5 Simple Ways To Update Your Home Decor

Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you’ve had a great week!  If you missed my post yesterday about the 5 Simple Ways ebook, be sure to download your free copy!  Today, I’m excited to share 5 Simple Ways To Update Your Home Decor. Make your home the best it can be for the least amount of money possible with these tips!

Here are my five simple tips to update your home decor…

1.  Declutter and dejunk.

It’s easy to get the cart before the horse and begin decorating before cleaning out and cleaning up. Decorating is the fun part, but by decluttering old paperwork, donating items to the thrift store and selling unnecessary furniture, you will be able to decorate much more efficiently and you might even make a bit of money to fund your decorating update! Don’t be afraid to get rid of what you don’t love any longer!

2.  Add architectural interest.

My very favorite way to warm up a space and make it feel “lived in” is to add architectural interest.  I’m a sucker for vintage windows, my old stove board, ironwork and board and batten. In our old house, we installed board and batten on the extremely-textured walls. It made a dramatic change!!

Before

Yowza! After!

The board and batten method we used wasn’t cheap. Because of the imperfections in the bumpy walls, we installed paneling so the wall would be smooth between the strips.  My friend Decor Chick has a super-inexpensive board and batten tutorial that rocks!

 3. Paint a piece of furniture.

If you’ve never painted a piece of furniture before, prepare to get addicted. I’m no expert at painting furniture like my friends Shaunna and Kate, but I’ve achieved some good results.  I’ve snagged beat up furniture at yard sales and thrift shops that is just begging for a new life.  One of these pieces is my apple green desk which everyone loves. I took a risk painting it green, but it still makes me smile and it’s perfect for every season!

Just lovely!  The white garden stool is also a thrift-shop-rescued piece that paint totally changed!

I completely transformed this laminate nightstand with spray paint, a little sanding, stenciling and new knobs. It is one of my favorite pieces!

My friend Kate just took her readers on a little shopping trip for her 8 Essential Furniture Painting Supplies! I say ditto.

4.  Beautify your bookshelves.

Bookshelves aren’t just for books and collecting dust.  Consider using a shelf or two to display decorative accessories or photo frames. This small addition will add character and personality to an otherwise “boring” shelf of books…and it’s basically free!

Here you can see how I transitioned bookcases in our living room {2 houses ago} from cluttered to simple and neat.  There’s nothing “wrong” with the more cluttered look. I just got tired of it and I really do like having to move fewer items when dusting.

I’m sure someone will mention that the books are turned backwards in the “after” photo. I’m a weirdo who enjoys treasure hunting for specific books. Ha!

Give your bookshelves some “oomph” that reflects your personality!

5.  Seasonally decorate a shelf or mantel.

You might think that decorating seasonally is a lot of work, but it can be as much or as little as you want.  Whether you go all-out for every single holiday or if you just rearrange a few things as season change, either choice is a great way to keep a mantel {or a shelf} fresh and new throughout the year.

Above, you can see a few of my seasonal mantels – Spring, Summer, 4th of July, Fall and Christmas.  Some are simple and others are more extravagant.

Do whatever floats your boat. The possibilities are endless!

If you’re looking to update your home decor after the holidays, I hope these 5 simple tips have inspired you!!

What is your favorite simple tip to update your home decor?

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Check out the other 5 Simple Ways series posts below! There’s SO much incredible information on saving money, being more efficient, organizing, fashion, couponing and more!

• Springs Bargains-5 Simple Ways To Save More By Wasting Less
• Heavenly Homemakers- 5 Simple Ways To Accomplish More Each Day
• A Familiar Path- 5 Simple Ways To Make The Most Of Your Pictures
• Smockity Frocks- 5 Simple Ways To Occupy Preschoolers
• The Happy Housewife- 5 Simple Ways To Save Money In 2012
• Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures- 5 Simple Ways To Save Money In The Kitchen
• I’m In Organizing Junkie- 5 Simple Ways To Organize Without Spending Big Bucks
• Balancing Beauty and Bedlam- 5 Simple Ways To Freshen Up Your Wardrobe for 2012
• Southern Savers- 5 Simple Ways To Not Get Overwhelmed in Couponing