When we bought our little ranch house there were so many things we wanted to get started on right away! Each room felt like a blank canvas that was waiting to be changed. This list will break down 5 things we did in our living room to make it feel brand new, clean, and like home. Down the road we have some bigger, more involved projects for this space, but these are things we did for that “instant gratification,” “now we can relax” type feelings..
- Paint
This one gives the BIGGEST impact in a space. Not only does paint bring new life and energy to a room, it also is great at making a room feel clean and fresh. Painting the walls and trim a bright neutral pallet helps to set the tone for a relaxing space. My rule of thumb when selecting color is to go neutral and bright in common spaces such as the living room and kitchen and then choose your more bold colors in less central rooms such as an office or powder room. For our living room we chose Drift of Mist by Sherwin Williams for the walls and Trim White for the trim. Below is a before and after with our new paint colors.
2. Replace all Vent, Outlet, and Switch Covers
This is one of the least expensive ways to make an impact on a space. Even during my renting days, I would change switch and outlet covers in my apartments to a bright, crisp white. The vent covers in all of our rooms had been painted over each time someone had picked a new color for their walls, and had a thick coating of paint that was impossible to clean. New vent covers made a huge difference! Bonus- removing the old covers to replace them let us see all the dust hiding in our vents…we thoroughly vacuumed each of them out, which I am sure helped air quality.
3. Window Treatments
My favorite tip for any room is free: natural light, and fresh air. That combo can drastically improve any environment. When selecting window treatments, the goal is to emphasize the elements that bring in that natural light. That means hanging curtains higher, and wider than the window frame. In the front of our home where we need a bit more privacy, in addition to curtain panels, shades that are light filtering, but don’t cover much of the glass are ideal. Before, the widow treatments were hung low, always covering a part of the window even when “open.” Here is my favorite illustration of this concept- simple and to the point.
4. Rearrange the Furniture
We laid out each room in our home different than the previous owner. Not that they were “wrong” with how they had it, but we were excited to try something new! With the living room, we rearranged the the space to fit it best for how it would function: entertaining, conversation, and let’s be honest, TV watching. I liked the idea that when you entered the room, the first thing you would see was comfy, inviting sofa. Try arranging your furniture in a bunch of different ways, you may find a new way that works better than what you have, or realize it is perfect the way it is!
5. Add an Area Rug
A sure-fire way to ground a space and pull it together is with an area rug. Without one, furniture can feel like it is “floating” in the room, without being part of a group. The rug we purchased has no pile and is great for families with pets or children. Many people choose to select a rug as a starting to establish color, feel, and direction. It is important to choose a rug that is the correct size! At minimum, the front legs of each piece of furniture in the intended grouping need to be on the rug…think of it like not leaving anyone out of the conversation. I found this helpful chart on Pinterest that works as a guide. (Notice the 6’x6′ grouping looks a bit awkward)
I hope these tips were helpful to you! I would love to hear if you tried any and how they worked for you!
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