Mary Beth Breckenridge
Akron Beacon Journal
On dull January days, I often find myself indulging in a little dreaming about how I might make my home better.
A new paint colour for the laundry room? New tile in the sun porch?
The possibilities are delicious.
Perhaps it’s time finally to paint over the sports team colours in my son’s bedroom or update the guest bathroom with the awful cabbage-rose border that seemed so stylish those many years ago.
Sometimes little changes can make a big difference, and the satisfaction you get just might encourage you to keep going.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
n Edit. Most of us have too much stuff. We accumulate things little by little, but we never seem to take anything away. Before you know it, our rooms are cluttered, physically or visually or both.
The cure for a bloated room is editing, and it’s a project you can tackle in just a few hours. Empty the room of everything except the big pieces of furniture, and then put back only the things you really like or need. You might be surprised at how many possessions you can easily do without, and how much better the room looks without them.
n Explore. When you live in a home long enough, you stop seeing it the way visitors do. You don’t notice the nicks in the woodwork or the rust on the registers.
Once in a while, it’s helpful to walk around your house and look for all the little things that need to be painted, replaced or otherwise attended to. Take a notebook or recorder with you to take note of what needs doing, then make a to-do list that you can tackle one chore at a time.
Take a camera and look at the pictures — often you’ll notice unsightly things in a photo that you’ve ceased to see as you walk past the eyesore every day.
n Pin. If you haven’t yet discovered Pinterest, check it out. The social media site (pinterest.com) is a virtual bulletin board where users “pin” all sorts of ideas.
It’s not just about home decorating, but that’s what I like it for most. I love poring over the pictures, and I almost always come away inspired.
When you find something you like, you pin it to a board you’ve created. I have boards full of ideas for individual rooms in my house, fireplace mantel decorations, craft projects, organizing tips and even one I’ve labelled “bookshelf porn.” No, it’s not smut. I just really, really, really love bookshelves.
Spend an hour on Pinterest, and I guarantee you’ll come away with at least one idea to make your home better — if you can tear yourself away long enough to actually accomplish it.
n File. Creating a design file is sort of the manual version of Pinterest.
A design file is just a place to gather photos and information that inspire you. I use a plain old file folder, but a binder or shoe box would work just as well.
When you come across something you like — a picture in a magazine, a paint chip, a swatch of fabric — put it in the file. It doesn’t even have to relate to a project you have planned. It’s just a place for gathering stuff you like.
Then periodically look through the file. You might be surprised to discover something that’s just what you’re looking for at that moment.
n Paint. It’s been said that paint is one of the cheapest ways to change your surroundings. A gallon or two of paint and a weekend’s worth of work can transform a room.
But painting the walls isn’t the only way to make a difference. A fresh coat of paint can turn an old chest of drawers into a focal point for an entryway. A new colour on the front door boosts curb appeal. A coat of chalkboard paint turns a refrigerator or a cupboard door into a fun family message centre,
My niece recently put a coat of glossy black paint on the outdated but sturdy dining room set she inherited from my parents. I swear it looks better than it ever did new.
The best part about paint? It’s not a big commitment. If the project doesn’t turn out as you’d envisioned, you can always paint over it.
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