Sometimes it’s rewarding to draw inspiration from other designers and share their ideas.  Since I’m on vacation this week (visiting San Diego), it seemed the perfect time to do just that. 

So today designer Kenneth Brown (HGTV show ReDesign) is coming to the rescue.  Picture this: there you are, sitting in your family room / bedroom / patio, gazing around wondering what in the heck you could do to put a little spark in the space.  You don’t have a lot of money to redecorate, you don’t have a lot of room to add a bunch of ‘stuff’, but you want ….. something new.  Kenneth has made a list of the top items you could pick up that would be a fresh addition to a stale room.

Which One Will You Add?

Kenneth says, “Add a punch of turquoise colored pottery by your front door.”  This color is fresh, bright and evokes days in the Caribbean.  Planted with bright yellows or reds, your front door or patio would welcome all visitors with style.

“Replace heavier, darker artwork with lighter abstract landscape paintings.”  We may not all be able to change our art seasonally, but even a small print by the front or back door will make a difference.  You’ll see it every day and it will make spring and summer alive for you.

“A must have  is aquatic printed dishes” according to Kenneth.  This is a more trendy item and if you don’t want to embrace fish, or a whole set of fish dishes, maybe just add one fun serving platter or bowl with a fish design.  Really don’t like fish?  Just add one patterned piece – floral or birds or damask – something novel.

Kenneth suggests “One piece of zebra patterned accent furniture is another must.”   Another trendy idea, but when you’re looking to freshen a room, you want to add something trendy.  If you’re bold and if your budget can manage it, add a side chair.  If you’re not in love with the idea of an animal print, go small and add a pillow or two.  Your investment is small, you can always recover them to embrace the next trend, and you’ll add the new touch you’ve been wishing for. 

 

 

 

Or this lovely chair from Overstock.com.

 

 

 

A top idea from Kenneth is “oversized outdoor lanterns for candles.”  How about these lovelies from Restoration Hardware?  I love these!  They’re available in a couple different finishes and would definitely bring style to your outside entertaining. 

“Use a grouping of topiaries either inside and/or out” is an excellent Kenneth Brown suggestion. Topiaries can be made of many types of plants or shrubs – just trim them into the shape you want.  Dense shrubs like boxwood work well but I’ve also seen them made of daisies, small olive trees or just about any other fruit tree, etc.

An easy way to make your room feel fresh for spring is to “use a cluster of old fashioned jam jars filled with fresh flowers for a casual centerpiece.”  I’ve always loved this look – whether you use mason jars, mismatched clear vases or feature a collection of vases in your own style, filling a grouping of them with garden flowers is easy, cheap and oh, so lovely.

Another “must have” is to ”hang a modern bird feeder outside the family room or kitchen window”.  While I don’t have a bird feeder, I do have a hummingbird feeder on my patio and we delight every day in watching the little things flit around.  Encourage the little critters of your choice to come into your yard by providing a bird bath, a feeder or flowering bushes to attract butterflies.

Or, something a little more wallet-friendly, also from Velocity Art and Design.com

 Kenneth recommends “displaying a new coffee table book that’s all about your upcoming vacation spot”.  If you don’t have a vacation planned yet, choose a book that reflects where you’d like to go….someday.  My husband and I are headed to San Diego for a week, so this is what I’d put on our coffee table (if we had one).

Finally, he suggests putting something on your entry table that makes you feel welcome every time you walk through the door.  For him it’s “a white orchid in a vintage hobnail vase” that speaks of home.  What would it be for you?  A photograph, a candy dish, a favorite gift from your child?

My entry chest has a favorite Murano glass vase we bought in Venice a few years ago.  It brings memories and smiles every time I see it.

 

10 Great Ideas

Kenneth shared 10 great ideas about what he thinks are “must haves” to give your rooms a spark of something new.  I elaborated and gave you a couple more.  Did any get your attention?  What one thing would you add to a room to bring it to life?  What’s currently your favorite thing in the room – the thing that says ‘home’ to you?  Leave us a comment (right below this post after the ads) or drop us an email at solutions@YourDecoratingHotline.com - either way, we’d love to hear from you.