My friends - I find the internet to be overwhelming. I get one little idea and type in one little search, and then I plummet down a giant rabbit-hole and come out of it like two hours later, disoriented and more confused than when I began. Ya feel me? Yeah I know you do. That's just how it works these days!
The thing is, it can cause delays in progress because it's just too much. Now that little idea became something overwhelming and you've added it to your list of things to procrastinate. If you find yourself dreaming about updating your home but you're getting nowhere, there is a lot of content out there to send you a million directions but it's hard to decipher where to actually BEGIN. It starts with a throw pillow and ends with "honey, I think we need to vault our ceilings and tear down this wall".
Here are some of my favorite first steps to take when you want to breathe new life into your living space - things you can do affordably and TODAY - you know, before you start swinging a sledge hammer around:)
- Throw Pillows: HAHA see, I told you it starts with throw pillows! I am biased here because pillows are where my business began in 2016. But the truth is, they are sooo easy to change out as your color and style preferences shift over time, and when you choose them strategically they can make even the most basic furniture look instantly renewed. They are also a key method to tying a room together, THIS one https://amzn.to/4fhLezF and THIS one https://amzn.to/3SjZXjE will match and compliment pretty much anything. It's cheaper to do this than buy a new couch, of course, so start here before making bigger purchases.
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Assess Your Walls: Living out here in Sacramento I've developed a hatred for tan walls. I swear the whole region got painted a Tuscan tan in 1998 and never looked back. Guess what, you don't have to live like this anymore. Lighten up the room, like, NOW. When the setting is right, a tan wall can work, but generally, probably not. Also if you have low ceilings, a light room will help it feel larger and more open. Painting a room is a fast and affordable fix, AND it has bought me so much time when saving up for new furniture or new flooring. My favorites are Creamy by Sherwin-Williams and Swiss Coffee by Behr, both have neutral undertones and fit in anywhere.
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Tone It Down: I see a lot of people try way too many things in one room and it ends up appearing chaotic. Too many unrelated colors and patterns just makes a place look busy and to me it is subconsciously exhausting. You don't need to cover every inch of wall space, you don't need a million nic-nacs on every empty surface, it is O-K to let there be space. There is an art to an eclectic look, it has more to do with curation along a common theme (color, time period, pattern, etc) rather than just throwing a bunch of "stuff" together. That's where the chaos comes in. Try to drill down on one or two themes that suit you then go that way! You don't have to display or even keep every home décor item you own. Sell the extra stuff on Facebook and be done with it - use that extra cash to buy the paint:)
- Pick A Style: Instead of throwing money at all of the styles you like and trying to jam them all together - take a look at the images of homes you admire on Pinterest or in your Insta feed. Do they all have soft shades of blue? Mid-Mod clean, simple lines? Lot's of greenery and natural elements? Find out what you are drawn to over and over again and try to bring that into your home. You may find you like lots of different themes (I do too) but one or two are going to bubble up to the top and once you recognize what those are you will have a more clear direction for your own home and your purchasing decisions going forward!
- Make It YOURS: Making a home authentically yours is one of my primary goals, ALWAYS, and it's totally FREE. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply look around your home and pick out some of your most favorite items, then build from there. Is it a collection of paintings, vintage rugs, brass candlestick holders, your junior high pottery projects? Make sure that the things which you love and have meaning to you stay. There are ways to make them work, but they are you, so they belong. Maybe it's not an object but you love the color green, make sure you add a green blanket, wall art, more plants, just find a way to get your green! You still want to feel like it's "your" home, not just "a" home.
- Get A Fresh Take: Sometimes you're too close to that project (you know, from living in it and all). For those for those who still feel like you need more guidance and another set of eyes, you can book a Refresh Consultation with yours truly and get a personalized plan for your space. Maybe you need some help with furniture layout, color schemes, product sources, finding your style, I will be able to point you in the right direction. I follow up with a summary of the action plan we discuss as well as any sources related to our plan so you have a clear direction to move forward! To book your time or learn a bit more about the offerings, CLICK HERE or send an email to liz@ellejayhome.com
I hope some (or all) of these tips are helpful as you work on making some changes around your house. Most people can make simple changes to update their homes, you do not need to start over and invest in brand new furniture or even a remodel (if you don't want to, that is). I can help you work with what you've got and suggest easy and affordable enhancements. Have any questions? Leave them below and let's keep the convo going!
xo
Liz