
If you thought you had to call a contractor to give your home a facelift, then you would be mistaken. "Most homeowners are almost crippled by the fear that any refresh or revamping of a room will be expensive and take months and months to complete," explains interior designer Gail Davis. "However, it's simply not true. Switching up your furniture plan alone can indelibly change the flow and feel of the room. Add in a few pillows and a new blanket to reinvigorate old upholstery, and you have a quick and inexpensive refresh."
So what kinds of things can be done to the rooms in your home to freshen them up without renovating? For starters, a fresh coat of paint. "Paint is transformative and will provide the most impact on any room," explains William Cullum, senior designer at Jayne Design Studios. "Even a change from white to the palest version of a color will give a room a lift and personality."
Additionally, Cullum says changing up the wall décor can infuse new personality into a space in no time. "Mirrors are a great way to change a space by bringing light in and opening it up—while they also keep a space animated by reflecting the activity happening within it."
If you can't commit to a new wall color or décor, Carneil Griffin of Griffin Direction Interiors says something as simple as swapping out your current window treatments can make a big difference in a space. "Upgrading items that serve a core function in a room, like switching from plastic to fabric blinds, will instantly elevate the space," he explains.
Looking for more ideas about how to easily revamp a room at home? We asked trusted interior designers for their advice, and here's what they had to share.
Add Wall-Mounted Storage to Your Entryway
Griffin says that one of the quickest and easiest ways to revamp a pint-sized entryway is to install wall-mounted storage. "There are so many innovative wall mounted furniture solutions that clear up essential square footage in a small entryway," he explains. Consider floating shelves with bins for a place to organize your out-the-door essentials, or a wall-mounted coatrack for a sleek place to stash jackets, umbrellas, and more.
Lay Down a Different Area Rug in Your Living Room
Davis says a new area rug is a great way to reinvigorate a living room without going overboard. "Rugs are available in a multitude of patterns and colors," she explains. "Just make sure the rug is sized appropriately to run under all the main furniture pieces, or else you run the risk of having a diminutive postage stamp rug that looks ill-proportioned and like a blatant mistake."
Paint a Focal Point for Your Living Room
If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace in your living room, Breegan Jane suggests painting it to give the space an instant upgrade. "Painting an old brick or stone fireplace a neutral color can help modernize it without having to replace it," she explains. "If you don't have a fireplace, painting a piece of furniture, like a credenza, will help spruce up a living room without having to invest in something new."
Switch Up Your Dining Room Accessories

No time or budget for a complete dining room overhaul? Julie Kleiner of Massucco Warner says you can switch up the ambience of the space without spending a penny. "Start by clearing out any accessories currently on display and giving your table a quick wipe down," she says. "Shop from your cabinets, closets, and other rooms to find new accessories, such as candlesticks, bowls, and lamps, to put out instead."
Upgrade Your Dining Room Textiles
If you're searching for an easy and affordable way to completely transform a dining room, Jane recommends reupholstering your dining room chairs for a new look. "Additionally, adding or switching out the area rug will make a big impact in the room."
Switch Up Your Kitchen Lighting
Nothing elevates the ambience of a room faster than good lighting, which is why Griffin suggests installing dimmer switches to the light fixtures in your kitchen. "You can also use smart LED light bulbs instead of incandescent ones to control the color, tone, and dimness of your kitchen lighting from your phone."
Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
Few home projects are more costly than kitchen renovations, which is why Davis says you should consider painting your cabinets to give them a quick (and inexpensive) facelift. "Even refacing the cabinets with new doors is a messy and expensive project," she says. "Try painting the cabinets in a different color for an entirely new and fresh look. Make sure to sand down the existing cabinets and use a paint that's designed for high-use areas of the home."
Change Out Old Bathroom Hardware
Never underestimate the power of updated hardware in a dated bathroom. "A simple way to upgrade a bathroom without overspending is to change out all the hardware, including towel bars, cabinet knobs, and drawer pulls," Griffin says. "Brownie points if you switch out the vanity mirror for a fresh look."
Wallpaper a Small Bathroom
Davis says there's no better place to experiment with wallpaper than a pint-sized powder room. "The smaller area means less material to buy and less labor to install it," she explains. "Wallpapering a small bathroom allows you to play with texture, color, and pattern in a space at a lower cost than other rooms."
Buy New Bedding for the Bedroom
Brand-new bedding can go a long way in revamping a boring bedroom. "For a quick refresh, add new bed linens and decorative euro pillows to transform the space immediately," says Davis. "There are so many brands on the market that make beautiful linens that won't break the bank."
Design a Reading Nook
Griffin says one goofproof way to revitalize a humdrum bedroom without renovating is to carve out a small, designated reading zone within the space. "Create an area away from the bed with a comfy chair, ottoman and small end table," he explains. "To save space, use a wall-mounted sconce for lighting, and hang a single piece of art that suits your taste."
Bring Some Greenery Inside
Nothing freshens up a home office or workstation like a handful of leafy green houseplants. "Living plants don't just look beautiful in a workspace, they improve the air quality and make us feel better, too," says luxury designer Amanda Lantz. Dress up even the smallest of desks with a couple of small succulents in eye-catching planters for an instantly energizing display.
Design a Background Display for Your Home Office
Looking for a stylish way to liven up your virtual meeting with colleagues? Interior designer John McClain of John McClain Design suggests creating an eye-catching background for your video calls. "For a foolproof combination, place a large piece of artwork on the wall behind you, flanked by a lamp or something green, such as a potted plant or tree, on the other side," he says. "This compilation provides visual interest but no distraction from the discussion at hand."
Dress Up a Mudroom with Artwork
Few things brighten up a dim space faster than colorful artwork and photos, which is why Lantz recommends installing a gallery wall in your mudroom. "A mudroom is a fantastic place for a gallery wall of framed family photos, drawings, or artwork," she says. If you don't have time to design a full-blown gallery wall, she suggests using a stylish bulletin board covered in snapshots of your family instead.
Enhance the Light in Your Sunroom
When it comes to revamping a sunroom, Griffin says that one trick of the trade is to hang light-enhancing decorative accents in the sunniest part of the space. "You can filter the light through tinted glass accessories and plants, both real and artificial," he explains. "When the light beams, it will cast colors and patterns on the wall that will make it feel like a new environment."
Turn Your Sunroom into an Indoor-Outdoor Lounge
Why settle for entertaining your guest in the same expected places in your home when you can host them in your sunroom instead? McClain says you can quickly transform your sunroom into a swanky indoor-outdoor lounge by simply incorporating some comfortable seating and pillows, and bringing in a bar cart.
**Post and Images from MarthaStewart.com by Caroline Biggs 8/8/2020