Home decor trends are constantly updating and changing, so we understand if your current decor doesn’t reflect what’s currently popular…it’s hard to keep up! However, a quick and easy home update can give your home a fresh feel. We’re not talking about home updates that involve knocking down walls, sanding floors, or shopping for new appliances. A home update doesn’t always need to be a huge project that breaks the bank (or your back!) Sometimes just adding a few pieces, moving your existing furniture around, or displaying a treasured photograph or piece of art in a new frame or two is all it takes to put you in (pun intended) a new frame of mind!
Here at Frame It Easy, we’ve done our research, and we stand behind the fact that we offer affordable custom framing. We provide you with the lowest prices possible, (which is why we rarely offer discount codes.) Our Frame Designer process is customer-friendly and easy to use. And since it’s done online, it’s super fast. So, we’ve not only got the quick and easy part handled, we’ve got the affordable part covered too.
So, while we’ll talk about some different ways to make simple changes at home on any budget that you set for yourself, we will of course focus on what framing can do to freshen your decor. Let’s take a look at some ways to make it all happen.
Choose Your Space
The first step in your home update might be self-explanatory, but we’ll still talk about it. You need to decide which room is deserving of an update. If you have an open kitchen and living room, it might make sense to update this room since family and friends gather here and can enjoy the space together. But don’t forget to take care of yourself too. An updated bedroom can be good for both body and soul.
We recommend choosing your space first. You may be tempted to tackle more than one space, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Start small, and once you have finished (and see how painless it was) you may just decide to go onto the next room (and the next, and the next….)
Plan Your Update
As we mentioned, this is not a large-scale renovation process. So simply look at your existing room and try to envision what would make it better. Perhaps moving the couch to the opposite wall would open up the flow of your family room. If you’ve been working from home at the kitchen table, maybe you can add a small desk in your bedroom and have a dedicated workspace that can give you more privacy. A few well-placed throw pillows can do double duty by providing added comfort while upping the wow factor of the room.
Painting is another easy project that can make a big statement in your room. Whether you want to paint a small section of your room to create an accent wall or go big and paint your entire room. Painting is an easy way to refresh your room and give it a brand-new vibe. If you’re in an apartment and not allowed to paint, or you’re not ready to take the more “permanent” plunge of painting yet, why not try peel-and-stick wallpaper? Peel-and-stick wallpaper requires no commitment because you can peel it off whenever you’re finished with it and not have to worry about any damage left behind.
Another small change that can make a huge difference in your decor is changing the hardware on your cabinets and drawers. Whether that be in the kitchen, your bathroom, or even just your hallway closets. The best way to tie your decor together is to match your hardware with other decor pieces in your home. Try matching your cabinet handles to your kitchen faucet or match your drawer knobs to your towel hooks in the bathroom. This is an easy way to make everything cohesive in your space.
Maybe you need a little inspiration to get you started. If you’ve been to our Learning Center before, you know we are constantly sharing new ideas on what to frame or where to buy art. Etsy is “DIY” heaven, filled with small business creators, so your purchase is not only affordable, but it helps support local artists too. Unsplash is a handy website filled with “beautiful, free images gifted by the world’s most generous community of photographers.” That’s right: tons of quality, high-resolution photos ready for downloading right at your fingertips, all for free. Or maybe the inspiration you need is right in front of you. You could have a piece that has been sitting in your junk drawer for months collecting dust, or something that is already hung but just needs a new frame. Head over to our Frame Designer to start creating something that will get your creative juices flowing.
Declutter and Reorganize
Sometimes just getting started is the hard part. And while it’s not much fun, the best way to start is to get rid of everything you don’t find useful anymore. There is truly something liberating about cleaning out closets, cabinets, and clutter from our lives. A good purge not only gives you more space but allows you to fill that space in a more organized and appealing way. Of course, don’t forget to donate unwanted items to a worthy organization. It’s a win-win!
And while you’re at it, do a deep clean. You don’t have to wait until the springtime to give your home the refresh it may need. A top-to-bottom cleaning gives a room a fresh feel, and it will make you feel better too. This year we have been home probably a little more than we would have liked to. Give your space a breath of literal fresh air by opening the windows, dusting the baseboards, and airing out linens and throws. Think of it as starting your refresh with a clean slate!
The most effective and cost-efficient way to give your place a home update is by simply rearranging the items you already have. The smallest touch of moving things around can make the biggest difference in your decor. Think about what works and what doesn’t in your room. Have you or your family been complaining about the way the light hits the tv during the middle of the day? Consider switching things around to avoid that glare. Maybe you’re tired of your bedside tables and want new ones, consider moving those to your living room as end tables for your couch. Even moving small things, such as updating your decorative towels or switching up your table runner can cause a huge difference. After you’ve considered the thing that will work and you want to keep and what doesn’t work, you’ll have a better feel for what needs to be moved.
Adding Fresh Updates
You’ve done the not-so-fun part, so now it’s time to have some fun. Add some new stuff in your home to give it a new look. Maybe you got some scented candles over the holidays that can spruce up your coffee table or nightstand. Or some desk accessories to help organize your home office. If not, there’s always shopping! Head over to your local Marshalls or Home Goods for some affordable decor, accent pillows, or even throw rugs. Adding just a few small pieces can give your room a whole new vibe.
Of course, you can never go wrong with adding a new frame or two to your wall! With Frame It Easy, we make custom framing easy, fast, and affordable, so you don’t need to spend a fortune framing your family photos or your favorite art pieces. We have eight different frame styles in several traditional hues to choose from. And with 75 matboard colors, you can complement those candles, pillows, or just about any home decor item you have for a cohesive, put-together look.
Assess (And Enjoy!)
Once you have made these changes around your home, make sure they are working! Take a closer look. When you sit on your couch at 3 pm, does the sunshine directly into your eyes? Is the internet a little spotty in your new office space? Is the scent of your new candle overpowering? Don’t be afraid to rethink your choices until it works for you!
Take a look at your lighting around the room. Lighting is a very essential part of any room. You’ll want to make sure that you have enough light during the day to be able to see what you’re doing, if natural light isn’t applicable, but can dim it enough to relax during the night. Consider adding a new light fixture to your dining room to brighten the room up some more while having guests over. Another important place for lighting is your entryway. You don’t want your guests to walk into a dark home with no clue on where to go after all, but you also want to make a good first impression on your guests. Try adding a large chandelier in the middle of the room or add a floor lamp that will be bright enough for your space.
It may just take a simple fix. Moving the couch to a slight angle could solve the sun problem. A router extender could do the trick for your internet connectivity problems. And maybe that candle is best to be put away until the summertime when you can use it outside. We spend a lot of time at home, now more than ever, so it’s even more important that we are comfortable in our space.
Final Thoughts
Home updates are rarely viewed as quick or budget-friendly. People see them as daunting tasks that take ages of planning! However, we hope you don’t see home updates as such anymore. A simple update like changing around your decor or adding a new piece can do the trick! If we have inspired you to make a few changes in your home, make sure to take before and after photos to share with us on social media, we would love to see!
If you’re still looking for inspiration and ideas for a home update, check out our 10 favorite home decor blogs that are sure to give you the motivation to renew your space.
