Refresh <\/a><\/p>\n Small Changes, Big Impact & Cons<\/a><\/p>\n DIY<\/a><\/p>\n Thrift Shopping & Cons<\/a><\/p>\n Nature<\/a><\/p>\n New Additions<\/a><\/p>\n Improve Lighting<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n One of the best parts of having your own space is the freedom to define and redefine it. Don’t be afraid to rethink the way you live, and the functions of each space in your home. As simple as it sounds, re-envisioning a space can make a huge difference. In your main living room, reposition a big piece \u2013 like a sofa or book shelf, step back and reposition the other pieces in the remaining space. This will freshen up the space and perhaps give you a new perspective! Rearrange the books on your bookshelf, varying the sizes, shapes, and orientation. Remember, too, that your bookshelves aren’t limited to just books<\/a>. Intersperse books with plants and decorative objects for visual interest. Start with a focal point and work your way out from there. Don’t push furniture against walls. Leaving some space between your furniture and the walls can actually make the space appear larger and more inviting. Create conversation areas by grouping furniture and defining those areas with a floor rug or wall art. Consider traffic flow and space usability. Even if you live alone, it’s important to note your habits within your living space to make your day-to-day functions that much easier. Living with others may require more brainstorming and trial and error, but that’s half the fun! Put tables at an arm’s length, and make sure to pay attention to heights as well! Table lamps in your living room and bedroom should always be within easy reach. Sometimes, even after careful consideration and planning, you’ll find you need a change. Perhaps your closet storage needs a different structure, like a garment rack in your bedroom to display your favourite tee shirts. Or perhaps your living room could be split into a TV area and a reading nook. Looking to renovate your rental property? Read our article on everything you need to know before renovating your rental property here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n A little bit can go a long way in home decorating, especially when you are on a budget. Doing some of these, or tackling one area of your home at a time, is less daunting and can have a big impact on the overall look and feel of your place. Update your walls with paint, artwork, tapestries, or any fresh take to give your room – and your brain – a reset. If hanging art is too much of a commitment, we also love \u2018adjustable\u2019 art that simply leans against a wall or shelf. It allows you to reshuffle your collection and keeps your walls free of holes! Paint colour is a highly effective way to change the feel of your space. Watch a few video tutorials before starting – it isn\u2019t quite as easy as it looks! Try a new colour, like a pastel shade, or create a blank canvas with a fresh white. Paint can also be used to refresh other design elements, like fireplaces or furniture. Consider painting sofa legs or a table. If renting, run all painting plans by your landlord. In fact, if it will enhance the space, you may be able to convince your landlord to pay for the paint and\/or painters (they may feel more comfortable using professionals). Don’t be afraid to showcase<\/a> your odd collections as an art display (e.g. cameras, milk glass, instruments, travel mementos). Try playing around with placement in different areas of your home, turning your collected items into a consistent art piece throughout. Memory tables are a great way to add a personal touch to an entryway or living room. Use thrifted and found frames for a more eclectic, mix-and-match style. Or select a single style, such as a simple silver frame, and use varying sizes for visual interest. New fabric updates your soft surfaces in a big way. Throw pillows and bedding can be refreshed with a new cover. Simply switching your duvet cover colour can completely shift the way you feel in your bedroom. Even a new or re-homed throw blanket can add texture and warmth. Get rid of items that are just taking up space in your home. Decluttering old, expired, or useless items can free up more space than you think, and really examining your current collection will leave you with things that only make you happy. RECOMMENDED >> Top 4 Tips To Declutter Your Kitchen<\/a><\/strong> Your coffee table deserves more than just the TV remotes, keep it fresh! Choose an object, like a tray or low bowl, to serve as a focal point and change the accessories around it monthly – by adding fresh or dried flowers in a vase or a coffee table book, you’ll keep those design doldrums at bay. Kitchen updates can be tricky, especially for renters. Update hardware on your cabinets, doors, or even furniture for a subtle enhancement. Just remember, if replacing hardware in a rented home, to keep the original pieces to be reattached before you vacate. Incorporate items and materials from different eras for a more playful look. A mid-century modern sofa with a classic side table? Why not! Just remember to pick a unifying theme or limited colour palette to keep the space from looking overwhelmed. For those who are more artistically inclined, consider painting a mural directly on the wall! Get creative with themes and subjects. Keep in mind that murals don’t have to be intricate or challenging. A simple rainbow, abstract design, or repetitive print can make your walls look incredibly artistic. Don’t just prop them up – hang items on the wall! Whether you go for a full gallery wall or a single canvas print, hanging items on the wall not only draws the eye up, making the ceilings appear higher, but will help to immediately make the space feel more lived in and complete. Alternatively, consider hanging a tapestry to serve as a focal point and add texture to a broader expanse of wall space. Frame wherever possible. Framing art, photos, postcards, posters, pressed flowers, printed dish towels, even magazine covers will immediately give a polished look to even the most eclectic spaces. Frames can be anything from a clipboard, pictured above, to a cork board, to a real frame, just give your art an anchor. While books make excellent decor, having too many sizes and colours or old books can actually detract from your overall look. Cover books with paper when your bookshelf is starting to look worn, or if you want to create a more cohesive, natural colour palette. If brown craft paper is not your style, consider gift wrap paper, scrapbook paper, fabric, or burlap. It could be that your welcome mats may have overstayed their welcome and worn out without you noticing. A thorough cleaning may be sufficient, although more run-down pieces may need to be replaced altogether. This goes for floor runners and indoor carpets as well. To keep your place looking fresh, pay attention to the state of your floor coverings. Post your rental listing<\/a> FOR FREE on liv.rent today. For more information, check out liv.rent\u2019s pricing plans<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n When working with a budget, sometimes the best way to get the job done is to do it yourself. Most supplies for these projects are budget-friendly, and may even be in your home already! Making your own wall art is a fun quarantine activity while providing a beautiful, personal touch to your art collection. The best part? You don’t have to be an artist to create an interesting piece. From paint-by-numbers to hanging jute placemats, Pinterest has a DIY wall art project for every skill level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We love this list of 39<\/a> Easy DIY Ways To Create Art For Your Walls<\/a><\/strong> from Buzzfeed! While you can certainly find ladders at construction stores and even second-hand, sometimes the best way to get the exact style you want is to make it yourself<\/a>. Power tools are sometimes required for these blanket ladders, so make sure to plan ahead. Making small decorations from scratch requires minimal effort and supplies, and can often be done in a few hours. Personalize some fridge magnets<\/a>, weave a macrame wall hanging<\/a>, embroider <\/a>pillow cushions, paint<\/a> a dollar-store canvas – anything goes when creating pieces for your unique space. Give your plant friends a unique new home by upcycling old items into planters for new life! Vessels can be found in all shapes and sizes: teacups<\/a>, mason jars<\/a>, lotion bottles<\/a>, wine bottles and more. You could even just paint your own pots to reflect your home colour palette and style. For those willing to hunt for their perfect piece, second-hand is the way to go. With all of the ways to find vintage treasures, you probably won’t be hunting long. Search the furniture section by store names you like (e.g. CB2, Westelm, etc.), styles like \u2018mid-century\u2019 or finishes (e.g. teak, walnut) to pull up listings for items that are available and match your aesthetic. Costs may vary but there are plenty of deals and listed prices are usually negotiable. Thrift stores are veritable gold mines for inexpensive and unique design elements. While some items may need some TLC, you can often find lightly used hard goods and decorative objects ready to take home. Some thrift stores even offer delivery of large pieces. Look for some castaway art in these shops. Many can be spruced up by simply reframing them. Someone else\u2019s junk can indeed be your treasure.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nRefresh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Rearrange the Furniture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Reorganize Your Bookshelf<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Position Furniture Carefully<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Play with Layout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"decorating](\"https:\/\/liv.rent\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/hutomo-abrianto-X5BWooeO4Cw-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Choose Wisely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n6. Rethink and Reorganize<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nSmall changes, Big impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Refresh the Walls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/liv.rent\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/13502c8adc94df672798d368bf61aff0.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/liv.rent\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/76860a8f025716db70f533769a5fac7d-e1570038426832.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n8. Paint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n9. Showcase Collectibles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n10. Photo-filled Tables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n11. Use Fabric<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n12. Declutter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n13. Coffee Table Styling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n14. Update Hardware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n15. Mix Time Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n16. Use your walls as a canvas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n17. Hang Your Art<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n18. Frame Everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n19. Cover Books<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n20. Renew Old Mats & Rugs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nDIY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n21. DIY Wall Art<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n22. DIY Blanket Ladder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n23. DIY Small Decor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n24. DIY Planters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nThrift Shopping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n25. Search on Craigslist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n26. Visit local thrift stores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n27. Shop Freecycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n