The countdown is on, and we have one week left to clear out of the house you see here and begin living in the dusty, quirky, perplexing mélange of spaces at the new house. Oh that we could simply tweak the decor and avoid remodeling…it would seem every house is a fixer when you’re this freaky about design! 11 Simple Decor Tweaks to Enhance Your Interiors highlights friendly priced decor ideas as well as no-cost decorating reminders. After all, lovely design is ever within reach, regardless of the budget. (This story with frugal French farmhouse finds further illustrates the ease of shopping in pajamas for dozens of relatively inexpensive French inspired design essentials on Amazon).

11 Simple Decor Tweaks to Enhance Your Interiors

1. Purge & Carefully Edit
This tip is not so much concerned with downsizing or becoming a minimalist as it is seeing your space with fresh eyes.
Removing accessories (and if possible, everything else too) will likely help you to re-imagine the room.

Starting fresh with a spare look and then layering allows the space to speak about what is needed and what is not.
It may not be more decorative items you need…but less!

Consider What Simplicity Means to You
2. Add Eclectic Charm Easily
It never hurts to change out a throw pillow or ten, whether that means shopping for new or referring to your existing collection.
No need to overthink whether patterns, prints and colors clash since you may discover unexpected interest from mixing disparate ones.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

My favored palette for pillows is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.

I never tire of tone on tone pillows made from: linen, nubby vintage French sheets, velvet, and reclaimed canvas as well as grainsacks from Europe.


3. Create a Fine Romance
Chandeliers (especially candle-style) add so much ambiance when your mission is to infuse a little romance into the design. In my own home, I have them in almost every room (mostly vintage ones, but new models are safer!).

Here is a chandelier very similar to one in our kitchen:

If you love the look of an antiqued silver finish but can only find standard silver or chrome versions, keep in mind you may be able to buff on metallic silver leaf products like THIS to add age.

Here are a few low-cost chandeliers I love as well:




4. Mood Lighting
DIMMER SWITCHES (find here) ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE DESIGN WORLD! You could live without them, but why!?!

4. Welcome Sparkly Clean
Even if a thorough deep cleaning of your space does not seem to align with how you conceptualize decor, trust! A sparkling freshly scrubbed interior may just transform your perspective and won’t hurt.
5. Freshen the Wall Color
Is there anything that delivers more bang for the buck than a fresh coat of paint? You’ll be hard pressed to find anything that will change the mood, enliven the decor, and breathe new life into an interior like paint!

Snag a Professional Tool

Considerations for Neutral Paint Colors
If you decide to re-paint your room in a shade of white, don’t choose a random white. First, read this ditty to choose the right white paint to understand the process to arrive at the proper white for your room’s unique exposure and mood.


6. Save Labor Costs
It definitely goes without saying, but occasionally I forget not everyone reading this blog is a designer or fellow blogger. Even if you have not tackled home decor projects on your own before, it is never too late to begin doing so.
Watch youTubes (like the one below which walks you through the steps of painting…get ready for it…fabric!) Do you have a castoff item of furniture on which you might practice?
7. Add an Accent Wall
Sometimes a little paint in a contrasting hue can transform a wall from hohum to a statement.

In other cases, you may want to make a textural statement.

For example, in the case of transforming a lumpy bumpy wall in our bedroom (below), there was no chance paint alone could solve the ugly issues.

While it costs more than a couple hundred dollars for a reclaimed wood statement wall (covering a wall this size with Stikwood Hamptons is in the $1,200 neighborhood), it packs a big bang for the buck.

8. Treasure Hunting at Home
It’s a tip included in every story about decorating on a budget, yet it always bears repeating. Shop your house, basement, garage, garden shed, closets, and attic with fresh eyes.

If what you find seems all wrong, consider it a win all the same…donate it knowing someone else will appreciate it!


9. Shift & Swap
You can also rotate the existing furniture and decor in your home.

I am forever swapping out chairs, tables, and pillows to suit our changing needs and moods.


10. Scent-imental Journey
Scented candles may facilitate a tranquil mood with their olfactory appeal, and when their design is lovely…even better.





11. Play With Fun Factor
The beauty of an accent chair like this swivel model (below) lies in the fact that it has fun factor. It doesn’t just boast classic retro good looks…it also spins.


BONUS TWEAKS: Collect Ideas via Pinterest
PIN images in POSTS (start by clicking HERE to pin this one!) and click over to my Pinterest to repin for future reference the inspiration that moves you. (Your pinning spreads the word and supports this blog’s free content!)

You may also collect ideas from youTube, where you’ll find a variety of home tours like this one of an English inspired cottage:
Thanks so much for entertaining these simple ideas!

If you have a moment, mosey on over HERE for 10 more decor ideas. 🙂

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
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Watching the video has encouraged me to paint my wing chair. I’ve been wanting to paint it but have read they are crisp afterwards. Now, I know how to do it properly, I will get on that. My other solution was to recover, so I can always fall back on that plan, if I don’t like it.
Author
I wish we could have guarantees so painting upholstery wasn’t such a big risk. I’m still happy with my little settee I painted – while the fabric didn’t stay satiny-y, it’s not too different than a heavy canvas. I knew it was worth the risk since it doesn’t get used often and cost $10 at the thrift store! 🙂
Each day when I open my emails I quickly dive into your wonderful messages and photos. Thank.you so much Michele.
Author
That’s so awesome to hear, Marianne – thank you for coming here and supporting this blog – it’s a pleasure to create content for you. 🙂
We’ve just downsized to a condo that badly needs help, especially the kitchen. It’s small with an eastern exposure. We’re painting cabinets a light taupe with quartz countertops and stainless appliances. What’s got me stumped is what to replace the old fluorescent overhead light with to provide good light and look fresh and new. Do I simply go with can lights or an easier replacement for the ceiling fixture? Any suggestion would be so appreciated. BTW, I love your neutral palette and everything about your home.
Author
Congrats on your downsize and thanks for the kind words. The good news is I bet anything you replace that fluorescent fixture with is going to be a huge improvement, yes? Recessed cans can definitely do the job (we have em in our kitchen which has standard 8′ ceilings), and another possibility is a flush mount cluster fixture – you can see some examples here: https://rstyle.me/+5tWnenXzbTYNt7npy8eLNg What may help you decide is to search Pinterest for your kitchen type (galley, etc.) and look for images which show the ceiling. Hope this helps!
These are the best decor ideas…so good to be reminded of them! Loved all 3 videos! So many talented people out there…thanks for introducing new ones to us!
Author
You bet, Amy. Hope you’re having a pleasant week. Our snow is melting so spring cannot be far away! 🙂