1. Declutter
Donate it, gift it to a friend, or junk it – whatever your solution may be to get rid of stuff; don’t be afraid, just do it! You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it makes in the way your room looks and feels, as well as the way it makes you feel afterwards! Empty out all those old miscellaneous drawers, those hall closets with random things shoved about, and hop up into the old attic and sort your way tidy (P.S. If you haven’t watched that Marie Kondo documentary, start there.)
2. Give it some light
Light comes from many different sources in a house – it could be windows, chandeliers, fireplaces, or table lamps. If you’re having trouble with not having enough light, or not happy with the kind of light you have then try this…
- Swap out that old lamp shade or light bulb for a brighter, cleaner look instead of buying new lamps
- Find an updated chandelier to replace the old one, or for a cheaper fix, consider changing the intensity of the bulbs or giving the fixture a coat of paint to jazz it up!
- Curtains, blinds, and window treatments are not always the cheapest to replace, but they go a very long way in changing the light of a room. Consider swapping out those old, heavy curtains for some lighter linen ones.
- There’s nothing wrong with using a bucket of paint to bring new life to an old fireplace mantle! They tend to be the focus of a room, so why not get creative with some new tile, some light paint, or popping in a gas insert to better control the amount of light (and heat!) it gives off.
3. Accessorize your outside
Welcome to Richmond, where we all love a fun pop of color on our front door and the exterior of our houses matters just as much as what we have inside! Spending a warm late-summer afternoon with a paintbrush doesn’t sound so bad, right?? (Yes, it’s that easy – just be sure to check with your HOA’s to make sure your color is approved for your neighborhood!) Picking up some colorful fall flowers from your local nursery or updating your landscaping can go a long way in accessorizing your exterior too!
4. Hit the ‘refresh’ button
You can completely change the tone of a room without digging into your savings to purchase all new pieces. All it takes is a little creativity, some patience, and a good eye. Shopping for small things like new throw pillows for the couch, a new duvet for the bed, or some interesting wall décor like mirrors, photos, wall planters, or shelves can give a completely fresh edge to any room. For those types of things, I love looking at places like HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Houzz, Pinterest (for inspiration!), and basically any hardware store (if I’m feeling really crafty!) because it’s inexpensive, good quality, and budget-friendly!
5. Do a deep clean!
Okay, I know it’s not the most fun thing in the world and a lot of us have a list of things a mile long that we’d rather be doing instead… but trust me. A real deep clean goes a long way. Grab those rubber gloves, throw on your least favorite pair of sweats, crank up the tunes, have a few beers, and go to town!!! It sounds silly, but it’ll really help you appreciate your home and remember why you love it so! For those of you who are completely strapped for time (or really hate cleaning) there are plenty of services you can utilize that do an excellent job. Or, create your own daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedule by using an online template!
