So Fresh. So Clean: How to Freshen Up Your Space for the New Year
Ever since we hit the ground running to start a new decade, we’ve been hearing all about trends for 2020 and how beautiful this new tile is or how durable this flooring is. But most of us aren’t involved in renos so I say, just start out simple and work in phases if that’s the goal. Get it clean. Get it fresh. Keep it simple. Read on for some really easy ways to achieve this.
1. Clean and Declutter
It’s February. Aaaaahhhh, the month dedicated to all things love. But just in case you’re blinded by Cupid’s arrows, I’m here to bring you back to reality and remind you that Spring is just around the corner. Yup. It’s creepin’ and that means spring cleaning is in the air. Yay! Just kidding.
Seriously though, most of us don’t like it but I believe it’s an absolute necessity. Why not get a jumpstart on all that deep cleaning now and perhaps you’ll save some time to do the things you actually want to do…like travel somewhere fabulous for Spring Break!
Start the year off right by cleaning and decluttering your house – that’s half the battle. Just do it. Go through all of your bedrooms, closets, etc. and separate what you find (and haven’t used in the last six months or longer) into three (3) piles: keep, donate, and discard. The items you donate will be a blessing to someone else and it will no longer be a culprit of stealing your precious real estate. Win-win.
Then comes the fun part (not). Organize what you decide to keep by using decorative baskets, containers, and plastic bins that you can label. Yes, I know this sucks. But you’ll be glad you knocked it out and will look prettier.
2. Switch up throw pillows and area rugs
Now, here’s the for real, for real fun part! This is the information you’ve been waiting for, right? So, an easy way to freshen up and update your space is by switching out your throw pillows if you have them. If you don’t, here’s your opportunity to do something new!
I find that having pillow inserts makes it super simple because you can change the pillow cover whenever you want. You don’t have to worry about buying a whole new throw pillow each time. You can purchase affordable ones on Etsy and there are so many colors, prints, and fabrics to choose from! There are also several online stores that sell them too, so be on the lookout for awesome sales.
Another way you can change the look of your space is by swapping out your area rug. If you want some colors to pop but feel that’s a little out of your comfort zone, this is where you can slowly introduce it to the room.
Infuse color through your area rug. It can be a bold geometric pattern or a neutral color rug with small accents of color. Don’t be scurrred!
3. Add greenery (live plants)
This is one of my absolute favorites! Adding some beautiful live greenery into your décor scheme is very impactful and can easily transform a room. It’s a way to bring the outdoors in – a little bit of nature woven into your living space.
There are so many plants you can choose from and what I love about that is if you have a “black thumb”, you can select a low maintenance plant that doesn’t require a whole lot of TLC. My go-to is the snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue. It’s a great design element and you don’t have to water often. Done and done.
Fake plants, although an option, are dust collectors in my opinion. Manufacturers are coming up with more plants that are life-like but there’s just no substitute for the real thing. Plus, the ones that look similar to real plants are often pricey so if you’re going to spend that kind of money, you may as well just go for the real one. Fake plants still have an artificial look to them and I personally don’t like that.
A huge bonus of real greenery is that plants improve indoor air quality. The snake plant is a great example of this because it purifies the air by absorbing toxins through the leaves and produces pure oxygen. Now who doesn’t want that in their life? Inhale. Exhale. That’s good stuff.
4. Paint refresh
If you really want to freshen up your space and change the entire look, paint is your friend. Painting a room is the least expensive way to make an impactful change to a room.
Paint can take a moody, dark room to a bright, happy room in no time. You can paint a whole room or house. Or it can simply be just an accent wall to give you that nice pop of color and add some interest.
Always be vigilant and look for sales! Sherwin Williams often has 30% off paints and stains.
5. Update or add decorative accessories
Take a hard look at your décor. When did you purchase those items? Do you still like them? Does it fit with the look you’re going for in your space?
If it’s been awhile since you’ve traversed any home décor stores, you may want to really consider making that trip. You don’t need a lot. I would start out with two to three items to replace or add to if you don’t have any decorative pieces.
Remember, less is more. Don’t clutter up your rooms (especially after you took all that time to clean and declutter!). Every wall and every open space does NOT have to be filled! Let your eyes rest, they’ll thank you.
Having a difficult time choosing what pieces will work well together? Don’t stress! Invest in just one statement piece to bring in that wow factor. It can be artwork or a funky floor lamp. Be creative and have fun with it!
I love simple. You can still get stylish with simple. With so many trends out there, it can be overwhelming. Don’t be doing the most, instead, hit the “easy” button. When we start with the basics, it streamlines our busy lives. In many cases, small changes can be the most impactful.
Use these tips to create a new look for your space this year and watch the transformation happen right before your eyes! So fresh. So clean.
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