Giving your home a facelift needn’t translate into a remodelling job, nor does it have to cost an arm and a leg. Sometimes, it's just about the little details—a few décor changes here or a reupholstering job there is all it takes to breathe new life into a space and make it as good as new. We asked two design professionals—Siddharth Sirohi, Founder, Baro Design and Smitha Zachariah, Creative Head, ZXP Design—who shared their expertise on the subject. As Sirohi puts it, "Structural changes can be expensive, disruptive, time-consuming and fixed in their outcome. At times, you may not even be allowed to make those changes. So, if you want to give your home a new look, start with the easiest changes and work your way up to the degree of change that you may want."So, if you're looking to do a home improvement job, read on to get started.
1. Weed out unwanted furniture
First up, let go of furniture and pieces that fail to inspire you and are simply occupying space. They act as dead weight and prevent you from building a light, relaxed space. Whether it's furniture or artefacts, invest in quality pieces as they will inhabit your home for years to come. Don't be swayed by trends, but instead go with timeless designs.
2. Rearrange your room
Sometimes, simply rearranging what you have is what a space needs. This is perhaps the best reason to invest in furniture that is not fixed or built-in. Loose furniture gives plenty of variable combinations. By creating different focal points, you can achieve completely different results. According to Zachariah, a pillar or a beam at the wrong place is the best opportunity to do something completely different by actually highlighting it: "Make it dramatic! Use interesting patterns or wallpaper on beams. You can even highlight a pillar by getting an artist to work on it."
3. New fabrics and furnishings
New fabric can give a new lease on life to a sofa that's past its prime whereas a new curtain can change the mood of a space. Carpets are equally influential and can really hold a room together. As Sirohi points out, "Jeff Bridges' character famously quoted in The Big Lebowski—get a new rug, it will change your room!" You can also add more character to a piece of furniture by reupholstering with traditional textiles—look for elements that tell an interesting story.
4. Experiment with art
There's nothing quite like art to reinvigorate a room. Even if you're not looking at investing in new art, you can recirculate and reposition existing pieces to change things up immediately.
5. Play with colour and textures
Add colour and texture to your home via paint and wallpapers. Colours have a strong correlation with our emotional needs and are known to alter moods significantly. Choose colours based on what emotions you would like a space to invoke. So, for instance, your bedroom should ideally be in soft neutrals, while you could play with brighter hues in the common areas of the home. Another approach is using contrasting hues but ensuring that the colours balance and draw your eye in a coordinated way.
6. Light the way
Light will determine how any space is viewed, especially at night. Even the most aesthetically decorated room can be destroyed by bad lighting, while good lighting can enliven the dullest of spaces. Bold accent pieces also add to the décor and can be used to create the right mood.
7. Bring nature in
What better way to perk up a space than by adding a smattering of plants. Add one or two large decorative planters in your living room that not only add to the décor but also bring in freshness. Succulents look great too and require the least maintenance—you could keep a cluster of them on a coffee table or also dot your shelves with them. Last but not the least, fresh flowers by the day and scented candles by night, will never fail to uplift the space.