There are times when a room just needs a little pick-me-up and not a complete overhaul. Brightening up a dim space might be all that is needed. Easy weekend projects are the most fun and can provide significant change for minimal effort. Here are a dozen easy ways to cheer up your home.
While the days are long and the sun is strong ensure that you let the light in. Replace heavy draperies with gauzy lightweight fabric that will billow on a breeze. Add summery embellishments such as tie-backs adorned with small seashells, jute, raffia or dried flowers. Stamp a soft design such as leaves, vines or grape bunches onto the fabric to add a sense of the outdoors to the window dressing. You can also add painted embellishments to plain pull shades with paint-able surfaces.
Reflect the light with strategically placed mirrors. In a small dim foyer, hallway or laundry room a large mirror opposite a window will help the room feel larger and lighter. If you don't' have a large mirror, several smaller mirrors in a grouping will work too. Frameless mirror tiles are inexpensive and can be installed just about anywhere in the home. You may remember when my husband updated our dark kitchen door with mirrored tiles and trim to create a faux French door a while back. This one project completely changed the room and brightened up the entryway as well.
Add a splash of vibrant colour to a bland room. A pumpkin orange backsplash in the kitchen might just perk up those plain white cabinets. Contrast will often give a space depth and dimension which makes it feel brighter and lighter.
A dark dining room set can be brought to the light with fabric slipcovers and a tablecloth. If your dining set has seen better days, change the entire look by painting the table top and chairs in a light colour for a country-cottage feel. If your chairs have fabric seats then simply remove them and recover them in a fresh, fun fabric. Sew a matching tablecloth or table runner while you're at it. Dark flooring is gorgeous but in a basement where there is little light it can be gloomy. Lighten the look with seagrass area rugs that are easy to maintain and are relatively inexpensive.
This may sound silly but... clean your light bulbs and light fixtures! You'd be amazed at how much light is blocked by dust and dirt. While you're up there, get rid of those 1970s smoked glass ceiling globes and replace them with ones that will let out more light. The thrift stores are full of all sorts of glass globe covers. You just need to find one that is the right size. (Take your old one with you.)
Dark wooden doors suck up tons of light, especially in a small entryway. Paint dark doors in a fresh off-white colour. You'll be amazed at just how much brighter the entrance will look once the door and trim is painted. In a long hallway, dark bedroom doors and trim painted in a light colour will make the space feel wider and brighter. Offset the neutral backdrop with colourful prints hung in a gallery style. In the bathroom, use a light-coloured paint to give your old vanity a lift. I did this in my own bathroom and just love how it turned out. I also replaced the old cane insert with bead board which changed the entire feel of the cabinet and made the dated marble sink less noticeable.
Dark upholstered furniture can be given a lift with new furniture slipcovers. They come in a range of colours and styles so there's one to fit most any piece of furniture. Add to the look with colourful toss cushions to add extra cheer. Even a simple decorative furniture throw in a light colour can help break up an expanse of dark upholstery or leather without a permanent change.
Brightly coloured fresh flowers will brighten up any room. When your garden is in full bloom, snip some fresh flowers for inside the home. If you don't have flowers in your yard then treat yourself to a fresh bouquet the next time you're at the grocery store. Daisies and carnations are fairly inexpensive and come in a range of lovely colours which will make your home cheery and bright.
Heavy, dark picture frames can bring down a room. Revamp them with a fresh neutral colour. By painting all of the frames in a single grouping in the same colour, the photographs will become the focal point instead of the frames, which is the way it should be.
And lastly, the odds and ends. Look around your home for items that are dark and dated. Things such as waste cans, decorative shelves, footstools and so on can all be refurbished with a little paint, wallpaper or pretty fabric. Little touches can go a long way to keeping your décor updated and cheerful. It doesn't always take a long, drawn-out project to make tangible changes to your décor. Sometimes all you need is what you have on hand and a little imagination.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
