Summer is definitely underway and it’s H-O-T (in most places in the US).  You may be feeling that urge to freshen, update, or inject just a whiff of change into your living space.  Here are some  FREE ways you can easily bring new life to your rooms and then settle back, relax, and enjoy the changes for the rest of the summer.

Five FREE Decorating Solutions

FREE Idea #1 – Rearrange your furniture.  Strive to open up the space for summer so that may mean putting a piece or to in ‘storage’ (in a closet, attic, or garage).  Move the furniture from one room into another – switch things up.  A sofa table becomes a nightstand; switch out rugs between rooms; move the living room chair to the bedroom.

Move your furniture away from the walls and create an airy arrangement using just chairs.  It’s inviting, comfortable for conversation and a breezy look for summer.

This room would be easy to switch up – move the bench at the foot of the bed to the entry or living room in front of the fireplace (you’re not using it anyway for a few months) and replace it with a couple of ottomans upholstered in a orange and blue print.  Or add a brightly colored area rug at the foot of the bed.  Take out the wood frame chair altogether, making more space.  Replace the round table cloth with something more sheer or add a layer of orange/blue fabric to tie in with the ottomans.

FREE Idea #2 – Open up the room further by taking down the dark/heavy drapes and leave a “naked” window or just use a simpler window treatment.  Rearrange pillows or gradually start collecting pillows with seasonal touches – buy at end of each season (not quite free) and store til next time, then you’ll have a fresh new look each season.

Simplify your window coverings by using simple woven blinds – layer on the draperies in the winter when you want to be cozy and sheltered.

FREE Idea #3 – Move your art.  You’ll be amazed at what a difference that simple switch will make.  Put the blue themed bedroom art into the green and tan family room for a bright new perspective.  Take down the family photo wall for a couple months and replace them with a few large painted tree branches (using leftover paint you already own) for some dimensional art.  Review our previous posts about making your own art or using art creatively to give yourself even more ideas (check out the categories in the sidebar).

Search all over the house and gather all your art together than fits a theme:  floral, landscape, photography, black and white, sunsets, whatever.  Then hang the themed pieces in one grouping.  Mix and match your pillows for some summer color.

FREE Idea #4 – Cover upholstered furniture using slipcovers.  If you don’t have them, don’t despair.  A free option is to loosely drape an upholstered piece with a fabulous tapestry or other cloth you already own.  Try pulling out a tablecloth to cover a tired old table (not only a dining table) or use a table runner to drape over the back of a dining or accent chair.  Perhaps the two head chairs could each have a different table runner, though preferably in the same color family.

Above they used light, bright colors in slipcovered furniture for the summer.  Using the same drapes, the room could be warmed up for fall by focusing on the oranges and deep greens.

If you don’t have slipcovers, cover most (or all) of the upholstered piece with a pretty throw, blanket, table runner, pashmina shawl – anything bright and summery.

FREE Idea #5 – Move those accessories around.  Put away accessories that have been out for months or even years.  Move out a favorite collection (just temporarily) and replace it with an outdoor collection of rocks, sticks, shells, or whatever is in abundance in your area.  Cover books with pretty, coordinating scrapbook papers, wrapping papers, or even paper bags and group them for impact.  Stack books on the floor and make a small side table.

Create unity on your bookshelves by covering the books in light colored paper – maybe old maps or dictionary pages.

In a room remix, designer Anne Caroll  shows how reevaluating your accessories can give lots of new life to a space.  Pull everything down off the shelves from ALL the rooms (or most of them anyway), put them all in one room on the floor and tables.  Pretend you’re shopping for something new for the family room and you can’t put anything back into the room.  What from the bedroom or dining room might make a statement in the family room?  This is fun!  (Plus it allows you a chance to dust and clean everything.)

Bonus FREE Idea – Consider your DIY skills and interests, dust them off and put them to use.

• Whether you like to sew or can barely thread a needle, there are projects at every level that can be accomplished with much of what you already own.  Check out our Pinterest boards for lots of ideas.
• Dig out the left over wall paint cans from previous projects.  Can you create an unusual wall treatment or pattern using the colors you have?
• Are you a gardener?  Create some small terrariums to bring your outdoor garden to the inside.

Invest One Day

All of these free “freshen up” ideas share the added benefit of being easy to accomplish.  You can easily make these changes in a single day. Go ahead, invest a day and reap the rewards for the rest of the summer!

We’re Here to Help

Remember that Cindy and I love to help.  We’ll gladly help you out with suggestions about everything from color selection to space planning, from finish selection to window treatment ideas.  Whether you have just one problem area that’s giving you fits or need help with a whole room, we have a plan priced just for you.  Visit our Consultation ad at the top of the sidebar or click here for more info.