Sometimes it’s not all about ‘out with the old, and in with the new’, it’s actually refreshing a space and creating a new feel by moving furniture and objects, and choosing a few new investment pieces.
You might be surprised you can get a whole new look by replacing the floor, and re-purposing some old faithfuls.
Rearrange before you redesign!
I will often move pieces seasonally to catch the light and work with the change of temperature in different rooms. Or invest in a rug or carpet square for wooden floors and switch the couch to another viewpoint. Change out your objects from room to room, and switch lighting – you may be able to add a lamp for the darker months from another room.
Doing this helps you work out what pieces you can keep, and what you need to invest in to get your new look.
Putting the finishing touches on your new space
Whether you’ve just done the floors or a bit more, spend time thinking about how you hang art/photos and objects on your walls. This can really make or break a space. Some of the best money I’ve spent has been on getting a professional picture hanger who helps me group and chose the best place to put pieces through the home. This isn’t an expensive process particularly if you have all pieces laid out in a format ready for discussion. How you hang changes a space from feeling bitsy and disjointed to collected and calm.
De-clutter! I know it’s hard but sometimes it’s just about having a good old cull. I employ this theory with clients when they are struggling to determine a look. Often, once you remove a few things the good pieces start to breathe and the space starts working.
Use odd numbers when you are grouping or arranging, stick to the 1,3,5 theory and it will work, as it’s more visually appealing to eye. Vary your shapes with heights and textures if you are clustering the same elements. If placing on tables or sideboards – off centre them so it doesn’t look like they’re perfectly placed in the middle, which can feel forced.
