Home design trends tend to come and go, some becoming obsolete with no chance for a comeback. Thankfully, some are easily tossed out and replaced, giving your home new life. If you're looking for quick ways to improve the aesthetic of your space, consider adjusting these home details.
Abandon cushions that match your sofa. If your sofa came with matching cushions, forget about them. Instead, play with texture, color, and patterns to accent the main fabric. The investment you make in such a small detail has the power to bring the entire room together!
Replace your lightbulbs. Say goodbye to the harsh clinical lighting of cool-white bulbs and hello to the comforting hue of warm-white bulbs. This simple switch will ease the strain on your eyes and offer warmth akin to a burning candle or crackling fire.
Away with window treatments. Natural light isn't just great for morale, it can brighten a room, make it look larger, and show off light-catching finishes. Window treatments prevent that magic from happening by dulling the brightness coming through the added layers. If privacy is a priority, consider sheers or translucent metallics as an alternative - they create coverage without the gloomy side-effect. Otherwise, go ahead and let the sunshine in!
No to accent walls. Accent walls are quickly fading out of style. Although they effectively make eye-catching statements, they can also look dated. Instead of committing to the design of an entire wall, opt for decorative pieces like art, plants, or mirrors. If you need some inspiration, read our post How to Accessorize a Home.
Down with the chair rail. A chair rail is a strip of wood that lines the walls of a room and doesn't do much beyond awkwardly splitting the room in half. To avoid shrinking the space with this visual division, either remove the railing and opt for painted walls, or invest in more substantial wainscoting for a buttoned-up look.
Discard ill-fitting rugs. Regardless of how nice the rug is, if the size isn't right, it will ruin the look of a space. For a quick and easy guide to follow, take a look at our post The Right-Size Rug.
Pass on the TV over the fireplace. It is a popular move to place the television in the space above the fireplace, and it is also one of designers' biggest pet peeves. As tempting as it is to do so, it is best you keep the area around your fireplace distraction-free so you can enjoy the serenity that space was built to offer.
Ditch fake plants. For the busy bees among us, taking time out of our day to care for live plants isn't an option. It can be tempting to turn towards fake plants to add some lushness and pops of color around the house. But fake plants can become dust magnets, and depending on their quality, they can cheapen the overall look and feel of your home. If caring for live flora seems overwhelming, maybe look into low-maintenance species like a cactus or snake plant.
Drop your matched furniture. Matching living room sets could appear dated and make your space feel like a showroom. Consider mixing and matching your pieces for a more tailored look. For example, replace the sofa's matching loveseat with two comfortable upholstered armchairs.
Give up on matching wood furniture. If most of the furniture in your home is the same version of stained wood, you might want to switch some of them out. Gone are the rules for matching wooden pieces in the home. Get creative and experiment with different wood species and stain colors! You can take it a step further by bringing in some painted or destressed pieces.
As design trends rotate throughout time, there are always simple changes you can make to keep your space looking fresh. Start with these quick tips and watch your home transform into a stylish haven.