Your home should always be where your heart is, but it’s especially important to love where you live while you’re social distancing. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to get tired of your favourite place when you can’t change up your surroundings. The bright side is, freshening up your living space with a few basic updates can make it feel like a whole new place!
Here are five ways to enliven your home during the ongoing pandemic…
1) Rearrange the furniture
Whether you’re a believer in feng shui or not, there’s no denying that rearranging a room can change the way it feels. Not only that, but you don’t have to purchase a thing to do it—which makes playing around with existing furniture and decor the ideal social-distancing project.
While there are no rules to rearranging a room (after all, you can start again at any point), there are a few things to keep in mind. Start by choosing a focal point, like your television or a work of art. You should also think about flow. Can you move around the room easily without any obstacles getting in your way? Lastly, don’t forget about spacing! You should be able to pull chairs out from tables easily, and have plenty of elbow room wherever you’re sitting.
2) Touch up your paint
Could your basement bathroom use a fresh coat of paint? Perhaps your trim would benefit from some freshening up. It may not be the most exciting job in the world, but touching up worn or faded colour can instantly improve the look and feel of your home.
Luckily, this is one improvement you can easily do during a pandemic. If you’re like most of us, there’s a good chance you have at least a few cans hanging around from the last time you painted. If not, you can order the right hue straight to your door (or for curbside pickup) from stores like Home Depot.
3) Create a photo gallery
You know those boxes of family photos you have stowed away? Now is the perfect time to figure out what to do with them. We’re big fans of gallery walls. They allow homeowners to put their memories on full display, while adding visual interest to otherwise bland spaces.
Start by choosing a few photos that will look good in a cluster. Next, find an area that’s in need of some excitement, such as an unadorned hallway. Then, order a few frames of the right dimensions from a home decor store that delivers (like IKEA). Try to stick with options from one general colour palette —and be sure to play around with placement once they arrive!
4) Add a natural element
Being stuck indoors can dampen your mood, especially during spring. While it’s okay to go for a walk while social distancing, we’re all spending a lot more time inside than we usually would be. Luckily, introducing some pieces of the natural world into your space is a great way to liven it up!
This is the perfect time to get into container gardening, which you and your family can do even if you don’t have much space. Herbs in the kitchen and houseplants in the living room can add a subtle pop of green, and even a vase of wildflowers can provide a little mood boost when you’re stuck indoors.
5) Order fresh linens
Few things freshen up a bedroom like new sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers. Luckily, you can order it all online from popular retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond. Try saturated colours if you want to go bold, or opt for pastel shades and simple designs if you prefer a light and airy feel.
New linens are also a great reminder that you should be washing your bedding frequently—once every two weeks at the very least. Just make sure to follow the directions on the label carefully!
Thinking of selling your home in the not-too-distant future? We’d love to walk you though the process! Get in touch with us to get started.
