So you’ve gone and bought yourself a brand-new house and can’t wait to start revamping it. Or maybe you’ve started looking at your roost with different eyes and are itching to put a new spin on it. But where do you start? And what if you’re not yet ready to commit to something as significant as renovating an entire house? Not to mention you’re not exactly confident about your artistic skills and whether your design ideas mesh well or jarringly clash with each other.
Decorating a home you’ll be living in for the next couple of months or even years is a considerable investment. It’s not something you can dive into without having to live with the consequences of eyesores everywhere when you open your front door. But fear not! In this article, you’ll learn different home decorating ideas you can do to freshen up your home in small ways, especially if you’re a beginner DIY-er.
1. Begin with the End in Mind
First up, you will need to have a clear goal of what you want to do or what sort of “feel” your house will have at the end of your redecoration project. As Tim McKeough said in his New York Times article “How to Decorate Your Home,” don’t start your home renovation at the furniture store. You’ll only end up buying things you think might look good at home but, in reality, doesn’t serve a purpose.
So make sure you have a budget in mind before embarking on your DIY plan because nothing looks worse than a half-finished wallpaper job. And make sure to be familiar with the measurements of your house or apartment, especially if you’re considering investing in any pieces of furniture. You want your space to adjust to you and your routine, not the other way round. You need to measure and plot out the parts of your house that you plan to renovate and write down the measurements in a notebook or on your phone.
2. Avoid a “Mix and Match” Feel
Unless you’re going for an “escape room” feel with an assortment of different things and design aesthetics all over, you need to research various looks for your house. This way, you get a more cohesive feel for your redecorating project.
Head over to Pinterest or Instagram or flip through interior design magazines for inspiration about what type of look you want. You also can’t go wrong with visiting galleries, showrooms, or even your friends’ homes to see if one element works in real life. Select and save the images that inspire you, and then note the details you particularly want. Remember, your house should be your own safe space to express yourself, and it becomes a lot homier when you add in your personal touch.
3. Details, Details, Details
Once you’ve settled on a look you want for your home, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. They say that the devil is in the details, but who says it can’t be fun to play around with ideas? For beginner DIY-ers, working on these small details can be your baby steps into the land of DIY. One of the most exciting ways to make an excellent first impression of your home is by focusing on accent pieces.
Accent pieces can refer to investing in attractive pendant lights for your hallway or dining area. You can also go with some eye-catching centerpieces for your coffee tables or any flat surfaces that look a bit empty. Miniature sculptures are inspired pieces, but decorative bowls have a dual purpose (you can put your keys or other knick-knacks here, for one). Invest in art pieces to hang on your walls, or if you have a bit of dull concrete on your patio, why not paint it with stencils to give it a tiled look? Consider displaying large plants inside your living room or in hallways if you’ve got a green thumb.
These tips are just a few ideas to get you started and help you get over your DIY jitters. You don’t have to start big when it comes to redecorating your home. A few touches here and there can spruce things up. But should you want to get more hands-on with redecorating your house, remember that there are many resources out there. Online sources will give you step-by-step guides on how to do things. On the other hand, it can’t hurt to look at real-world inspiration to redecorate your home the way you want it. Remember to have a plan in mind, go for a cohesive look, and focus on the details. Happy DIY-ing!
