Many people, especially Baby Boomers and older folks, are still observing the COVID-19 quarantine. So the next series of blog posts is designed to give you tons of expert interior design tips and tricks for updating your home without leaving home!
And today this most important tip is one of my favorite ways to update my own house. You might be surprised to know that you can redecorate your home beautifully with your own accessories. No shopping involved!
I call it:
Are you tired of being cooped up at home? Do you have more decorating ideas than money? When I’m asked to assist clients who have a tight decorating budget, one of the first things I do is look at what they already have.
Accessories can include nick knacks, books, small art pieces, pillows, throws, rugs, table and floor lamps, and small pieces of furniture, such as a foot stool, side table, or bench.
That bedside lamp could look great on your entryway table. Or that vase would be fun next to your bathtub or starring on your kitchen island. That handmade rug you picked up years ago on vacation would be perfect next to the tub in your master bath.
Redecorating with your own accessories means taking a critical look at the number of items you want to use.
One or two large items on a table or mantel are usually better than an array of small pieces. If you have a collection of small boxes, for example, arrange them on a tray, which comes across as one item instead of numerous items.
One trick designers use frequently is this: Collect items that are similar in color and group them together. This is a good trick for a mantel, shelf or tabletop.
The famous impressionist painter Claude Monet did this in his colorful home in Giverny:
I have groups of pillows that I use for different seasons, winter jewel tones for fall/winter vs. lighter pastels for spring and summer. One set of pillows is always in storage so I can pull them out on a seasonal basis.
Reconfiguring display shelves, using stacks of books to hold a pot or tray, or adding some open shelving on a wall to hold treasures are practical ways to make your refresh happen.
Have fun experimenting and playing designer in your own home. I’d love to hear from you! Be sure and leave your comments, along with your before and after photos below!
Right now I’m offering complimentary 15-minute Q & A sessions by phone. It’s as easy as clicking on the button in the top right corner above to schedule your call, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have. (If you are on a mobil device, just email me at marleneoliphant@gmail.com)
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