One Day Refresh: Breathe New Life into Your Space

When was the last time your space got a makeover? Perhaps you’re longing for a new look, but lack the time to create and implement a complete overhaul of your room(s). Take a deep breath and listen to this. You can update any room in your home in a single day with these tips. 

Paint an accent wall.

Painting a full room takes time. There’s identifying a color you can live with, taping off the trim, coat one, coat two. You get the idea. Painting an accent wall, however, can be relatively quick and painless. Pick one wall you want to highlight. Look at your existing décor for the right pop of color to complement your primary wall hue. What colors show up often in your accessories? Use your favorite as a guide for your accent wall color. 

Add a rug.

Another easy update lies just beneath your feet: your floor. Whether you’ve got hardwood floors or wall to wall carpet, adding an area rug can update the look and feel of your space. Even changing out a rug that’s already there for something new will refresh the room. Here’s a hint: placing an area rug down and arranging your furniture around it can delineate a seating space. Or you can define a cozy reading nook in a corner of your room. Remember, the rug’s texture, color, and pattern can also help create a mood for the space.

Update your lighting.

How about a simple, often overlooked change that can yield dramatic results? Updating your light fixtures can be impactful! Something as simple as changing the light bulb to one with a soft, warmer glow can influence the ambiance of your room. Swapping out the lampshades on your existing fixtures can change the entire look and feel, too. If you really want to step things up, invest in a can of spray paint to bring a new look to your old lamp base. Or shop for a brand new, fabulous fixture that can be the centerpiece of the room.

Change up your accessories.

Odds are you’ve already thought about trading out your throw pillows and other accent pieces. You may even have considered updating your window treatments (great ideas, by the way!). Don’t overlook the difference that updating smaller accessories can make too. Pick up new drawer pulls to change up your dresser and end tables. Swap out door knobs and light switch/outlet plates for something new. In the bathroom, a new soap tray and toothbrush holder can be a good start. Changing up the towel rack (and the towels that hang on it!) can alter the room.

Pay attention to the details of your space and change what you can. All those little bits add up to dramatic impact!

by Anjie Cho


3 Tips on Color in Your Home, With About.com's Diana Hathaway Timmons

We've proudly been featured more than once in About.com Home's excellent articles on color and interior design tips, and we're huge fans of Diana Hathaway Timmons, About.com's Color Expert. Since Diana's got such a keen eye for color, and feng shui is so intimately linked, we thought we'd ask her a few questions and feature her!

AC: What are three key tips one should consider when painting a color for their home?

DHT: Choosing paint color for your home is such a personal decision, but everyone can benefit from a few tips to make it stress-free. 

1. Don't get overwhelmed by your color choices. Narrow down your color choices as quickly as possible so that you're working with the smallest number of options. Look to your favorite paint brand for special palettes that were curated into smaller collections. These collections can help you narrow down your choices so that you're not trying to choose between 200 shades of blue. 

2. Study the trends, but choose the colors you love. Color inspiration from the latest trends can help you get ideas for your color palette, but they're just a starting point. The paint colors you choose will be with you 24/7, so choose what you love, (even if it's not trendy.) If you love some of the on-trend colors but don't want to commit them to your walls, you can always go neutral or white with your paint and add color accents with decorative accessories.

3. This tip isn't really glamorous, but it's such a necessity when you're choosing paint color. Be sure to sample and test wall colors before committing. Factors like lighting and sunlight can affect how your paint color looks. Even your flooring or cabinets can completely derail a color scheme, so take the time to sample your paint color. 

What colors do you have in your home and workspace, and why?

My walls at home and in my workspace are pretty neutral in Sherwin-Williams Honied White. A neutral color flowing through the house gives me more freedom to play with color in furnishings and decor. My workspace is also neutral because I work so much with color that there is always something colorful on a shelf or hung on the wall, and some of my own artwork and photography.

The master bedroom has a fabulous accent wall that I just added in Farrow & Ball Dix Blue. The room is pretty plain and boxy, so an accent wall was essential. Dix Blue works perfectly with the whole-house color palette of aqua, gold, and brown. I love this color palette because it reminds me of the beaches in Southern California, where I grew up. 

How have you created a holistic space for yourself?

My holistic space is my living room. It's an open space with high ceilings and three large windows looking out at a Japanese maple and flowering plum tree. There are no electronics in the room, just cozy furniture. I use the living room as a quiet space where I plan and daydream. The room's afternoon light streams in from the west. Though I'm from California, I live near Seattle now, so every little bit of sunshine is a relaxing luxury for me.

by Anjie Cho


Diana Hathaway Timmons

Diana Hathaway Timmons is the color expert for Color.About.com, a lifestyle writer, and designer. Color is her passion, reaching millions of people with her color expertise. Diana's has contributed to publications and websites that include Huffington Post, MSN, BHG, and Reader's Digest, and she has authored the book, "Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen." 


The Secret to Flexible Decorating: the Picture Ledge

The Secret to Flexible Decorating- the Picture Ledge.jpg

Does this scenario sound familiar? You cuddle into the corner of your favorite chair. You pull a comfy throw onto your lap while closely hugging a cup of steaming tea, coffee or fire water. And you sigh, content and happy, until your eye rests upon that framed bit of artwork on the wall and you realize you’re ready for a change.

The good news is that the things we hang on our walls can be easily swapped out and updated for a fresh, new look. The challenge, however, can be finding a comparable piece to hang in that exact spot. Can the new piece use the same nail hole? Will it fit in the space of the item that you’re replacing? Will you need to create new holes in the wall for another sort of hanger? Do additional items need to be moved around to accommodate your new find? The more change this seemingly simple update requires, the more reluctant you may be to make it. 

Don’t worry! There’s a simple solution. Put down the hammer and don’t hang another thing before you read this. The secret to creating an easily updatable room is the picture ledge. Whether you like to replace your wall art each season or you want the flexibility to change things up on a whim, a picture ledge gives you a creative space to easily swap pieces without drilling new holes in the wall and alleviates spacing headaches each time your décor evolves. 

Let’s talk about the basics. Start by selecting the ledge length that best suits your decorating style and room size. You can find pre-made ledges in a variety of lengths or you can DIY a ledge to your specifications. If you’re going the make-it-yourself route, get creative with the materials you use. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration and decorations for such a project. 

Generally, if you’re going to place the picture ledge over a couch, place the bottom edge of the shelf about 10 inches above the back of the couch. If you’re going to hang it elsewhere, keep in mind, you’re aiming for “eye level” artwork on a wall. A good rule of thumb is to hang your ledge 4 to 4 ½ feet from the floor. 

What goes on the ledge? For starters, there’s the obvious framed artwork. It is, after all, called a picture ledge. But don’t stop there! These ledges with their grooves and/or framed edges are ideal for displaying things like decorative plates, forward facing books, thin vases, and collectibles. Think outside the box! Hang some picture ledges in your bedroom and display your favorite shoes. Use these unique shelves in the kitchen to arrange your go-to bottles of spices and seasonings. Try a picture ledge in a child’s bedroom or play room to display those awesome Lego creations and favorite toys. Anything that will securely fit on the flat space available is fair game. Have fun with it, and the next time you glance up and realize it’s time for a change, go for it! Swap out your old shelf décor for something fresh and new without any worry.

by Anjie Cho