3 Ways to Elevate Your Home's Interior Design Without Undertaking a Full Home Renovation

I love a full-on, down to the studs renovation project as much as the next designer; however, these days they are often taking more time than usual because of long lead times, out of stock items, and contractors with waitlists a mile long. This can be so frustrating, especially when you are finally ready to pull the trigger on a renovation after debating whether or not to do it for years! I feel your pain, so I thought I would offer another option by giving you 3 updates that you can do NOW that don't require a long wait time.

Tip #1: Renew Each Room with a Fresh Coat of Paint

Don't underestimate the power of paint-it truly has the ability to revive a tired outdated space or breathe new life into a room that is dull and plain. I often add joy to walls in my projects by choosing a vibrant color and painting an accent wall. Clients are sometimes hesitant to do this, but I always say, "What's the worst that could happen? You don't end up liking it. And if that happens you can always paint over it." Easy and painless! Another really effective use of a new coat of paint is in the kitchen: if you don't want to wait for months to renovate, or the cabinet maker is backed up for a year, how about a different tactic-painting your existing cupboards? I did that in my old apartment, and boy what a difference it made! (Click here to see the before and after). If you’ve never refinished cabinetry, just be sure to hire a pro so that it lasts and doesn't end up looking like a DIY project gone wrong.

Tip #2: Spruce Up Each Space with New Lighting & Hardware

Old lighting and hardware can date a home really fast: For example, do you still have the same light fixture over your dining room table that you had when you moved in five years ago? Chances are that it either came with the apartment or you brought it from your last place, so it's probably time for a change. Another simple swap that will really upgrade your home is to select new cabinet pulls and knobs. You'd be amazed by how much this can change the look of a kitchen or bathroom. Step it up another notch by choosing new faucets and shower fixtures in the same finish as the handles. It will look like a brand new room-trust me!

Tip #3: update Each Area with new Window Treatments & Soft Furnishings

The third change that will have a massive impact on your space and can be done right away is to invest in some new soft furnishings: window treatments, rugs, and decorative pillows. Even if you don't ever plan on closing the curtains, hanging drapery acts as a finishing touch to the room. Rugs are important to anchor the furniture in a room so that it doesn't seem like it's floating in space, and a different rug can make a room feel brand new. Finally, decorative cushions are a great way to change the look of a space by trying a new pattern and/or color. The lead times of these three categories are much shorter in general than, say, a new sofa or bed frame, and can be just as effective in transforming your space.

So there you have it, three ways to make changes without having to go through a full renovation. An interior designer can help you in this process by putting together a full-fledged plan that makes sure that the paint selections, lighting, hardware, curtains, rugs and decorative pillow updates all work together seamlessly.

If you're tired of waiting around for that full home reno and want to make changes now, reach out to us. We want to help you achieve those dreams!