Interior designer gives 7 tips for an instant home makeover!
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Let’s be honest, even though the idea of completely giving your home a new look sounds enticing, not everyone has the time and budget for it.
Fortunately for us, Mr Kane Hughes, an interior designer based in the UK, is here to share his tips and tricks on elevating our homes using pieces we already have around the house!
The best part? You can probably do most of these in under an hour.
How’s that for quick and easy?
Raising the curtain rod makes a room seem taller.
According to Mr Hughes, having long curtains placed near the ceiling makes a room seem much taller than it actually is.
To achieve this, he suggests installing the curtain rod holders at least two to four inches below the ceiling and draping a floor-length curtain, preferably solid-coloured or patterned with vertical stripes.
This gives the illusion of an additional height and a bigger window.
Credit: Nadine Stay.
Make a space seem bigger by upsizing your rug.
Blank spaces on the floor usually make a living space look empty and incomplete, despite the furniture.
Mr Hughes says that a large rug can fill this space instead.
Place a large patterned rug under the front (or back) legs of your furniture to create the illusion of finished space.
Credit: A Beautiful Mess.
Shake things up by rearranging your furniture.
Sometimes your living space can seem monotonous and boring because it has been in the same place ever since.
If you don’t have the budget to spend on new furniture, yet you want to shake things up around the house, Mr Hughes suggests simply rearranging your existing furniture.
First, you have to consider every function of the furniture and decide whether it stays in the room or not. Then you can clear out the unnecessary clutter to make space for what remains.
Now you’re free to experiment with how you want to arrange each piece, just avoid bringing them back to their previous positions.
Though we have to advise you to get some help when moving larger items such as lounges and cabinets. A nice layout is not worth hurting or injuring yourself.
Credit: Residence Style.
Room feeling cramped? Add a large mirror.
Aside from being a great wall decoration, having a large mirror in a room also makes any space look bigger.
They add depth by bouncing the eye of the viewer around the room and can also highlight your other decorations.
Plus it reflects more light, meaning the room ends up with a brighter look.
Credit: Ash NYC.
Choose a lampshade that spreads light evenly around the room.
And speaking of light, Mr Hughes also suggests you check your house lampshades.
Besides the possible fire hazard (change your bulbs at least twice a year, folks) lampshades can also emit lesser light over time.
He suggests opting for a lampshade with a wide cone to spread light evenly around the room, making it appear bigger.
Using LED or CFL bulbs are also advisable since they won’t get as hot and melt any materials.
Credit: Destination Lighting.
Make your life easier by updating your cabinet hardware.
Faulty cabinet hardware can sometimes lead to accidents. That’s why it’s advisable to regularly check any loose screws or bolts that may regularly go unnoticed.
Plus it’s the perfect excuse to freshen up old drawers and cupboards.
Some people suggest having sliding doors instead to save space when you open your cabinet.
Credit: Andy Ryan Photographer.
Use every space by bringing in a room bench.
According to Mr Hughes, the bench is an understated piece of furniture that can instantly add dimension to any room.
For example, a bench in your bedroom can add style to the room, as well as provide extra seating and storage space.
You can also slide a bench in the living room to make sure everybody gets to take a seat when lounging around.
Credit: Wayfair.
And there you have it. If you have any design tips of your own, share them with us and the rest of our community in the comments below!
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