Enjoy Dramatic Home Updates Without the Construction Drama!
With construction costs and project timelines increasing, many people are asking us about ways to creatively transform their spaces without a major renovation. The great news is updating your home doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
There are many changes you can make in your home to make it feel new and different, without the disruption of moving walls or rerouting plumbing and electrical!
Here are five upgrades we recommend for clients that want a transformation without the headache:
Fresh Interior Paint
Paint might seem a little obvious, but it is one of the most economical, yet impactful, things you can do to change the feel of a room. You may not consciously notice, but over time walls and trim work can take quite the beating! Small scuffs and dings add up and make a room feel worn. Simply repainting these surfaces can give a room a huge visual lift.
However, with paint, you can think “outside the wall.” Other fun ideas are to paint a ceiling in an accent color, or using bold colors on built-ins, interior doors, or trim.
Color dramatically influences the mood of a space. Earth tones can convey a sense of safety and calm, and bold, warm colors can energize a space. For more information about incorporating color in your décor, check out these articles:
Update Your Flooring
For an update with major visual impact, you can’t ignore the role of flooring! The color, texture, shape, and pattern of your floor supports your overall design style.
Here are two recent projects that have modern aesthetics, yet the floor color is dramatically different. In the first, the hardwood is rich and dark lending the home more of a Modern Farmhouse look.
In the second home, the flooring is light with gray undertones for a minimal, modern feel.
In this home we were calling our design style “comfortable classic.” We went with a hexagonal tile in the primary bathroom that is both of-the-moment and classic all at once.
With so many options available today, there is something for every budget. There are dozens (maybe hundreds?) of materials to choose from like:
· Wood – Wood floors can be engineered, solid, or bamboo.
· Tile – Tile comes in a variety of materials like porcelain, ceramic, and stone.
· Vinyl – A cost-efficient choice, vinyl comes in as many colors, finishes, and price points as you can imagine.
Refresh with Furniture
Furniture is a wonderful way to rejuvenate a room and improve the function of the area.
One of the most important factors we consider on any design project we take on is our client’s lifestyle. Furniture must jive with the way our clients live, work, and entertain.
The layout of the furniture, materials, and storage solutions all impact the live-ability and usability of a room. For example, young families have very different needs than empty nesters who have very different needs than a single professional.
Working with a designer to create custom furniture can give your rooms that “wow” factor, as well as custom solutions to the design challenges that are unique to your lifestyle.
Over the years we have designed many custom furniture pieces for clients. These are often become statement pieces that provide a focal point for the room and set the tone for the design.
This vacation home featured several moving walls to make indoor/outdoor living between the home’s living spaces and pool area seamless. Assuming guests would move between pool time and indoor time meant that the fabrics needed to be durable. These sofas were custom designed by Allison and a local artisan.
In this modern, luxury home, the needs of the media room were very specific, requiring custom seating.
In this family home, the clients wanted kid friendly fabrics with grown-up style.
Professional designers have access to many materials and manufacturers that the public does not, ensuring that you have something truly special. And the biggest bonus of all: your custom pieces can go with you if you decide to move!
There is a lot to think about when selecting new furniture. For more pro tips, check out Allison’s interview on indoor furniture alongside several other experts here.
Add New & Interesting Textiles
A simple way to energize a room is through textiles. You might just think of pillows and blankets, but textiles are so much more!
Bedding, towels, accent pillows, throws, rugs and even curtains can give your room a literal face lift. These items are also easy to change out seasonally. The options can be almost overwhelming, but it can also be a lot of fun to mix and match to achieve the look you are going for.
Fabrics are one of the best ways to incorporate pattern and texture in an economical, low risk way.
Energize With Art & Accessories
The art and accessories you display in your home are one of the most deeply personal aspects of design. With art, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Tastes in art are highly individual, so this is where you can really allow your style to shine brightly.
Our favorite way to build an art collection you love is to curate and collect meaningful pieces through a lifetime. However, that doesn’t happen all at once! While you wait to decorate with a life well lived, you may want or need to fill in some décor areas.
Art and accessories can be sourced from anywhere, from big box stores like Target, to high-end boutiques or individual artisans. There are always many options to fit your budget and style.
If you live in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, you can find some of Allison’s favorite home décor sources here:
In this article we have shared five cosmetic upgrades that can make over your home, but don’t require a long list of contractors (which are in short supply in the present day!) Use one or use them all to transform your home!
Do you need help selecting and sourcing these things? We would love to hear from you
