The next five....ideas to change your spaces quickly.

We all want our homes to reflect who we are,  relax and satisfy, and give us pleasure when using our spaces.  That often translates to updating or 'freshing' up a space to give us a bit more interest and excitement- maybe even a new style or function.  These additional five ideas are easy to do and create a big impact - even on a small budget. The quantity of what you change is NOT as important as the quality of what you do.

6) Dress it up.  Need more detail? Add trim to your older draperies...a tie back is easy and requires no sewing.  Dress up pillows with ribbon, table tops with place mats and even fabric runners folded (glue or stitch-witch seam) into place.  Glass bowls and candle holders filled with findings of the season create instant drama or sparkle.  Lampshades that look dingy and worn can be accented with beads, trim, stencils and many other decorative elements.

7) Re-arrange...furniture, art,and more. Simply repositioning the items in your space can create a whole new style.  Placing large pieces on angles does make rooms feel larger!   If you have built-in bookshelves, re-order the books and add accessories throughout.  Hang art on the face of the shelves for a completely different look.

8) Swap it out.  From pillows on the sofa, to hardware on your cabinets to accessories in your living room and bathroom. Swapping them for a new color, finish and style will make a huge difference in your space. For hardware, moving from brass to black or nickel will update a kitchen. Dressers can be made more contemporary with stainless pulls instead of wooden knobs.  Local big box retailers often sell knob sets at more competitive prices than buying individually.  In this entry at left - changing yellow ceramic for blue and white makes a more formal statement in this casual cottage home. 

9)  Fill empty walls.  By creating a vignette of art to a blank wall, you add personality, drama, interest and much more.  Framing items similarly, or grouping harmonizing art work together often makes more of a statement versus hanging items individually.  If you have young children, having a place to display their art is a challenge. You may have wonderful family photos and no idea how to store and showcase them. An eclectic art collection can also fill a void.  By framing photos in similar - not necessarily matching - frames, the overall effect is a wonderful display of art. The same applies to children's art.  Placing works in the same frame in multiple sizes (see IKEA for some great, affordable frames) will allow easy changing when new and current art is needed!

10) Re-cover it.  A simple way to change your sofa and chairs is with a slipcover.  Adding new color and texture to large pieces makes them feel new again.  How about adding a full slipcover or skirt to your dining chair? They can be transformed that way.  The same applies to bedding. A new coverlet makes an older spread look updated and changes the atmosphere of a room. New panels on a window, or a topper made of contrasting fabrics, gives new character and interest.  Covering your old pillows with large napkins creates a change that is easily undone to swap back to the original.  Table toppers and runners add softness to dressers, entry tables, dining tables and more.  Adding a full drop-to-the floor topper to an older end table can give you years of pleasure!