There are times when we get used to our living quarters as much as we tend to overlook their ‘less finer’ qualities – be it the state of clutter and mess or the dilapidated conditions of the walls and ceilings. Unfortunately, that is not a benchmark of healthy and aesthetic living. However on the brighter side, the solutions to refurbish your living area entail simple measures that mostly require tiny chunks of your weekend time. So, without further ado, let us check out eight such easy yet nifty tips that would aid you to spruce up your precious living space in a snappy manner.
1) Colors, hues and tints –
The color of a surrounding is the first element that makes an impact of human eyes, and consequently his/her psychology. In other words, the paint job of the interior space is the most crucial visual element that defines the aesthetics of a room. To that end, a new coat of color is always helpful to draw the attention of your guests.
Moreover, you can experiment to a certain degree with various hues and tints of your preferred color. As a general thumb rule, light color schemes always make the room seem more spacious, while they also allow you to easily paint over. On the other hand, you can also focus on a singular accent wall with a darker color scheme – but use it strategically, so as not to impede upon the diffusion of natural sunlight inside the space. And, while you are at it, do check out our painting tips.
2) Artworks, wall-hangings and other showpieces complement the paint job –
The embellishment over your fresh coat of paint generally pertains to the host of artworks and novelty items available from various avenues. But setting those imposing canvas pieces or handcrafted wall-hangings is a bit of a tricky business – the art should match with the aesthetic flow of the room. For example, a modernist style room demands unobtrusive art with abstract tendencies. On the other hand, an ostentatious space is better off with florid and romantic Victorian set pieces.
In any case, one should keep in mind, the artwork doesn’t snatch the entire focus from the space; there are other important elements too, like furnishings and ambiance.
3) Setting up the ambiance with lighting –
The earlier entry brings us to the point of ambiance – the overall visual quotient of a room in volumetric terms. The lighting of the room aptly defines this spatial quality. In that regard, modern-day lighting fixtures come in various shapes and sizes, and that too with variant technologies. So, if you prefer to shower your (and your guests’) attention on the lighting source itself, it is better to opt for a central pendant lamp or chandelier-type light.
And, if you like a diffused setting of night-light for those subdued, intimate environments, recessed lighting should be your calling. Furthermore, you can also opt for background lighting or spotlighting in case you want to focus on a singular artwork or sculptural object inside the room.
4) Breaking up a room space-
In most modern apartments and even suburban residences, the dining room is fused onto the drawing room thus transforming the collective area into what we know as the living space. But an expansive space such as this does have its disadvantage in terms of user circulation and even the cleaning scope. The simple solution entails dividing up the room by semi-private barriers that come in various types of designs.
For example, a few days ago we talked about a shelving system that acts the unobtrusive room divider. Some designers have even showcased their resourceful side by assembling an entire makeshift wall made out of small plastic crates.
Furthermore, users have the option of choosing those screen-type barriers with visual openness. In fact, you can use screens to hide away any particular section of a room, or even create a flexible compartment with a specific function. Lastly, mixing and matching also works, with utilization of variant accent lighting and color schemes in those ‘divided’ areas within the living space.
5) Cover up the walls, floors and furnishings –
There are a myriad of options for covering up those dastardly walls (in case, paints and artworks have failed you). Just to list a few things, there are – removable wallpapers, shoji screens, colorful decals or even this product. All of the items are handy for the ‘face saving’ exercise that hides away those embarrassing scenarios of ugly dampness and paint scrapping.
As for floors, you can opt for area rugs that set up sitting patterns in an implied manner. For example, an area rug covering the floor around the sofa indirectly ensures the related user circulation (like watching TV) to be limited to that space. Similarly, area rugs can be used for creating other user-oriented spaces like lounging areas and dining areas.
And while you are at, why not cover up your furniture? Throws, slipcovers and even your own DIY fabric drapes might just add the ‘personalized’ flavor to the living room decor, including – sofas, chairs and tables.
6) Glasses and mirror might do the ‘expanding’ trick –
By virtue of their ethereal quality, the glasses and mirrors can add to the volumetric dimension of your living space, albeit as an ‘immaterial’ (as opposed to real physical) expansion. This spatial trick can be quite handy for cramped apartments, by endowing the interior zones with a false sense of extension.
The mirrors can also be seamlessly integrated into your room decor by painting their frames with the same color shade as your walls. In other words, they will pose as transparent portals that might even double up the virtual volume of the particular space.
7) Going green is a feasible option –
Remember the Seinfeld episode where both Jerry and George miss out on the garden front apartment? Well, the lesson to be learnt there is – a patio garden is a great way to add a dash of greenness to your mundane home environment, especially if you reside in a high-rise of an urban enclave.
What’s more, you can also grow your very own veggies an fruits inside your apartment! How so? Well, the novel solutions come in various forms, including hydroponic gardens and mini-greenhouses.
8) Cleanliness is next to godliness –
As is often the case, the simple method is the crucial process we tend to overlook. In that regard, the state of cleanliness is an important factor that ‘maintains’ the visual quality of your room decor. And by cleanliness, we not only mean the dirt-free surfaces and bacteria-shielded carpeting. The scope also encompasses the organization of the decor elements.
For example, you should arrange your showpieces and novelty items in a credible pattern along the shelves. The favorite designs should take the limelight, while the potential clutter should be kept hidden in storage. Such a simple decor ambit alludes to tastefulness on your part – which carries over to the organized state of the living space.
