We are very appreciative to have Rose Morrison’s tips and talented writing in her article, Decor ideas to Make You Feel Happier in Your Space.
With so much happening in the world and the uncertainty with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we can really use a fresh a pick-me-up during winter and as we thankfully start to turn the corner on the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you, Rose!
Please be sure to read Rose’s bio below and follow the link to her other articles on Slipcovers for Your Walls.
* * * * *
If you feel like you’ve been in a funk recently, it could be time to redecorate. Improving your space can improve your mood, and it’s a great way to pull yourself out of a rough patch. Whether you want to refresh your home or desire something new after a difficult time, you’ll find that redecorating your home — even without making huge renovations — can help you feel happier in your space.
DIY Decor Ideas
You can create plenty of decorations on your own. These DIY decor ideas can help you challenge yourself and grow your skills, giving you something beautiful to call your own.
1. Repurpose Vases
Instead of buying new vases, consider repurposing empty glass containers. Certain bottles can be cleaned out and used to hold florals. Bringing fresh flowers into your home can help brighten your day, and having a clear glass container can help you see when you need to add water.
You can use mismatched bottles to grow new plants. Asexual propagation is the most common type, where you take part of your existing plant and transfer it to another container so it can let its roots down. You can paint the outside of the bottle, or you can leave it clean and sophisticated by simply removing any labels.
2. Accent Wall Decoration
Painting your walls is one of the easiest home decorating techniques you can employ to brighten up your space. You may choose to paint all your walls a bright color or add an accent wall or a mural to draw the eye to one part of the room in particular.
A beautiful mural could cheer you up on a bad day. If you like to draw, paint or sketch, this option allows you to creatively deal with any stress that’s been building. You may not have to create it yourself — choosing wallpaper or a [peel and] stick-on mural can be just as effective and much easier in some cases. [Coloring can always make you feel happier in your space, especially when you can personalize artwork and make it your own. Using contour wallpaper allows you to color the design in yourself as a large coloring book page once it is installed on the wall. Re-engage with your childhood. Be creative, break some rules and paint on walls. Friends and family members can join in as an interactive, ongoing activity, leaving you with one-of-a-kind artwork as the end result that you can enjoy in place, remove when you want, roll up and use elsewhere if you desire.]
If you think drawing a scene would frustrate you, consider just creating an accent wall of a deep, rich color that makes you happy. Seeing green can help you relieve stress and promote a sense of calmness, so it might be an excellent option for you to choose.
3. Plush Decor
If you want to show off your skills in another way, consider crafting plush decorations using a needle and thread. You can jazz up your furniture with a seasonal flair or just give a guest something fascinating to look at that’s different from a standard pillow.
If you don’t want to make a basic pillow, consider looking up references and patterns for something seasonal — you can make pumpkins for fall or daisies for spring. Though it might take a bit of learning and seem challenging at first, you can get the hang of things quickly, especially with frequent practice, and use them to decorate your home for any season.
4. Hang Wall Art
The right kind of art can pull the interior design of your home together. You should opt for prints that aren’t created en masse, lest your home look a little too designed out of a catalog. Find something unique that fits the style of your home. If you love your farmhouse-inspired interior, you may choose to hang up scenes of sweeping pastures or livestock. You can find art, no matter how realistic or abstract, that fits the mood of the room you’re designing.
5. Macrame Hanger
Macrame is an intriguing style of knot that can make great wall decor or work well as a functional piece in your space. You can use a practical design to hang potted plants from the ceilings. Whether you want it as more of an art piece or as something useful, the task of weaving macrame will keep your hands busy and teach you a new skill.
Skilled Decor Ideas
The more daunting a decor idea seems, the less likely you should DIY it. Professionals can give you the help you need — whether that’s woodworking, masonry or something else entirely.
1. Home Makeover
Consider making over your entire home. This is ideal if you’ve been looking for new furniture, to replace pieces that are stained or tattered. If you don’t know where to begin, you should start with an interior designer.
Finding the right interior designer for your home might be easier than you think. The most important factor is to take your time looking at their portfolios, where they’ve chosen to showcase their greatest works. Not every designer will be right for you, and that’s OK — find one that’s within your budget with styles that resonate with you.
[These Freshen Up Your Home Tips from interior designer Chad Graci are specifically designed as useful guidelines to follow and that he used when re-visiting the look in his own home during the pandemic.]2. Blanket Ladder
Blanket ladders are an effective way to store your blankets while showing them off if they match your decor or color scheme in a room. They work as functional decor and ensure you don’t need a trunk or bulky ottoman. Luckily, you don’t have to spend too much money on it.
DIYing a blanket ladder is simple, but if you have no experience in woodworking, it might be best to work with a freelancer or purchase from a small business. Once you have your blanket ladder, you can level up your space and create more room in your home that bulky storage solutions were occupying.
3. Board and Batten or Shiplap Accents
Sometimes, four blank walls need dimension. Consider one of the two most popular wall styles: board and batten or shiplap.
Board and batten involves adding wooden planks to the wall in a specific shape, then painting them the same color as the rest of the wall. Conversely, shiplap is often seen in farmhouse-style homes because it’s often used in barns. It gives a distinctive appearance to a wall and can be installed anywhere. [It is typically installed horizontally; whereas board and batten is wood of different widths and patterns and beadboard is wood paneling of the same width installed vertically, while wainscotting is beadboard that covers 1/2 to 1/3 of the lower wall. Here is more about the differences to consider.]
One of the greatest allures of these styles is that they add a sense of uniqueness and value to a home. Consider investing in durable board and batten or shiplap walls that can last decades and add an original look.
4. Gallery View
Displaying your photos has never been easier than using a gallery wall. Hanging pictures in similar or contrasting frames creates something interesting to look at and provides a cohesive feel. Showcase photos that bring you joy can definitely make you feel happier in your space. Putting that gallery wall front and center in your home lets you look at your favorite images that stand out in your home. [Simply rearranging artwork can also achieve a similar happier in your space function.]
5. Built-in Shelving
You can never have too many shelves to store your objects, but bookshelves can be bulky and take up space. Building floating shelves or ones that fit into your wall can help you show off your prized possessions in a stylish way. Having your beloved treasures out for all to see can add a bit of joy to your life.
You may need a little help. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to put up a shelf on your own and getting it all wrong. Relying on a professional ensures the job is done correctly and that the shelves can hold even the heaviest items you wish to display.
Maximize Your Space – in Storage and Joy
You can create beautiful decorations in your home with your own hands or with the help of professionals. Boost your happiness and overall satisfaction with life by designing it to your liking.
Many thanks to Rose for this article with lots of helpful tips for achieving an interior that uplifts mood and benefits mental health this winter!
About the author:
Rose Morrison is a home improvement and design writer.
She is also the managing editor of Renovated. Follow her on Twitter to see more of her work.
Leave a Reply