Home / Decor 8 years ago

5 Quick & Easy Home Makeovers

Giving your home a new look can take a lot of time and a lot of money, so I’m loving Kathy Kuo’s 5 Quick and Easy home makeovers! Let me know which one you’ll be trying at home and check out Kathy’s old posts here and here. Enjoy!

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featured image via kathykuohome.com
above image via rawsilkandsaffron.com

1. Balance Your Lighting

 One of the most common design mistakes we see is unflattering, overhead-only lighting in the home. Balanced lighting is critical because it’ll help eliminate shadows to create an even tone across a room. Say goodbye to poor selfie lighting indoors! While ceiling-mounted ambient lighting is a good start, you need to add supplemental lights to fill out the room—like a pair of sconces or table lamps. Then, add task lighting, like a floor or desk lamp, to illuminate areas where you read or work. Need additional help? Read our guide on how to light every room in the home.   

left image via thedesignchaser.com
right image via southshoredecoratingblog.com

2. Hike Up Your Curtain Rods

Many people have the tendency to hang curtain rods directly above the window trim. One easy home makeover (and also a way to make your home appear more glamorous) is to adjust your curtain rods closer to the crown or ceiling. This trick will lead the eye up and make your ceiling appear much higher than it is!

left image via kemphallstudio.com
right image via kathykuohome.com

3. Add a Focal Point

Every room in your home should have a focal point. It offers a place for the eye to rest, and it denotes a room’s purpose. To decide on a focal point, find a statement piece or a purposeful piece in the room and arrange the rest of your furniture around it. Your focal point could be the fireplace or coffee table in a sitting room, your dining table in your dining room, or even a gaming table, grand chandelier, or large painting.

left image via thedesignersattic.com
right image via taupeandbirch.com

4. Create Vignettes

We love an accessories story. From desk styling, to coffee table styling, to gorgeous curated bookcases, decor is what brings your personality and style to you home. One common mistake we see is lining up all of your accent pieces so that nothing overlaps. Instead, try layering your decor to create depth. It’s perfectly okay if your lampshade covers a bit of your wall decor or if your tabletop pieces overlap: this actually helps your guests view a vignette as a whole and invites them to take a closer look.

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image via kathykuohome.com

5. Buy the Right Rug

More frequently than not, people buy their rugs after they buy their furniture. This often leads to rugs that are too large or too small in scale and proportion to everything else. For a quick makeover, measure your room dimensions and choose a rug that fits all of your furniture. For smaller rooms, float your rug in front of all of your furniture. In a big room, there should be roughly six inches between the edge of the rug and the edge of the room. For more help, check out our rug guide.