With the start of another new year comes the urge to make pivotal New Year’s Resolutions. So many of us make choices about our lifestyle and goals for our future at this time of year. Why not include your home in those ambitious visions for this next season of your life?
I’ve come up with my very own list of the top 5 easy and inexpensive ways to refresh and reinvigorate your interiors in the new year. I’ve even included photos from some of my own interior design work to illustrate these useful tips. After all, most of us want instant gratification and minimal effort required. Trust me, I don’t blame anyone for that! After a busy holiday season, who doesn’t want quick and simple?
So here they are: Robinson Interiors’ Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home!
#5 Accent Colors
Update your accent pillows, throw blankets, and a few key accessories (think vases, picture frames, books, and other small items) with an exciting new accent color. Look to the current trends, considering the existing hues already present in your space. A fresh springy green goes with most colors or perhaps try incorporating some vivid red or deep rich purple if your current scheme allows.
Adding a fresh new accent color can completely freshen up your existing interiors! In this client’s home, I added a springy green majolica plate, some vintage books, and a pretty pottery vase to add a pop of color in an otherwise dark bookshelf interior.
#4 Lighting
Pick up some new portable lighting. Table lamps are sculpture that actually light up! Think of them as an important design element that can instantly update your space. Perhaps choose a colorful pottery base in the accent color you chose in #5, or something artsy and glamorous with metallic or mirrored finishes.
Don’t forget that lighting is sculpture that lights up! A new, more modern shape and a fresh updated shade can add an exciting new touch to your existing interior.
#3 Artwork
Refresh your artwork. Sometimes prints and pictures can get faded and tired over time. Swap them out with something fresh and current, again incorporating your new accent color. Even switching out the family photos in small tabletop frames can give you something new and interesting to look at. I try to change out those snapshots every year or so, to keep my eye engaged and interested.
Adding some new artwork which incorporates your fresh accent color can make a world of difference! In this client’s living room, I selected colorful table lamps and a pair of lovely updated botanical prints above the sofa to add a pop of teal to their mostly neutral interior. The otherwise bland space was instantly brightened and enhanced with these two simple additions.
#2 Plants
Switch up your houseplants. If you currently have tired and leggy plants, it might be time to euthanize them! Put those sad sprouts out of their misery and start over with fresh and healthy new specimens. Or if you prefer silk plants (which can often become dusty and faded over time) swap them out for live examples or invest in quality new faux greenery.
In this soothing bedroom, I added a pretty live succulent arrangement to each of the windowsills. Here, the colorful foliage adds texture and life to the space while making a simple yet powerful addition to the soothing colors in this restful space. It’s amazing how impactful something as simple as a houseplant can be!
#1 Wall Color
My number one way to quickly update your space for the new year is with an exciting new wall color. Try one of the very popular grey tones on the market to give your room an updated neutral envelope, or go bold with a dusky shade of blue. Whatever color you choose, a fresh new coat of interior paint will completely update the furnishings within your room. You’ll see your cherished possessions in a brand new light with fresh clean walls surrounding them! Sure, it’s a bit of effort clearing the room and preparing everything for painting, but what an opportunity to purge and start afresh in the new year. After painting, as you’re re-inserting all your existing furnishings and accessories, you’ll have a chance to evaluate each item and choose whether to keep or replace them with something exciting and new. This is the perfect time to incorporate a fresh new aesthetic in your home!
Adding a bright pop of color to your walls or even going with an updated neutral will instantly refresh your existing furnishings. Here I added a dose of Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year: Greenery. This fresh springy green hue enhances my client’s existing artwork (a cherished oil painting) and creates a fresh, appetizing color for this kitchen dining area.
If any of these Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions seem daunting to you, feel free to give me a call at Robinson Interiors. Or just shoot me an email at kristine@robinson.org and we can set up a time to meet!
I help people all the time with refreshing and updating their interiors, and this usually includes using many of my clients’ existing furnishings and accessories. Sometimes just a 1 hour color consultation is all that’s needed, or perhaps you’ve decided your furniture needs refreshing with a new layout and major pieces of upholstery. No problem! I’m here to help with accessorizing, paint colors, furnishings or whatever your interior design needs dictate.
In the meantime, I’m sending you all my best wishes for a very healthy and happy new year! My hope for you is that your home becomes a comforting haven where you can spend meaningful time with family and friends. Thanks for reading my blog today and stay tuned for future updates!
Until next time, make sure to like Robinson Interiors on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, and DO stay tuned for future posts about my work, travels, and design inspirations, not to mention tips and ideas for updating your own home!
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Kristine Robinson's Interiors (and so much more...) 