Painting is a relatively easy task to create a bold new look for any room in your home. But do you really want to devote an entire weekend to one project. Painting is also a rigorous bit of work. If you want to add a little extra oomph to your rooms, but don’t want to undertake the DIY paint project, here are a few ideas to get your imagination going.
Lighting Fixtures
We don’t recommend rewiring your home’s lighting sources. That’s a job best left to the professionals. But changing your lighting fixture is well within your DIY reach. Whether it’s a shift from contemporary to classic or vice versa, overhead lighting or floor lamps, changing up your lighting fixtures and sources can bring a a beautiful new glow to your living room.
For a fun 2019 twist, implement a lamp shade or base in the Pantone Color of the Year, Living Coral. A bright, vibrant color, Living Coral will bring life and joy to your space.
Wainscoting
This beautiful addition to interior design dates all the way back to the 1300s. Its original purpose was to protect lower portions of the wall from chairs, spurs, even the rogue scabbard. In some cases, it was even used to add a layer to the walls to help keep out the cold before insulation was a standard. It’s still a useful tool for protecting walls, but the design options are more varied than ever before. From panels to textured patterns, wainscoting is an easy way to add elegance and flair to your living and dining rooms. While the traditional color of choice is white (to match the baseboards for a seamless transition) don’t be afraid to venture into the world of color and stain to compliment the color of your walls.
Artwork
Perhaps the best way to add personalization, artwork can be anything from paintings and photography to sconces and decorative knick-knacks. Trends come and go. The trend to have a wall covered with an eclectic mix of pieces is “out” in 2019 and the favor is large maximalist artwork, the truth is that this is your space. Do what you want! This can even become an endeavor in organization. Hanging a shelf with hooks for keys, bags, and coats in your entryway not only provides you with some decorative flair, but it provides you with a designated space for things so they never go missing.
Bring a sense of bourgeois to your room with a large mirror with an extravagant frame. Up the personality with candid and posed family photos. Mix and match color, size, and texture frames or tie them all together in uniform color, shape and size. Simplify with one large panoramic canvas print from your last family vacation in the center of your largest wall.
Hanging Shelves, Boxes, and Plants
The beauty in these simple additions is that they can be embellished with small candle votives, vases, or framed photos. Hanging shelves can also be a great way to keep your personal library around without sacrificing floor space that a bookcase would take up. If you’d rather bring a little life into your room, hanging plants will do just that. With a variety of plants that can survive with direct or indirect lighting, a hanging garden is possible on any wall and perfectly melds nature with sophistication.
Taking your living room from drab to fab is simple when you combine your personality and style with trends that inspire you. Best of all, you won’t have to pick up a paintbrush to do it.
