The boxes are unpacked, but there’s still a lot to be done—like, personalize your space. We’ve rounded up the top to-dos in order to make your home yours.
Moving is kind of a big deal — there’s organizing, prioritizing, packing and unpacking — it’s a lot to handle, but it doesn’t stop there. There’s the whole settling in thing to think about too. Before you decided to up and move, you’d finally gotten your old space feeling like home — furniture arranged into perfection formation, artwork displayed in a Pinterest-worthy gallery wall, you know the drill — but now you’re back at square one.
Once the the last boxes have been unpacked, it’s time to switch gears, ditching the logistics and transitioning into the personalization phase, because four walls and a roof does not a home make. The process of moving doesn’t always come on the cheap, which means you might not have a lot of room left in your budget to renovate your new digs. But instead of surrendering to your home’s status quo, there are plenty of little things you can do to to up its awesome-factor and personal flair without breaking the bank. We spoke with graphic designer and Hotel & Leisure blogger Kasia Bedkowski; Haleigh Walsworth of Making Magique; and Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange and Wild Measure for their expert tips on how to get your place looking it’s best STAT.
1. THINK BIG PICTURE
It may seem obvious, but before you dive straight into decorating your space, it’s a good idea to develop a sense of the ambiance you want to create. Consider this vision your reference point throughout the design process, something you can cross check as you make decisions. “Think about how you want to feel when you are in your space and take that into account when choosing things for your home,” says Megan Gilger. “We wanted an environment that felt calm, relaxed and comfortable. Thus, we chose to keep our palette subtle and simple, keeping colors to a minimum. Colors are important — blues make you feel differently than oranges.”
2. CHOSE A COLOR PALLET AND STICK WITH IT
Laying out a color palette from day one will make future design decisions a lot easier (like whether or not to splurge on that canary yellow sofa) and keep your home’s aesthetic feeling cohesive. “Choosing a color palette will help make your space feel connected from room to room and help it flow. This is extremely important the smaller your space is,” says Gilger.
3. FOCUS IN ON THE DETAILS
Tackling everything on your to-do list immediately isn’t exactly in the cards, so prioritizing is key. Pinpoint areas that are the most important to you and then focus in on minute details that will have major impact. For Haleigh Walsworth, that meant upgrading her countertops and doors. “I recently added a bit of luxe to my otherwise Ikea kitchen by investing in a marble countertop. It freshened up the entire kitchen and was a great investment,” she says. Painting cabinet doors, switching out hardware or adding a tile backsplash are a few other easy ways to put a new spin on your space without stripping down to the bare bones.
Another thing to consider is longevity — investing in changes that will stand the test of time. “I hate cheap flimsy doors in interiors because they really bring everything down,” says Walsworth. “I paid a little extra to get two new doors when I bought my place and had them mirrored to help make my small apartment look bigger. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Better to make an architectural statement with them and invest in something nice that will last many years.”
4. WEAVE IN ART & PHOTOGRAPHS
Filling your home with good vibes and ambiance is as easy as adding a few carefully curated pieces of art to your walls. And according to Kasia Bedkowski, that doesn’t have to mean emptying your wallet. “I frequently commission my artistic friends to create small and large-scale pieces for me. I love coming home and seeing the final products hanging on my walls; they’re all super inspiring and remind me of these wonderful, talented friends,” she says. Even if you don’t have a creative crew at your disposal, you can still fill your space with unique pieces by hitting up craft markets, local galleries and Etsy.
5. CREATE AN ACCENT WALL
Small spaces require careful planning and creativity, and according to Walsworth, that’s exactly what makes accents walls so key. “An accent wall is a great way to distinguish areas within rooms,” she says. “A few years ago, I painted the wall of my desk area a light pink. I don’t have a separate office, so it’s nice to denote this little corner of my home that way.” Beyond their ability to define space, accent walls can also be used to highlight interesting features in your home or detract attention away from others. And paint isn’t the only way to make a wall pop — wallpaper, artwork, shelving or architectural detailing (like pallet paneling) can instantly take a white wall from boring to bold.
6. PLAY WITH TEXTURE
Color-phobes, listen up! Going all-out bold and bright isn’t the only way to add intrigue to a space. “Simply using texture and contrast can create visual interest alone,” says Gilger. In addition to making sure a room’s most important elements pop, texture helps your room feel balanced. Natural fabrics, organic details and plush accents are ideal for achieving a room that feels intimate and cozy, while smooth surfaces, glass and metals are key for a streamlined look. The best rooms are those that incorporate both, bringing a sense of harmony to the space.
