Simple Decorating Ideas With Big Impact

Over the last year, I have been slowly but surely making small changes to my house that have been adding up to some big impact! For example:

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• Bathroom cabinets makeover
• Re-tiled the kitchen and laundry room
• New couches and throw pillows
• A quick and easy window valance
• A bathroom mini-makeover
• An office inspiration wall
• Repainted basement apartment kitchen
• Turned a bedroom into a home office

Now my friend Natali and I are working on repainting all the cabinets in my kitchen WHITE!  I have always wanted a white kitchen…so I am very excited and can’t wait to share it with you when it’s done.

But decorating your home doesn’t always have to be a big project like painting your whole kitchen! Even small changes can have a BIG impact.

Here are some more simple, inexpensive decorating tricks to update your home:

Oversized Artwork

Create a focal point in a room using oversized artwork. It’s a nice solution for filling an empty wall and the great thing about it is that you can use anything as inspiration. Let your imagination run wild!

Accent Pillows

Pillows are an easy, inexpensive way to change the entire look of a larger piece you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) part with, such as a sofa, club chair, or loveseat. 

Create A Gallery

Get creative—buy a random assortment of frames in different shapes and sizes, or all the same frames and mats for a polished look.

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Bath Refresher

Change your shower curtain, or just the liner. Add fragrant candles and a small bouquet. Clear the counters of everything except your prettiest essentials.

Wallpaper the Back of Shelves

Try papering the back of a cabinet. Much more of an impact than paint. While you’re at it, rearrange your shelves.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Mirrors can make your rooms seem larger and more open.  They act like another window, practically doubling natural light. Find an interesting mirror at a thrift store, and paint the frame.

Table Lamps In The Kitchen

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Light kitchen countertops with inexpensive desk lamps rather than paying an electrician to install undercabinet lighting. The extra illumination is more than functional — it also makes countertops shine.

Creative Backsplash

Just because you didn’t splurge on tile doesn’t mean you should neglect your backsplash space completely. Hang a few tiles, trivets, or trays on the kitchen backsplash, paint it with chalkboard paint.

Chalkboard Paint Decor

The steely color of chalkboard paint makes a dramatic focal point in an entryway, kitchen or mudroom.

Hang It Up

A freestanding coatrack provides a space to hang clothes that are prone to ending up on the floor. It’s an especially handy addition to an entry way or a guest bedroom.

Enchanting Entrance

Consider sprucing up your entryway. Start by bringing in a small dresser, table, or bench to create a focal point. Then lay a rug and some accessories.  A mirror also adds style and function.

Spell It Out

“State the obvious” with large block letters like “eat” in the kitchen or “bunk beds” in a kids room. It’s an easy way to personalize your rooms.

Raise The Roof!

Hang curtains near the ceiling rather than just above the window trim. It gives the illusion of height — great for a small room or a low ceiling.

Rearrange The Room

Here’s a solution that doesn’t cost a cent! You’ll be surprised at the inspiration that will come your way when you move everything out of a room and start with a blank slate.

Going Green

You don’t need a green thumb to green up your living space. Opt for low-maintenance live varieties like a philodendron or pothos. If you really do have a “black thumb” when it comes to plants…consider artificial. Some of the “fake” ones look identical to the real thing.

And last but certainly not least…..one of the most cost efficient home decor purchases you can make with the greatest impact is an area rug.

They are often the first thing that catches the eye as you walk into a room. I recently added an area rug under the table in our kitchen and I couldn’t believe the difference it made in the overall look and feel of the room!

I also liked the feel of it on my feet! :-)  Much nicer than cold tile when you’re sitting down to dinner (especially since I’m almost always barefoot in the house. You can take the girl out of California, but you can’t take California out of the girl!)

It is a SmartStrand rug by Mohawk and it’s perfect for our kitchen because it has permanent stain and soil protection built right into the fibers, and it’s easy to clean! All you need is a dishrag, warm water, and mild dish soap. Even tough stains, like ketchup, mustard, red Kool-Aid, and even red wine will clean easily out of SmartStrand carpet.

And talk about DURABLE! Mohawk actually carpeted the rhino enclosure at a zoo in Birmingham, Alabama. After Ricko the Rhino lived on the carpet for 2 weeks, Mohawk removed the carpet and had it professionally cleaned using only hot water extraction…and the carpet looked good as new! The next year, they had six African elephants at the Dallas Zoo live on SmartStrand carpet for two weeks…and the result was the same.

I figure if it can handle THAT kind of wildlife…it should easily handle OUR zoo! :-)

Interested in winning a new Mohawk area rug to transform a room in YOUR house?

What room in your home could use a new rug?