Have you ever had that moment when you suddenly think: “how long have I had that John Belushi/Animal House ‘College’ poster hanging on my wall?” Don’t get me wrong - that poster can look amazing when framed and hung on the right wall, but maybe you’re ready to step up your game just a bit. Here are six easy tips to make your place seem like an adult actually lives there. This list applies for renters or homeowners; people living alone, with roommates, a significant other, or even at home. These are easy, affordable, and can make a big impact on your space.
Accent Lighting
Whether that be a table lamp or a floor lamp, non-overhead lighting makes ALL the difference. This is a great way to dim the harsh effect that can often come with overhead light, define certain spaces (hello, reading nook), and illuminate some underused areas in your home. These lights are easier on the eyes, make your space look super cute, and yes, even contributes to the mood :) Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Make Your Bed
Every. Day. I promise, this doesn’t take long and it will make a world of difference. You don’t have to get fancy, you don’t need a million throw pillows like yours truly, but pulling up that comforter along with the sheets and straightening the pillows for five seconds sets the tone for your whole room. Your bed is probably one of the largest surfaces in your bedroom, so keeping that neat and tidy has a huge visual impact. Plus, getting into a snuggly, smooth bed at the end of the day is the best.
Clean Your Counter
I can absolutely thank my mom for the following practice… Make it a point to forbid your counter from being a dumping zone. If you’re able to set a goal to clear the top each night, it won’t snowball. Heading into the bathroom? Grab that lotion that was sitting on the counter. Going to your bedroom? Take the sweatshirt off the barstool (yes, I count this as part of the counter). That being said, your counter doesn’t have to be empty. You can have a few objects that help to corral clutter and that serve a purpose - think a fruit bowl and mail tray. Plus, trays and bowls are easy to move if you suddenly need your full counter for a baking extravaganza. Check out a few ideas for countertop corrals below:
Stayin’ Alive: Plants
I am the first to admit that keeping plants in your home can be hard. At one time, I felt that every green plant that entered my home, left in a state that was much more shriveled and brown. However, with a little persistence, I’ve hit my plant momma stride. Plants are an amazing way to bring life into your home, they contribute to fresher air, look lush and homey, and they’re a way to prove to all your guests that you can keep something alive. Head to your local nursery and the experts can help you pick out a few plant babies that work with your home. Oh, and after all that plant talk, I am still a supporter of the faux version. I love to mix my real and artificial plants for a look that keeps everyone guessing.
Framed Art
Hanging art on your walls is a way of marking your territory. Artwork doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but yes, it should be FRAMED (or canvases of course). Frames finish a piece and give it purpose; they can also amp up the impact of a piece if using a bold, colorful, or funky frame. Target and Home Goods have affordable pieces that suit any aesthetic and are ready to go on your walls. I also love visiting a local consignment shop to find hidden, one-of-a-kind treasures. Renting and can’t put holes in your wall? Check out the huge variety of Command products available that solve that problem. Your artwork should express you - be that black & white photography, paintings, vintage prints, or even a unicorn and a pineapple living side-by-side (now you know what’s in my office).
Area Rugs
Rugs are amazing and you’ll seriously never know what you’re missing until you have one (or a few). Rugs serve a wide variety of purposes, some of my favorite are:
Covering Floors - The Good, Bad, and Ugly: Maybe you’ve moved into a new place that has some unfortunate flooring and you can’t do much with your lease agreement. Or, maybe you’ve purchased a new home and it’s just not in the budget to replace all the flooring right away. Either way, area rugs are a great way to camouflage what’s underneath (yes, you can even put an area rug on top of carpet). They’re easy to roll out, then suddenly… everything just disappears. Sure, you’ll still see some of that other flooring around the rug, but the rug will create enough visual interest where the ugly flooring kind of just fades away.
On the flip side, if you have beautiful floors, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing all you can to protect those for years to come. Rugs help to protect hardwood from scratches and will soften the space to make it cozy on your feet.
Define Spaces: With the popularity of open concept homes, many people have trouble defining their living spaces. You think: “I’m supposed to fit a living room, dining room, and home office in here, but it’s one room.” Enter the area rug. You can use one or more rugs in a single space to define certain areas. Put an 8x10 next to your couch and a 5x7 under your dining table and you suddenly have two separate rooms… BOOM, that was easy.
Pop of Color and Personality: This is probably my favorite reason to get rugs. Rugs are such a simple way to inject a ton of personality into a space. They can take a bland backdrop to a bold room that’s fitting of your style in no time at all. Oh, and rugs don’t have to be expensive at all. Overstock is a mecca for any style that you might want and they won’t break the bank. If you keep some common colors or patterns, feel free to mix and match!
Creating a functional and beautiful space doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. It just takes a few well-thought out pieces to transform a space into your oasis. Curious about achieving this for your home? Get in touch!