How to Shop Your Home, According to a Designer

If you ever find yourself craving a totally new interior look but aren’t in a place to spend a ton of cash on a full makeover or even just a couple of accent items, we totally understand. Even seemingly small furniture and decor purchases can certainly add up quickly, but you shouldn’t let your budget prevent you from introducing some new life into your home.

Did you know that it’s entirely possible to give your space a major revamp without spending a penny? By shopping your own home, you’ll be able to rejigger your space to fit your liking while working with the items that you already have. If you’re not sure how to get started, you’ll want to keep reading to gather three simple yet impactful tips from April Gandy of?Alluring Designs Chicago.

Rearrange Your Furniture

Simply moving around a few key furnishings and decorative accents is one way to make a space feel brand new without spending a cent. “It’s truly amazing how different decor can look from room to room,” Gandy relects. “When I get bored of the look of a room, I like to rearrange the furniture and take decor pieces from other rooms to mix things up.” Not looking to break a major sweat? Note that this tactic doesn’t have to involve dragging a heavy dresser from one end of your apartment to another. “It can be as simple as switching?rugs, lighting, draperies, accent pillows, and throw blankets,” Gandy explains. Perhaps the table lamp that you rarely utilize in your bedroom would totally brighten up your work from home station. Or maybe the rug that’s always felt too bright for your dining room would look right at home in your living room. You’ll never know unless you try! To ensure that pieces will look seamless no matter where they’re displayed, it’s optimal to keep hues somewhat consistent from room to room.

“I like to keep a?neutral color palette?throughout my home and incorporate pops of color through accessories,” Gandy explains. “When the larger pieces are neutral, it’s easy to switch accessories around from room to room and still keep a cohesive design throughout the home.”

Switch Up Textiles As the Seasons Change

Just as you may change over the clothes in your closet as the weather outside becomes warmer or cooler, you can do the same in your living space as it pertains to textiles. Gandy is a proponent of introducing new fabrics into her home on a seasonal basis. “Using linens and cottons in the spring or velvets and leathers in the fall are simple ways to change up accessories for the new season,” she explains. “Draperies, accent pillows, and?throw blankets are all ideal pieces that can be used to create a cozy feel for the new season.” Whenever it’s time for a change, you can simply tuck offseason items in an under bed bin or neatly fold them into a basket that fits on a closet shelf. Switching these types of items items out frequently will prevent you of tiring from any one design too quickly and will always keep a space looking fresh.

Decorate With Books

If you like to keep a stockpile of?books?on hand at all times, great! Books make for excellent decorative pieces that can easily travel from one part of your house to another. “I love collecting books for decor around my home,” Gandy comments. “Books will never go out of style. They can easily be incorporated into any room or design, and you don’t need a ton of them to make a big impact.” Books are also instant conversation starters and are fun for guests to flip through when they stop by.?Trays, candlesticks, picture frames, and vases are also examples of items that can shine in a wide variety of spaces. It’s time to stop saving these types of pieces solely for special occasions and begin enjoying them on a day to day basis—who says you can’t place a chic candelabra in the family room?

Any questions please feel free to ask me through Andrew@sinotxj.com