It means hot weather, the longest vacation, and probably a nice, relaxing trip for the most of you. For some of us, who do not plan on visiting anything exotic, our home will be our sanctuary, which makes this the perfect time of giving your home an easy (and affordable) makeover. Why should you care about this, you might ask? Well, your home represents you, it is your calling card, and not to mention that it can greatly influence how relaxed you feel, how well you can rest and how much fun you can have. The matter of colors is always brought up and, as you probably know, certain colors are much more suited for particular rooms, while some colors and types of lighting should be strictly avoided. Clearing up all the necessary stuff should also be on the top of your list, as a clean home will also clear you mind, you will find important stuff more easily, and you will always be ready for an unexpected visit. So, how can you give your home a much-needed makeover? We’ll start with some basics, room by room, and you can decide what suits your needs and desires. We’ll also give you some ideas that can greatly improve your life.
Bedroom: The Palace of Peace
Hey, bedrooms are not important, right? Well, how important is the room we spend one third of our lives in? We only sleep there, and most people neglect their bedrooms when thinking about home makeovers. This can be extremely fun, as you can start with something simple – you might need a new set of comforter covers that can accentuate your personality. Maybe you want to go for a gentle, universal blue. Or you might want something red that goes with your walls? In any case, when selecting a palette for this most personal space in your home, select something with soothing colors. Neutral colors are good and suit most people, so beige is always good. Being a little more adventurous, green is also nice – it can be both warm and cold at the same time and, with some warm lighting, it can create a perfect space for you to rest. If you don’t have a headboard, make sure to get one – it is a simple piece of decorated wood you can use to lean your pillow against, and it can look any way you want. Don’t forget to remove all the excess stuff you have laying around. Place a few mounted shelves to place all the books and mementoes you have (you can find them in almost any store such as Ikea). Make sure to have at least two lamps inside your room – do not go for something too bright; it should create an atmosphere of peace and give enough light for you to be able to read. Give away your unused clothes to a Red Cross organization, and free up some storage space – you will be doing a good deed and your home a favor. Install some matching window blinds; those plastic ones are extremely cheap and come in many colors. Make a picture of before and after, and you’ll see how much you really like all the changes you’ve made.
Living Room: Active and Elegant
Your living room can probably be one of the most diverse rooms inside your house. You can mix and match patterns and colors of all kinds whatever you want. Living rooms are usually the go to place when you have visitors, when you are spending time with your family – and it implies a certain activity. That is why its colors can also be active, and make you awake and alert. Going with bold and bright colors is always a good choice. Soft pink can be an excellent choice, but make sure to add a few pillows that will give you some contrast. If you are looking for something more sophisticated and elegant, you can go for white – you can never miss with this color, but it can be extremely pet and child unfriendly, so watch out. Even taupe colors can give you a lot of ideas of how to decorate your living room. Wooden elements are always welcome in any living room, and a wooden coffee table can be an excellent solution that will go with any color. You can even have wooden beams installed that are purely decorative, and it will give you a rustic feel. Once again, you need to declutter your space, and remove anything you do not actively use. Hide away all the extension cords and cables, gather them together with cable ties, or lock them together with cable clips. Make sure to make straight lines when placing cables, since it will make a natural flow that looks much better. Add a few floor lamps that can be turned on to create a softer atmosphere, especially at night when you’re watching movies. A few well-positioned bowls can gather all the small trinkets like keys and stray batteries in one place. This will clean up most of your shelves where you can place a few framed pictures and books.
Kitchen and Dining Room: Stimulating and Sophisticated
Most kitchens are combined with dining spaces, and it creates a modern kitchen that anyone can recognize. Kitchen makeovers can be extremely expensive, so you will first need to determine what it is that you want, how much you want to pay for it, and what can be achieved with the space you have at your disposal. A much cheaper solution is to add a few nice light fixtures that will add light and look nice. In most kitchens, it is best to have natural white light – it will allow you to see the real color of all ingredients – warmer lighting may mask some unwanted colors, especially in meat. Even adding a nice and practical spice racks can be a good idea, if you want you can make one yourself. It doesn’t have to be breathtaking, it just needs to add your own touch here. Add a few pots of flowers, or some spice herbs such as parsley, basil, or even mint. They are extremely easy to grow, they can add a fresh flavor whenever you need it, and it can immensely improve how your kitchen looks. Adding smart details like well-placed hooks can make your life easier, so you can hang your pans on the wall. Once again, this will be extremely practical and it will look perfectly rustic. Kitchen and dining spaces require warm colors, such as reds and yellows – they are believed to stimulate the appetite, not to mention that these are colors that can make kitchen elements pop. Even a simple white can energize a room, but it will require, as always, much more maintenance. Even though green is not the warmest color, if you choose shades such as mint or apple green, you can pair it well with some wooden elements in your kitchen.
Bathrooms: Private but Inviting
The bathroom is another place where we spend an astounding amount of time. We do not go to our bathroom only to do our “business”, but also to take a relaxing shower, have some us time, and in general, take our mind off of all the problems. The first, and most important thing is to replace your faucets if you have a leaky one. This will not only save you a lot of money, but it will give you a new, more modern look. Low-flow shower heads create a spread out water spray, which uses smaller amounts of water, but looks way cooler. Giving your bathroom a repaint with a glossy finish that will not only prevent mildew from developing, but it can give your old bathroom a new look. You can do that yourself, without having to pay for a pro painter; you can buy a starters kit at any DIY shop. If you have a small bathroom, mirrors can help give it a more spacious look, white lights can help accentuate colder colors, and it will help you when cleaning up, or putting on some makeup, if you’re a girl, or a shaving kit, if you’re a boy. It is always a good suggestion to go for white – while other colors will make your bathroom pop more, white is easy to clean up, and it gives the impression of a bigger space. Once you’re at it, make sure to replace floor mats, buy new soap holders and think about buying waterproof speakers. Why shouldn’t you listen to some music when you’re taking a bath? Whatever you decide, your home makeover is about how you feel and what you want your home to look like. If you want something modern, and ultra-elegant – go for it! Some designs are a bit more expensive, but you can surely find some cool solutions on Pinterest. Rustic and calming look is also back, and it is hotter than ever – it will give you a warm, family look. Just make sure to do some proper research before you decide on anything, but remember – your creativity is the only limit. Good luck!
