(Written exclusively for Inside & Out by Jana Bek)
I recently refreshed two spaces in our home, and I’m excited to share them with you today!
Our great room and adjoining breakfast nook were long overdue for a makeover — they had some good foundation pieces but they did not flow with the light and airy aesthetic of the rest of our home. When refreshing these spaces, I really wanted to work with as many existing elements as I could, doing so enabled me to stretch my budget without compromising the designs. I hope my tips will help you to do the same in your own home!
First, let’s look at some before photos:
Painting is one of the most affordable ways to refresh any room. Our spaces were a sad shade of yellow, but this soft white brightened up the rooms beautifully.
Accent Pillows
Our sofa is a heavy chenille, and not the greatest shade of green, but patterned accent pillows in fresh shades of green, gave the sofa a new lease on life. If your master bedroom is feeling dated, new bedding and accent pillows will have the same effect!
Flowers and Fauna
Adding greenery to a room instantly adds life, makes the space look lived in, and in turn inviting. I fell in love with these happy faux broad leaf palms as soon as I saw them. Adding them atop our mantle added interest and height. An added bonus is I don’t have to worry about watering them.
Reimagining Items
The bookshelf in the great room looked too formal and again heavy for the aesthetic I was after – removing the glass doors instantly lightened them up. In our breakfast nook, between the chair and table legs, the space looked busy, a tablecloth was a simple solve.
Rug to the Rescue
I’ve never been a fan of the tile in our breakfast nook but was not up for retiling. This round jute rug added the beach vibe I was after and draws attention to the dining area and away from the tile. If retiling isn’t in your budget, a rug can be a wonderful solution.
Save vs. Spend
In our breakfast nook, the light fixture and chairs had to go. I found the vintage bamboo chairs at a local thrift store and painted them a fresh coat of white. Saving in this way enabled me to splurge on the jaw dropping Pottery Barn chandelier. It’s become quite the focal point and as we have an open floor plan it can be enjoyed from multiple rooms.
The rooms are much more inviting and we love spending time in them more than ever before. I hope my insights & tips find a place in your home!
