Paint a Room

Every few seasons, it’s a good idea to view your decor with new eyes. Multiple studies show that colors affect our moods, and painting is by far the easiest and least expensive way to dramatically alter a room. The design choice you make should match or complement any key pieces of art or furniture with which you do not intend to part. Use a color wheel and take photos with you to the paint store to make sure you’ve got the right accent. Many companies that produce paint conveniently offer color themes from which to chose. Take the feel of your home from bold, vibrant summer colors to the warmth of fall with a simple switch in undertones.

Embrace a Nautical Theme

Combine a little bit of rope with a dash of creativity for a creative stay-cation in your home. Visible rope on a round hanging mirror gives a room a boat-like feel. Alternately, wrapping rope around a mirror creates a similar effect. Putting rope along a stairwell or around a banister can bring synergy to the room. Accent the look with rope coasters made with a glue gun to bring the look together. Don’t want to fiddle with sliding door hardware? Use vertical lines of rope a few inches apart to section the room; this is a great alternative to overpriced floor coverings that can be hard to clean.

Recycle an Old Bookcase

Books can get dusty and heavy if they’re not frequently picked up. After you’ve made the charity drop-off of used books, that old bookcase can transform into curio storage or be extra pantry storage. A new coat of paint will match it to your bathroom decor, or a new coat of stain places it nicely in a rustic kitchen. If you want to combine this idea with the nautical theme, remove shelves and hang them, anchoring each shelf with a single knot on the underside of each corner. If you’ve got larger books you’re keeping, use them to rest against the rope instead of bookends.

Transform Found Objects

Insert a cushion into the bottom of a claw-foot tub or into the hole of a painted tire to convert an unused object into a unique and creative talking point for guests. New seating is an easy project that takes little effort and yields an immediate room-altering reward. Two-by-fours can be inserted into concrete blocks for a DIY bench. Put a circular piece of wood over the top of a tire, cover it with sisal to create a charming ottoman, or elevate it with wooden legs of various lengths for a bar stool or low side table. Pallets can be stacked, painted, and nailed together to create a one-of-a-kind coffee table.

Make an Artistic Headboard

Spending a few minutes tying some easy knots from heavy string will revamp your bed and and accent your wall color. You could also use an old door by painting it to create a storybook feel for a child’s room. Even if you don’t consider yourself artistic, a few careless splashes of paint on a solid black or white headboard background can take a bedroom from boring to modern.