Here’s to another week of staring at the four walls. I hear you if you’re staring to crack a little bit? I certainly have this week. My job is normally online, but I do like the option to go to a showroom or head out to the store when the mood strikes. And believe me, the mood has stuck to leave the house a bunch of times this week. I even had a dream that I went to Target. I like Target, but not enough to have it show up in my dreams!
As we navigate this strange time, planning out some little projects around the house can make a huge difference in how we feel each day. I can tell you from experience, during slow times, having a DIY or home improvement project is needed and necessary.
That’s exactly why I wanted to offer these 15 ways to decorate. They’re a compilation of easy projects – most of which can be done in a day or two, and none of them will cost you much money. In fact, it’s safe to say you’ll spend far less than hiring a contractor and some of the ways are even free!
In addition, I’ve included links to over 40 places to learn more about the products or to purchase them. Yep, no need to leave the house to get any of these projects done. As long as you have the internet (and if the ratings for Tiger King are any indication, I know you do…) then you’ll be able to knock out any of these projects like Dr. Fauci is gonna knock out you know what….
Speaking of the internet, check out my post from last week to make sure you keep your information safe when shopping online. It’s more important now than ever.
Why not use this time to get your Instagram worthy decorating on? The Tiger King will be there when you’re done, promise. Here’s 15 easy ways to decorate without leaving your house.
Re arrange Your Furniture
A simple switch around of your furniture can make a difference to the function of you room.
Moving furniture will also change the entire look of your space and it doesn’t cost a thing! If you’re suffering from cabin fever, this is just the thing to snap you out of it. There’s plenty of time to switch it back if you don’t like it.
2. Change the Accessories on a Shelf with Things You Already Have
Want to refresh your space without spending any money? I love taking things form other rooms and styling a bookshelf or credenza.
You can breathe new life into your display areas and give your tired stuff a new view simply by moving it to a different space. This works great if you have stuff in boxes stored away not being used.
You’ll have the chance to go through all the stuff that you’re storing to decide what you want to keep and what you can let go. You get a new look for different parts of the house and boxes to donate when things get back to normal.
Even better, your storage clutter will be gone. Win, win, win!
3. Install New Vinyl Flooring
Ever wonder what the kitchen floor would look like with a bold pattern? Are you sick of the bathroom or laundry room floor? I can tell you that my bathroom is on the list for a redo and I am pretty much set on installing a peel and stick vinyl floor tile. And I can tell you, it’s come a long way in recent years.
I didn’t want just any boring tile, no sir! I want something that has some interest and a little pizzazz. The patterns you can find are endless and if you like bold, they’re out there. If you like more subtle, you’ll have no trouble finding them.
These options can be installed in a matter of hours, unlike stone or wood, which require much more prep and install time.
I’ll be posting my own before and after shots of my install right here on the blog, so consider signing up for my weekly newsletter notifications so you don’t miss it. Just sign up for my Secrets Only Designers Know to Make Your Space Rock or take my Decorating DNA style quiz. Both will get you on my list so we can stay connected.
In the meantime, here’s the link to Floor Pops to get some inspiration for your floors.
4. Put New Hardware on Kitchen Cabinets
I can’t tell you how many times a simple switch out of cabinet hardware has transformed the look of one of my kitchens. Yes, I’ve painted cabinets, installed brand new cabinets, but the biggest reactions come from switching out the knobs on doors and drawers. It’s really incredible just what a difference that makes. These days, with the internet, every shape, color, and material of cabinet hardware is just a click away.
Check out some of my favorite resources:
5. Color Coordinate the Books on Your Shelf
This one could be a great activity to do with the whole family and it’s totally free.
Take all the books off the shelf and the kids could sort them by color. Once they’re all sorted out, take your time putting them back up on the shelf so you can arrange the books in pleasing ways in color blocks. Just like with the accessorizing above, this is the perfect time to sort out the books you want to keep and those you’d like to give away or donate.
One tip that I will advise is to mix in a few accessories with the books. It helps to break up the clusters of books and gives you the chance to add some interest and personality to the area. Think about using some boxes, plants, pottery, art and photographs. Vary the height, scale and shape of things to really make a statement. You can easily combine the accessorizing tip from above with color blocking your books.
6. Color Coordinate the Cloths in Your Closet
Now that we’re not wearing our office or work cloths every day, it’s the perfect time to thin the heard. Bring everything out of the closet and make piles on the bed.
I suggest making a keep, donate and not sure pile on the bed. Keep, obviously is things you’re keeping, without question. Donate: things you will get rid of, without question and the not sure pile is stuff that you’re not sure will fit, or if it’s outdated, etc. If you’re on the fence about some stuff, try it on and if it doesn’t fit or you just don’t love it anymore, donate.
After that, it’s time to put it all back in the closet but this time put things back based on article type and color. So, slacks go together in graduated colors. Dresses the same, all the way through your hanging wardrobe.
If you have shelves and drawers, you can coordinate your folded items in the same color blocking way. It makes it so much easier to pull a look together when things are grouped by color. And you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing that everything you kept should be there instead of just taking up space. It’s one of the easiest diy bedroom décor enhancements around.
7. Decant Dry Goods in Clear Containers
The Container Store is a great resource for finding any size and shape container. I love having my loose, dry foods stored in clear containers in cabinets, on shelves in the pantry, etc. It looks amazing – no random boxes or knotted up bags to look at and contend with.
Another benefit of clear containers is you can see exactly what you have left so you can plan your grocery trips accordingly. Nobody wants to spend any more time in the grocery store than necessary, especially these days, right?
It’s easy to plan for this simple storage upgrade. Look at how much food you need to store and how much space you have to store the canisters.
You can usually find the measurements of each container on a company website. Just make sure you have enough room where you want them to go.
Measure the width, depth and height of shelves or cabinets to get the best fit.
8. Change the Finish of Your Kitchen Appliances
Yes, indeed you can change your old appliance to a new color in an afternoon.
If you’re tired of the frig, stove, dishwasher, microwave, you can cover any of them with this super strong, water resistant contact paper.
It looks just like stainless steel and it is easy to maintain and clean. No need to go shopping for new appliances. This stuff is easy to cut and goes on like a big sticker.
9. Contact Paper Your Countertop
Speaking of contact paper for appliances, if you’ve been itching to change out your countertops but the cost is not in the budget right now, think about installing this heavy-duty contact paper on your existing counters instead.
Again, instead of waiting until Lord knows when for new countertops, this could be the option to look in to. Installation can be done in a few hours. It’s renter friendly and can be easily removed when it’s time to move out.
10. Install Pendant Lights
It’s very easy to switch out a ceiling fixture for a new one. If you want to add a focal point to the kitchen island, dining room or breakfast nook, think about switching a flush mounted fixture to a hanging or swag pendant. A beautiful statement light fixture is one of the easiest ways to elevate the style of any space.
If you don’t want to mess with electrical components, there are many plugin options that look great and will get the job done.
Either way, this is an easy diy home project that can typically be done in an afternoon.
Check out some of these resources to get started:
11. Change Your Light Bulbs to Energy Efficient Ones
Now I can hear what you’re saying, Michael, That’s not a decorating tip... I would disagree. When you change the lighting in a room you change the feel of the room as well.
There’s a hue and lumens for every fixture on the market. Whatever color temperature you prefer, cool white or warm white, you’re sure to find a bulb that suits your needs.
There are even Edison style bulbs that meet the energy efficiency guidelines. That means you can have your dream farmhouse pendant light or a steam punk wall sconce in the bathroom!
If this has been on your mind to do for a while, what better time, right?
12. Hang Up Removable Wallpaper
If you want to make a bold and beautiful statement, there’s no better way to do that then by hanging wallpaper.
I like to focus on small areas for this type of treatment: entryways, powder rooms, the inside of closets, behind built-in shelves, you get the picture.
In my book, a little wallpaper goes a long way. It’s a great way to add pattern and depth to a space.
And you’re sure to find many options online. I love removable options because they’re renter friendly: easy to put up and take down. They’re relatively inexpensive too, so when you’re tired of the pattern, you can take it down and change it to something else.
Here’s a list of my favorite places to check out wallpaper patterns:
13. Make a Mood Board
If you’re not 100% ready to take the plunge on a decorating project, creating a mood board is a great way to organize your thoughts and get some inspiration pulled together.
Most people love to use Pinterest to create boards of favorite things. That is a great option and I use it to communicate and collaborate with my clients. We can share access to a private board and really get to the heart of a project.
But, two other ways that I find helpful is by using Canva or PowerPoint to see how things will look together. I love being able to paste in a bunch of pictures that I think will work and move stuff around. In both programs it’s like making a collage.
The best part is, if something isn’t working, I can move it around or delete it completely.
Having the ability to see how things work together is extremely helpful for me and my clients.
I suggest you give putting a mood board together to help you visualize what you’d like to include in your makeover.
Don’t forget to include the details like lamps, art, accessories, or rugs. Trust me, the details are where the inspiration lives.
14. Plan a Gallery Wall
Now is a wonderful time to plan out a gallery wall installation. I wrote a post a while back to show you exactly how to do that. I’ll link that for you here.
Maybe you want to find an all in one solution for your gallery wall. I happen to love Mix Tiles. They are a one stop shop to get your picture concept pulled together fast. You pick the photos you want in your gallery and they’ll print and ship them to you fast.
The great part is they are peel and stick and will not damage walls. So, if you’re a renter, you’ll love this option when it’s time to move.
If you own, then great too! You won’t have to hammer a bunch of holes in the wall. You can easily reposition the pictures if you want to try a different layout.
Here’s some other places to find some gallery art options:
15. Install Floating Shelves
They’re on trend in a huge way and have been for a while. Floating shelves are the perfect solution for practically any style of décor. They’re a staple in farmhouse style decorating, but they will work in Scandinavian, transitional and traditional spaces too.
Floating shelves are great to use in smaller spaces because they are not enclosed or take up visual space. They’re the best place to display curated objects, trail a plant from the top shelf, store dry goods in clear containers.
They work in home office space, in the bathroom, kitchen, living, ding and family rooms. You name it, they can accommodate many things to make any space a focal point.
So, if you’re looking around the house and you’re wondering how to dress up a corner or add some more function to the kitchen, consider adding some floating shelves.
There you go… 15 Easy Ways to Decorate Without Leaving Your House:
1. Re arrange Your Furniture
2. Change the Accessories on a Shelf with Things You Already Have
3. Install New Vinyl Flooring
4. Put New Hardware on Kitchen Cabinets
5. Color Coordinate the Books on Your Shelf
6. Color Coordinate the Cloths in Your Closet
7. Decant Dry Goods in Clear Containers
8. Change the Finish of Your Kitchen Appliances
9. Contact Paper Your Countertops
10. Install Pendant Lights
11. Change Your Light Bulbs to Energy Efficient Ones
12. Hang Up Removable Wallpaper
13. Make a Mood Board
14. Plan a Gallery Wall
15. Install Floating Shelves
If you’re in the middle of a project, I’d love to hear all about it. Leave me a comment below and tell me how it’s going.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. A purchase helps me to bring you great content each week. Thanks so much!
Until next week, my friend: Don’t watch too much Netflix and keep washing your hands!
What to read next:
The Small Kitchen Storage Zone. Smart Efficient Cabinet and Drawer Organization
Small kitchens can be tough to organize. There never seems to be enough space for everything and a lot of times gadgets, small appliances and random stuff can overwhelm counter tops. With the holidays right around the corner, this is the perfect time to put a little effort into winning the kitchen clutter war. If your kitchen is looking more like a catch all dump and drop, you’re in the right place today. Stop riffling through jam packed drawers when you need a bottle opener or shrimp fork 4 times a year. Let’s spend a few minutes creating kitchen storage zones to keep your stuff organized and accessible every day so you don’t have to stress when you’re cooking those magnificent holiday meals!
The zones I’m referring to are your fixed locations: the sink, refrigerator, and stove. You may have the kitchen triangle, where you have an invisible triangle between the sink, frig and stove. Or you may have a galley style kitchen where everything is in a line, punctuated by storage in between and opposite the utilitarian fixtures. Either way, consider what you do in those spaces: how should you set up your kitchen to function best for you?
Zone One: Sink Area
You need a place for dish soap, dishwasher soap, towels, dish rack a dish strainer for drying dishes. Sponges, bottle brushes, hand soap, etc. Instead of keeping everything on the sink or counter top, you can contain them within easy reach:
• Keep sponges inside a flip down door behind the sink cabinet front. It looks so much nicer and keeps your sink tidy and you don’t have to spend extra time moving things out of the way or hunting for a sponge, magic eraser or scrubber when you need them. I like to keep a few extra dishwasher pods in there too. They’re right at hand when I need them.
• One of the most underutilized spaces in any kitchen is the inside facing cabinet door. It’s a wealth of storage. This is a perfect space for a small towel rack for hanging wet kitchen towels out of sight. On the other inside cabinet door, you can hand a couple small Command Hooks for bottle brushes.
• Think about installing a hand soap pump in the sink basin: your hand soap is always in a fixed location, not in a random plastic bottle that gets shuffled around. I like this because it blends in with the sink top and isn’t a focal point. Plastic soap bottles and mismatched containers can make a small space feel cluttered and unorganized.
Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.
