The popular mantra “New Year, New Me” doesn’t have to be limited to personal changes that only impact your inner self. Why not allow the spirit of improvement to extend to the appearance of your home? Get creative and head into the new year with some budget-friendly updates that will significantly transform the ambiance of your space. Here are three easy and inexpensive ways to update your home for the new year.
- Add an Accent Wall
When most people consider making a drastic change to the walls of their home, they automatically envision bold paint colors. But what if you could make even more of a splash? In addition to painting, you can choose one focus wall to accent with fun decor. With do-it-yourself solutions like temporary wallpaper, graphic decals, and stencil art, the possibilities are endless. You can even opt for a more custom look with the addition of shiplap, chair rails, wainscoting, or wood wall treatments. Click here for examples of transformative accent walls.
- Change Your Light Fixtures
Sometimes we forget that the hardware in our homes is easily interchangeable. But with very little effort, you can swap out those boring and outdated knobs, faucets, and fixtures in exchange for modern conversation pieces. For the most impact, aim your sights on an element that everyone is bound to notice – the lights. Opt for refined finishes that match your decor, or statement pieces that standout on their own. For more ideas on finding the perfect lighting, click here.
- Add Plants
A change as simple as adding a few plants to a room can breathe new life into a space. Many of us steer clear of plant ownership because we believe that we weren’t blessed with a green thumb. However, there are many low-maintenance plants that require nothing more than a little water and sunshine. Here are a few:
- Philodendron: This resilient plant will offer obvious signs to let you know what it needs. Once the problem is corrected, it’s forgiving leaves recover well, showing little to no signs of trauma.
- Air Plant: These unique plants don’t need soil, and don’t even require daily watering. You can put them in creative spaces, and harvest their pups (baby air plants) to expand your garden.
- Aloe: This succulent plant can survive indoors or out, but fairs well near a window, with heavy bi-weekly waterings. Aloe doesn’t need frequent repotting or large amounts of fertilizer to thrive, making it relatively easy to care for.
Leave behind the stress and keep things simple. Beautiful home improvements don’t have to be painstakingly long or cost you thousands of dollars. Sometimes all you need is a practical plan and a little bit of inspiration. Breathe new life into your environment with these three inexpensive updates, and enter the new year with a space you will be proud to call home.
