If your home is due for a design update but you have a limited budget and even less time, you’re in the right place. We came up with more than 50 home decor ideas to get you started. With something as simple as an accent wall, colorful light bulb, or new throw pillow, you can make an entire space can feel fresh, on-trend but timeless, and refined. The best part? You can tackle each of these decorating ideas in one day, even though the results will look like they took way longer to pull off.
🏡You love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.
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Find Another Spot for Flowers
If you constantly keep a vase of flowers in your kitchen or living room, extend that love for fresh blooms throughout the house. It’s the perfect excuse to invest in a new vase for your bedroom or bathroom. In this New York apartment designed by Katie Ridder, a globe-shaped vase adds a nice bubble detail. Or if the upkeep for real flowers is too much, go for faux alternatives.
Whether you have a few tiny frames—like in this bedroom designed by Jae Joo—or medium-sized ones on a gallery wall, you can easily swap them out with fresh finds. Tear our pages from a coffee table book, or stop by a flea market for new works.
Place a large mirror above your mantel as HGTV star Alison Victoria did in her Atlanta loft, or dedicate another empty wall space—whether it’s in your hallway, entryway, or bedroom. Not only will it look good, but it’ll make the room feel bigger and brighter.
Refresh Coffee Table Books
If you can’t resist a good coffee table book, bring a new one into your collection. Or if you keep them in various parts of your home, simply rearrange your stacks for a new look. Here, in a living room designed by Barrie Benson, the four stacks could easily be given a new layout and order using only the books on the table.
Attach Decor to a Shelving Unit
Don’t have any more room on your walls for art? No problem. Hang anything from paintings and sconces to plants and bookmarks on a shelving unit. Here’s a tutorial for how to hang art on bookshelves to guide you through the process—which includes tips from designer Marissa Bero, who has pulled this move in plenty of home libraries, including the one seen here.
Set Up a Cozy Reading Spot
No designated reading nook? No problem. If your home doesn’t have any leftover real estate to convert into a reading nook, design your formal living room to serve double duty as a cozy lounge area. Here, Heidi Caillier strategically chose furniture with fabrics and shapes that are both sophisticated and homey, perfect for entertaining or unwinding alone.
Don’t Be Afraid of Black Paint
The soft black paint color in this bedroom makes it feel special and intimate in ways you’d never be able to achieve with a lighter hue (this specific shade is Farrow & Ball Railings). The eclectic furniture lends itself nicely to the darkness, too, adding a more lived-in and homey vibe.
Style an Empty Fireplace
Rethink how you style an empty fireplace. In this texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork.
Adding the right window treatment can make all the difference. We’re especially into Roman shades with a fun pattern. “It goes against decorating 101, but using small patterns together can be easier on the eye,” says interior decorator Kristin Panitch, who designed this dreamy pink cloud of a bedroom.
From the inky stained wood to the modern side chair and clean-lined ladder, this home library designed by Fiona Lynch is a gorgeous contemporary take on traditional design. You could fill it with books—or you could add in decor accents and accessories like vases and sculptures to break up the monotony of a wall of books. Or, color-coordinate your books. Not only will it feel more cohesive, but if you’ve got a lot of bright colors in your collection, they’ll stand out even more.
Set up a Breakfast Nook
Breakfast with a view? We’re in. This one is country-chic and just a touch rustic but still polished. It also proves you don’t need to have an actual built-in nook to achieve the right vibe.
Spruce up Your Entryway
If you don’t have a grand foyer—or you do but it needs some love–introduce a small console table. For a formal yet modern aesthetic, opt for a traditional table and then hang modern abstract art above it. Then lean some portraits against the wall for a laid-back take on the gallery wall.
If any area in your home is feeling austere, sheepskin throws are the easiest solution. They bring in warmth, texture, and comfort while also being super affordable and easy to move throughout your space as your needs and moods shift.
Swap Out Your Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are the easiest way to freshen up in the bedroom or living room. Introducing a new color, print, or shape with a throw pillow can make the whole space feel new again.
Bring a Stool Into the Bathroom
Slide a stool next to the bathtub. Not only will the extra surface space help with organization, but it’s also a great way to make the whole space feel more luxe.
Show Your Powder Room Some Love
It’s easy to overlook a room when it’s super tiny, especially because there simply isn’t enough useable space for décor. But it’s definitely possible—and well worth it—to show these nooks some love. Take this powder room, for example. With a light blush pink wall color and a surrounding gallery of eclectic artwork, the small room packs a lot of punch.
If you want to transform your bedroom into a palace fit for royalty, add a canopy. This white gauze fabric hangs so beautifully and brings an ethereal look to the minimalist bedroom.
Swap Accents Seasonally
Plaid? For winter? Not even close to groundbreaking, but we’re still here for it. Swapping out accents seasonally will also get you excited for what’s to come.
Get Inspired by Nature
This space is rich with texture, which creates warmth and dimension. There’s also plenty of character even though it’s sticking to a strict color palette. For a similarly inviting and grounded environment, get inspired by nature. Think seagrass, rattan, jute, wood, brushed concrete, and marble.
Reupholster Your Furinture
Reupholstering your furniture will automatically freshen up an entire space. And if you love eclectic decorating, take notes from this impeccable living room. All the juxtaposition in this room is working so well—the angular mirror, vivid orange art, marble fireplace, rustic stool, and geometric pottery are all unexpectedly complemented by the softness of the blush pink chairs.
This probably isn’t what you want to hear since we don’t think of cleaning up as fun, but adding a few pieces that ease organization can make a huge difference. Consider installing coat hooks or bringing in a stylish coat rack coat by the front door. Then place a small folding chair underneath it to sit on when you take off your shoes. This will prevent those dreaded (and previously inevitable) clothing pileups.
For a graphic statement, color-block your wall. Paint half of it a bold color or opt for two neutral tones. Here, black creeps up about a quarter of the way while the rest is a nice shade of steel gray, creating an understated-yet-unique statement.
Freshen up a bathroom by giving the walls a fresh coat of white paint. If that sounds like too much of a commitment, use a magic eraser to touch up smudges. It’s bright, refreshing, and the perfect blank backdrop for a fun gallery, as seen in this bathroom designed by Alexander M. Reid.
Apply Accent Wallpaper
You don’t have to wallpaper your entire room—just pick a wall and accent with it. It’s fast, easy, and makes a big difference.
Layer Rugs and Patterns
This eclectic home designed by Sean Scherer is a treasure trove of antiques, whimsical fabrics, and fearless decorating. It’s also a masterclass in layering. Why use just one rug when you could have three? Layer rugs in varying colors, prints, and textures to add visual interest to your floor.
Rethink Your Gallery Wall
If the walls in a hallway are feeling tired or lackluster, add a gallery wall. Bring in antique frames, or hit up a thrift store or flea market, and arrange a ton of hand mirrors into a gallery wall.
Introduce a New Throw Blanket
Putting a colorful throw blanket at the end of your bed or flung over the sofa is an easy but transformative design trick. It’s also a great way to experiment with colors and prints before fully committing to them.
Make a simple wall a little more exciting with oversized artwork. Choose large-scale photography or something abstract and vibrant to really make a statement.
If there’s anything that can single-handedly polish off a room, it’s a light fixture. Case in point? That brass pendant light. It feels much more refined and sophisticated than a table lamp would and contrasts with the more traditional elements throughout the bedroom.
Can you imagine how simple this bathroom looked before it had a bright blue floor? The quick change allows the tub to take center stage. We’d want to soak in there all day long.
Put a Bold Floor Lamp in the Corner
This little corner is sleek, stylish, and perfectly handsome as is, thanks to the modern leather lounger and graphic rug. But that floor-to-ceiling lamp is an architectural stunner that really brings in that added wow factor. Look for a floor lamp that doubles as artwork for a similar vibe.
To create an interesting contrast, replace one thing in an otherwise totally traditional room with something super modern, like this geometric coffee table and abstract-painted floor.
Add a Bench at the End of Your Bed
You don’t need a footboard. A bench will get the same job done. It’ll help anchor your bed, act as a spot to sit and put shoes on, and serve as storage for extra pillows and blankets.
Rearrange Your Furniture
Symmetry, who? Your chairs and couches don’t have to line up—in fact, you don’t even have to have chairs. Put your side table in the corner flanked by two sofas, and if you don’t have enough armchairs for a classic living room setup, just place floor cushions by the coffee table.
Pare your stuff way down and your room will look totally different. This doubles as a makeover and spring cleaning all in one.
Add a Statement Tablecloth
A bold, patterned tablecloth can instantly make a traditional space a little more eclectic. This one picks up the blues in the wallpaper.
This exquisite living room is playing with shape and scale in so many ways—each design detail offers a universe of inspiration. For extra impact and proportional intrigue, hang an oversized mirror. Keep it simple and sleek, opt for a cool shape or color, or keep it classic with an antique.
Put Your Collectables on Display
If you’ve been collecting something for a long time and aren’t sure where to put your knick-knacks, install a floating shelf in your room of choice and then line them up. We love the sense of nostalgia these vintage glass bottles add to the bedroom.
Screw in a Colorful Light Bulb
For an unexpected (and easy) pop of color, trade in your classic bulb for a bright one. It adds the same vibe as a neon sign without taking up any space on the wall. Try it in a hallway or entryway, where décor moments are precious and square footage is limited.
Adding a nice floral arrangement can beautify a whole room on its own. The shapely vase, accompanying artwork, and unique rose gold faucet in this bathroom don’t hurt either.
Add Seating to Your Floor
You could sit on your couch—or you could sit on the comfiest floor pillows ever. We’ll take the latter.
See more at Nicole Franzen.
Swap Your Window Shades
You’ve been there and done that with fabric drapery and Roman shades, so swap your window treatment for an alternative texture, like bamboo. We’re swooning over this wild bathroom.
Does anything make a statement like something shiny and gold? Add a metallic light fixture, sculpture, or vase to instantly upgrade your room.
Update Bedding Seasonally
Jonathan Scott, home design expert and brand ambassador for Stearns & Foster, recommends owning two sheet and comforter sets, so you can swap them out by the season. “In winter, you want warm and inviting bedding, like faux fur and bulky blankets,” he says.
See more at Nicole Frazen.
Wallpaper a Small Space
Wallpapering a small room or closet will give it a surprising edge. Do the whole room, or just use scraps to line drawers, cabinets, and backsplashes. You could also opt for a statement ceiling.
Create a Statement Wall
Designer Zim Loy discovered Harkerware on eBay: “There’s tons of it, and it’s so cheap!” She started collecting it for her dining room, then covered the whole wall with plates to create the same effect as one big piece of art. (Here’s how to hang your own plate wall).
Move Furniture Away From the Walls
Floating furniture away from the walls creates more intimate seating. That means all you have to do is shift your furnishings a few inches to totally transform the vibe in a room.
See more at Amber Interiors.
Printed, colorful textiles add so much personality. And as if the bright-colored rug and sleek mounted lights weren’t enough, this bedroom has also got a seriously swoon-worthy pendant. The Moroccan-inspired fixture adds eclectic appeal and helps anchor the space.
See more at Amber Interiors.
The copper tub is obviously the star of this bathroom, but it doesn’t have to feel dated. A ladder and cool, bohemian rug help it feel more modern.
See more at Amber Interiors.
Recover Your Furniture
The super-easy way to switch up your furniture game? Buy a slipcover. It’ll be much quicker than fully reupholstering a piece.
Ditch Your Coffee Table Base
If you’ve got a marble-top coffee table, take it off and place it on the floor. Prop it up with some books for a bohemian update.
See more at Nicole Franzen.
Boho? Rustic? Traditional? The rug you choose can instantly change the whole aesthetic of your room.
See more at Amber Interiors.
Swap out your formal chairs (in this case, bright blue and green ones) for a few rustic metal ones. This creates a more casual atmosphere in the dining room.
Hang a Colorful Curtain
For the entrance hall of this Pennsylvania farmhouse, designer Jeffrey Bilhuber opted for a curtain instead of a door. The deep yellow fabric pops against the regal blue wall color and adds rich texture to the space.
Add Color on Open Shelves
Open shelving allows for fast and easy decor changes. Blue accents stand out against a neutral palette.
Senior Editor
Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful’s senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.
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