9 Ways to Make Dreamworthy Rooms — in a Weekend
Don't just sigh and shut the door. With a small change or two, you can create designer-style rooms that you'll love spending time in
It would be nice if we all lived in our dream houses with our wraparound decks and views of the sea and perfect, giant kitchens. But most of us don't. We live in the houses we can afford in the areas where we live. Which doesn't mean our homes can't be beautiful and inspirational and comfortable. It just might take a little more effort and imagination to get them there.
The good news is, small, inexpensive changes really can make huge impacts in a space. A fresh coat of paint, the sofa in a different position — these things can be transformative. Here are a few small things you can do in a weekend with a tiny budget. Go ahead and create your dream house.
The good news is, small, inexpensive changes really can make huge impacts in a space. A fresh coat of paint, the sofa in a different position — these things can be transformative. Here are a few small things you can do in a weekend with a tiny budget. Go ahead and create your dream house.
BEFORE: The wall in my den was too dark for the size of the room, and after a while it just felt gloomy. The room became a repository for everything I didn't know what to do with. In other words, it was majorly cluttered, and not in a nice way.
AFTER: I painted a dark brown wall a bright green (Benjamin Moore's Basil Green at 150 percent), got rid of some clutter and voilà, a cheerful place I love to be in. I also replaced the hanging light and moved some furniture around a little. The space is totally transformed, and I love it.
2. Hang Some Curtains
You can create drama, texture and color by hanging curtains in unexpected places. Here they turn an ordinary bunk bed into a private fort. Plus, they hide clutter.
You can create drama, texture and color by hanging curtains in unexpected places. Here they turn an ordinary bunk bed into a private fort. Plus, they hide clutter.
I replaced boring sliding closet doors with long curtains, and I love the look. It's pretty, maybe even a little glamorous, but the best part is, I can sweep the curtains apart and see the entire closet at once.
3. Paint Your Cabinets
Do you have hideous, outdated cabinets in your kitchen? Paint them. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but it costs a fraction of what replacing them would cost, and you end up with the exact color scheme you want.
Do you have hideous, outdated cabinets in your kitchen? Paint them. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but it costs a fraction of what replacing them would cost, and you end up with the exact color scheme you want.
These cabinets were never hideous, but they are so bright and beautiful in these colors. No one else has this exact kitchen.
Look at what a huge different a few cans of paint made in this kitchen.
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets
4. Get Rid of Some Stuff
Here's how you do it: Clean the room. Then sit down and calmly look around. Get rid of whatever catches your eye in an annoying way. I like a lot of stuff, but even if you're a maximalist, you want only the stuff that gives you pleasure. Too much of a good thing is still too much.
Here's how you do it: Clean the room. Then sit down and calmly look around. Get rid of whatever catches your eye in an annoying way. I like a lot of stuff, but even if you're a maximalist, you want only the stuff that gives you pleasure. Too much of a good thing is still too much.
Less is more: When there are fewer things, the things you love get noticed.
Declutter Your Bookshelves
Declutter Your Bookshelves
5. Paint the Insides of Your Shelves
This works in every room, in built-ins or stand-alone pieces. It's a great way to update and personalize old furniture, and it works for renters, who may not be able to paint walls.
This works in every room, in built-ins or stand-alone pieces. It's a great way to update and personalize old furniture, and it works for renters, who may not be able to paint walls.
You don't have to go high contrast or supercolorful. Even a subtle change in color will add depth and interest.
6. Rearrange Your Furniture
You can create whole new areas — a reading nook or a separate TV space — just by rethinking the furniture.
Arrange a Room for Entertaining
Go Rogue With Furniture Arranging
You can create whole new areas — a reading nook or a separate TV space — just by rethinking the furniture.
Arrange a Room for Entertaining
Go Rogue With Furniture Arranging
A few things to think about when rearranging furniture:
- Go for it. Move it around. If it doesn't work as you thought, move it again.
- Make sure everything is not just pushed against the wall. This is the most common "mistake" in decorating.
- Think about creating intimate spaces within a room rather than setting up a whole room.
- What is the focal point? You can have more than one.
- When you are standing at the entrance to the room, is it inviting you in?
7. Change Your Throw Pillows
Switching accent pillows can change the entire mood and look of a room. This mishmash of colors and textures adds playfulness to this otherwise formal room.
Switching accent pillows can change the entire mood and look of a room. This mishmash of colors and textures adds playfulness to this otherwise formal room.
These Queen Elizabeth silhouettes set the tone for this whole room. I'd call it cheeky elegance.
8. Create a Gallery
Pick a wall, a small room or a corner and create a repository for all those things you love but don't really have wall space for. Hang art, posters, family photos and prints of different sizes and shapes. Some people are very meticulous about planning out what to hang where. I do mine organically (that is, lazily), and it has always turned out well.
Pick a wall, a small room or a corner and create a repository for all those things you love but don't really have wall space for. Hang art, posters, family photos and prints of different sizes and shapes. Some people are very meticulous about planning out what to hang where. I do mine organically (that is, lazily), and it has always turned out well.
You can create a different look by having an organizing principle like size or frame color. These all have large white mats, which tend to make everything look gallery-worthy.
Guide to Creating a Gallery
Guide to Creating a Gallery
9. Swap Out the Light Fixture
When we moved into our house, every room had those square, flush-mounted Home Depot ceiling fixtures that just scream "rental." Over the years we've slowly swapped them out for statement pieces we love. Our bedroom has a nassa shell chandelier; our hall and dining room have clear globe lights; our den has a Moroccan goatskin and henna light (I kid you not).
When we moved into our house, every room had those square, flush-mounted Home Depot ceiling fixtures that just scream "rental." Over the years we've slowly swapped them out for statement pieces we love. Our bedroom has a nassa shell chandelier; our hall and dining room have clear globe lights; our den has a Moroccan goatskin and henna light (I kid you not).
A single, dramatic light like this Maskros pendant can be the main feature in a room and change the look of the entire space. It doesn't have to be expensive.
It adds depth and color, and it makes art look about a hundred times better. Plus, if you don't like it, you can just paint it back.
Getting the Accent Wall Right