SMALL Decorating Changes: How to Live Large

Sometimes it is about the big bold moves. Fully gutting and revamping a dark, busy bathroom or kitchen, for example. Transformation from depressing to uplifting, peaceful, and airy. But more often it is subtle additions, decluttering, and small decorating changes that pave the way for calm satisfaction with a space.

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

Small Decorating Changes: Satisfying Thoughtful Tweaks

Why bother with aesthetics at home anyway?

It’s easy to justify putting off projects at home when more important matters of life are present. There are always seasons that demand more of us than others.

And often the truly meaningful chapters of living life with our people and pets demand our attention and our pocketbooks.

But home is also haven and a nest to grow, rest, learn, and recover. With a calmer, less fussy, more orderly space, there may be more opportunities for moments to gather, connect, and be comforted.

It’s not always about the really big moves…renovations, meetings with designers, furniture shopping, or space planning. Small decorating changes (simple acquisitions, subtle modifications) don’t need to create piles of debt, dust, or regret.

Humbly Remaining True to You

I recall needing a change in our former laundry room and knowing full well the “after” would be anything but dramatic or blog worthy. In fact, I suspected followers would feel disappointed with how simple and low cost I kept that project.

There wasn’t a flashy new washer and dryer set, custom cabinetry, or flashy new hardware in the works.

And I was right about the reaction online…opinions were expressed about what could elevate the wee space and surprise it stayed rather humble. There was disappointment. But I wasn’t after a viral blog post, a moment, or accolades. I was after a bit of calm for a wee-sized, pass through, windowless room. It just needed to quiet, offer organization, and become more pleasant for laundry.

Maybe you can relate. You may feel dissatisfied with how you feel in the room and know the mood could improve. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to hire a designer, invest too much, or take time away from other responsibilities.

And maybe that’s where “thinking small” and making small moves can be heroic.

Small Decorating Changes are Wise

While my goal for the little laundry area was to keep it all simple and understated, “simple” still involves thought. Adding the right elements to that utility space (a beautiful marble subway tile backsplash) and upgrading a few existing ones (changing out an awful ceiling light for a sparkly romantic one) made a huge difference.

Softly diffused light from crystals instantly created a more welcoming ambiance. The light bounced off reflective stone tile which added a natural, organic layer to a sterile environment. A favorite muted color for walls was an easy customization without headaches, tears, or second mortgages.

Need ideas for how small decorating changes can bloom into more serenity?

Literally Turning the Tables

It’s just what I do. Like maybe more often than most cats. I swap tables and chairs in dining areas to satisfy creative urges and because maybe I’m always thinking I haven’t landed on the ideal setting.

Sometimes I’ll try a different rug or remove the rug.

A different shaped table or different scaled chairs always makes a difference.

If you own multiples, ever considered swapping kitchen/dining/game tables at home? A small decorating tweak yet a mood changer and potentially functional improvement too.

BTW. Sometimes it’s not going smaller in terms of a table’s dimensions. We just brought our old harvest table up from the basement and swapped it for our round kitchen table in the breakfast nook at the Georgian.

The bonus of a 7-foot long farm table? So very useful for spreading out with crafts, games and even laundry when you don’t have folding space elsewhere.

Wee Investment & Vast Style

Lots of kitchens could improve in function and style with a petite work cart.

Remember my old industrial one snagged from a yard sale?

Such an easy little tweak with chalk paint, leftover quartz (a salvaged sink cut-out), and reclaimed wood from the original kitchen floor.

You don’t have to wait weeks to hunt down the perfect one. Here’s a petite model with clean lines:

Would Less Visual NOISE Be Music to Your Eyes?

Decluttering is often a gamechanger and even more helpful than new purchases. For one, a space suddenly feels more manageable to maintain. Slower living in a more serene atmosphere suits many of us since work life can feel less than serene.

It’s easy to add seasonal color and layer when the spirit moves you.

Multifunctional Pieces Mean You Can Live With Less

If you have a smallish home or kitchen, maybe you have limited storage and a desire to keep surfaces clutter-free.

When decorative items work AND look pretty, that’s a win. For example, ironstone pitchers. They are so helpful for multiple tasks.

They’re vases, utensil holders, receptacles for lemonade, and will even water plants.

Can the decorative item be used in multiple places at home inside and out? Now we’re talkin’.

These round wooden rustic stools are another example of a decorative element that can be pulled into service as a workhorse. I use mine for extra seating, as little side tables, step stools and perches for everything:

Here’s one as a vanity stool:

And even a piano stool:

They’re so sweet everywhere:

Sometimes there isn’t room for a bedside table…

See what I mean? When pretty things must work for their keep, they live large.

Serene Small Changes

Sometimes small decorating changes don’t demand a fortune, and sometimes the investment is bound to pay off for resale and improved quality daily living. Kitchen countertops spring to mind. If your cabinets have seen better days and will be replaced someday soon, investing in stone or quartz likely doesn’t make good sense. But swapping dark laminate for butcher block or a marble-look laminate may be the small change that won’t break the bank.

Seen the latest readymade laminate countertops with decorative edges, texture, gloss, and a look to mimic stone?

Should you opt for stone or quartz, there are plenty of selections to add calm. Nine years later, I still hear from followers who duplicated our former kitchen and chose Viatera Minuet quartz.

I have never been crazy about the label “influencer,” but our kitchen renovation was definitely an influencer. What’s great about changing your counters is that there is often precious little DIY needed. Sometimes “small” means just writing the check and allowing the pros to deliver the big change.

Little Mindful Pivots

Depending on your perspective, it can be disheartening to see gorgeous transformations and beautiful interiors on social media. Comparison is difficult to avoid in today’s screen-centric culture. But there is such a wealth of inspiration in the right corners.

Yet cozier little homes, teeny budgets, and even time crunches may be relative. Small square footage and small budgets can still live beautifully. So much inspiration out there for thrifty makeovers and tiny living!

Also, it doesn’t have to get done in a day! Maybe you are like me and will get cozy with the idea that a slow decorator is a wise decorator.

I’m Michele, and I’m a Slow Decorator

So my special talent for slowwwww renovation and decoration is not just about loving the process. Sometimes the process is anything but enjoyable when you have chronic illness. Frankly, I have physical limitations and cannot physically tackle projects swiftly. Plus, both my husband and I work full-time jobs. There are just so many daylight hours.

And there’s another thing. Maybe living in the midst of all of my tranquil interiors naturally slows me. There are worst things!

Calm Paint Colors & Serene Neutral Palettes

White paint is one of the easiest strategies for adding serenity to a space.

Most of the walls in our former fixer were painted BENJAMIN MOORE White OC-151. Very cool and gallery-like, we needed its crispness in the presence of sunny yellow natural light.

Not sure where to start with sampling a white paint, see THIS.

Small Layering Changes With Texture

Serene moods often call for cool colors and minimal decor, but if the look feels too stark, it may not be welcoming. Our window seat in the former breakfast nook we renovated was okay in its before…

but cozier and more functional AFTER:

A hand-painted FLOWER MARKET sign above the window seat is from Urban Farmgirl, and options are HERE.

Sometimes just a bit of warm texture from wood contrasts softly in a field of white:

Shop my homes here, and find more sources for the decor here.

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

Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.