Design is more than just looks for the most part, as we learn whenever we try to renovate part of our house, or even redecorate it. That’s because if you’re switching out furniture, it may have a slightly different size, shape or impact upon the room compared to the last piece.
There’s a great amount of variance in how rooms are defined, even in subtle ways, by the creative choices you make. But what if you just want to update a room without necessarily impacting how it functions at all? After all, maybe you want to fix the cabinetry of the kitchen without pulling out the cupboards or investing in corner shelfs like your remodeler is recommending you to.
Well, there are certainly some provisions you can focus on to try and achieve the maximum visual impact, with the most limited functional impact. Here are some examples:
Window Fittings & Style
It’s surprising how much the right window dressing can change a room. Swapping out heavy curtains for lighter, flowing sheers can make a room feel bigger and brighter without touching a single wall or replacing the actual structure of the window, and so choosing updated curtain rods, blinds, or layering fabrics could help.
That said, if you want a much fresher look or wish to change the acceptance of natural light into the space, you may consider the structural integration of the window. Perhaps you’d prefer a more open pain without obvious dividers, or top down designs which allow ventilation at the topm and unimpeded panes below.
Flooring
Flooring feels like a big commitment for obvious reasons, but the right updates here don’t have to involve ripping everything out. You may find that in your case, it’s just about layering or covering certain areas for comfort, with rugs serving as the obvious answer, of course. A bold new area rug can cover older flooring, divide up a large room, and inject a lot of color or texture with minimal disruption.
However, using a reliable service such as Faith Floors & More can help you identify which textures and updated coverings may be better for your taste and for the purposes of a room. Damaged vinyl from beforehand may be better off with a tile replacement, for instance. It may not be a huge functional change, but flooring often covers the most surface area and has a huge impact because of it.
Furnished Trimmings
Sometimes you just need to update trimmings, especially if you feel the prior owner of a house had zero taste. This could take the form of swapping out handles on cabinets, updating light switch plates, choosing a new light fitting, or perhaps replacing furnishings like large framed mirrors. This gives you primarily the same function but altered in small ways that can help the space feel nicer to interact with and in line with the personality of your own taste.
With this advice, we believe you’ll feel more confident changing a home’s aesthetic but without feeling defined by function, should you already be happy with that.
