recycle the seeds at the end of the growing season and use them to start an entirely new crop of vegetables in the early spring months! Additionally, you can choose how large or small you want your garden to be—so even if you live in a small apartment, you can opt for a windowsill version.
There is evidence that gardening is a natural and effective way to fight anxiety, stress, and depression. Some say it can even help you lose weight. If you have an indoor garden, the greenery can boost your mood and clean the air while it grows, and you could potentially have a year-round garden in your home.
The above tips can help you create a naturally healthier environment for your entire family to live and work in. They’re quick and easy—and you’ll start to see the benefits almost immediately. We invite you to try one or try them all and get on your way to healthier living right now.
Need Extra Space? Discover Our Flexible Storage Solutions!
Conclusion
Hopefully, these simple tips will help you reorganize your home so that it feels more calm and peaceful. Let us know how you get on with the task and how you’re enjoying your new space!
FAQs for Best Home Design Ideas
Q: What color schemes work best for achieving a sleek, modern look?
For a modern look, one can consider white, greys, and blacks and bold accent colors can be navy, emerald green, or mustard. Highly contrasted minimalistic color palettes create a modern look. Metallic or natural wood tones add warmth to the space.
Q: What are some simple, cost-effective ideas to refresh my kitchen without replacing the cabinets?
Give your kitchen a refreshing new look by repainting or refinishing the cabinets, updating the hardware, or painting a stylish backsplash. Consider under-cabinet lighting, updated countertops with contact paper or butcher block, or the addition of open shelving for a modern flair.
Q: How do I pick the perfect artwork and décor to give my home a personal touch?
Choose artwork and décor that’s reflected in your personality, interests, or favorite color schemes. Select pieces that complement the existing design. Combine framed prints, canvases, and personal photos for a well-balanced, edited appearance. Don’t forget to layer textures and patterns within your décor items for depth.
Q: What kind of flooring can give my home a quick updated look?
Vinyl plank flooring, laminate, or engineered hardwood are popular options for a quick update. Such flooring materials are quite strong and durable, offer a wide range of finishes, and are easy to install. If you want to touch up on modernness, large-format tiles or eco-friendly types like cork or bamboo could fit the bill.
Q: How do I update the look of my bathroom without knocking it down and renovating it?
You can update your bathroom by installing new fixtures; changing old lighting, mirrors, or just the vanity mirror; or updating towel racks and shower curtains. Update the look by regrouting the tile, freshening up the paint, or using peel-and-stick tiles.
Clutter is more than just storage.
To find out how you can declutter your life, talk to one of our space experts. We’ll get you started with the right storage plan for you.