Decor & Renovation
Ready to Refresh
Photography: Courtesy Homesense, IKEA | Ochre Velvet SOFA, $1,300, Capiz COFFEE TABLE, $250, Metal Cylinder SIDE TABLE, $200, 3-Light Spotlight Metal FLOOR LAMP, $100, Ochre Velvet Round TOSS CUSHION, $50, Stretched Canvas PAINTING with Wooden Frame, $130, homesense.ca.
Decor & Renovation
Ready to Refresh
This month, we show you how to give your space an update with low-cost tips, tricks and products we love.
1. Invest in multi-tasking furniture
Söderhamn LOVESEAT with Chaise in Finnsta White, $900, Artificial Potted Fejka Fiddle- Leaf FIG TREE, $70, ikea.ca.
From modular sofas and storage ottomans to nesting tables and furniture on wheels, these items can be moved around when the need arises, giving them a home in your home for years to come.
2. Install new curtains
Naturia Panel CURTAIN, 52" x 84", $30, bouclair.com.
Curtains should be hung so that they just brush the floor, no higher or lower. For a look that gives the room more height, try installing the curtain rod closer to the ceiling.
3. Bring the outdoors in
Nearly Natural Fiddle-Leaf Fig ARTIFICIAL TREE, $398, lowes.ca.
Large potted plants or small trees instantly bring freshness to a space. Alternatively, try placing a bouquet of fresh flowers in an artsy vase. Not interested in keeping live plants in your home? There are many faux branches, flowers and houseplants on the market that look as good as the real thing!
4. Design a gallery wall
SOFA BED with Black Metal Legs, $800, Metal and Fabric LOUNGE CHAIR in Oatmeal, $270, Calm Lake PRINT, $100, Furry Highland Cow Framed PRINT, $140, Landscape Percé Rock PRINT, $70, Brown Highland Cow PRINT, $50, Wheat Field PRINT, $140, Log Closeup PRINT, $50, bouclair.com.
Grouping frames together rather than spreading them throughout a room offers a curated look and leaves other wall space for larger individual items. A good rule of thumb? Make sure the centre of the artwork is 5 feet from the floor. For a statement piece to start your art wall, try one like this.
Gel-Embellished Abstract Framed ARTWORK, $170, bouclair.com.
5. Hang a larger than-life mirror
Antique MIRROR in Gold, 47", $395, mustsociete.com.
Decorate a wall in your home with a large mirror to make the space look bigger and brighter.
6. Display a bold print
MoMa.Studio Peacock Recycled Patchwork LUMBAR CUSHION, $112, simons.ca.
High-quality textiles in bold patterns or colours add a decorative pop when covering a single item, such as a small armchair. For a more cost-effective option, try using pricier fabrics on a throw or toss cushion.
7. Define your space with a rug
Tatiana RUG in Light Blue, 6'3" x 9'2", $89, structube.com.
A top-notch rug can be the eye candy of a room. Don’t forget to keep proportions in mind when purchasing—and measure twice, buy once!
8. Transform a table
Gold Marble NESTING TABLES, $399/ 2-piece set, zarahome.com.
A small occasional or bedside table can be given a new lease on life by removing the top and replacing it with a scrap piece of marble, granite or quartz (distributors often have offcuts at very reasonable prices). You can also get a similar look with a little DIY effort and some peel and stick stone-look paper.
9. Update your lighting
Cassiopeia PENDANT LIGHT in Brass, $119, structube.com.
Switching out old light fixtures for a new aesthetic doesn’t always come cheap, but there are some tricks you can use to achieve a welcome new look. For example, spray-painting a low-cost chandelier can make it look more sophisticated, and covering a tired lampshade with pretty paper, ribbon or fabric can give it a boost.
10. Wow your walls
Photography: Shutterstock
A lick of fresh paint or peel-and-stick wallpaper is the easiest budget-conscious way to update your rooms. Have some fun while you’re at it and go for an interesting treatment like colour-blocking, or painting geometric shapes, stripes or patterns on an accent wall or ceiling. For a subtler look, paint the trim a new hue.
11. Layer the textures
Wool Me Patchwork Delight THROW, $225, simons.ca.
Faux fur, knits, silk, linen, velvet, tassels, pompoms—you name it, infusing a room with a mix of fabrics and finishes adds tons of interest. And when used on accessories, those pieces can be easily switched out as the seasons (or your tastes) change.
12. Buy new knobs
Changing ordinary cabinet door handles may seem like a subtle move, but once you do it, you’ll see the ambiance in the room completely shifts. Materials like porcelain, leather and glass are on trend this season.
KNOBS in Pink, $8/pair, hm.com/ca.
Hammered Metal KNOB, $6, hm.com/ca.
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