Make your home feel new with these simple updates

If home renovation shows are turning you Sherwin-Williams Warm Eucalyptus green with envy, take heart. There are plenty of ways to update your home so it feels inviting again, and they don’t even require a sledgehammer.

Try our five-room home refresh, most of which you can do in a single afternoon, without the cost or mess of a total redo.

Liven up the living room

One of the simplest ways to give your living room a refresh is rearranging the furniture. Switch around your couch, chairs and entertainment center and you’ll create a new traffic flow and sightlines, giving the room a big breath of fresh air.

If your furnishings are tired, change out throw blankets, pillows and even curtains to subtly change the mood of your room. Try brighter colors for spring and summer, then switch them out for jewel tones for a cozier feel in fall and winter. Add a new rug to make the room feel complete.

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Turn flat walls into artwork with board and batten.

Add texture to your walls

If you’re willing to do a bit of low-key construction, or happy to hire a contractor to do it for you, you can make your walls more interesting with board and batten panels or shiplap. You can use it for the entire wall, or place it on the lower half to two-thirds, then add wallpaper or a contrasting paint color to the remaining section.

Though you probably don’t think about your baseboards, they can make a difference in how old your house feels. Pre-2010, most were the 3-inch contractor-grade trim. Today, 5- to 7-inch boards are standard, so replacing the trim will instantly update your space. Replace your door jambs while you're at it.

Switch out your lighting

Lights can be more than functional. Perk up your living room with a chandelier or an interesting ceiling light cover. You will need to do a bit of wiring, so be sure to turn off the power before getting started.

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Accessorize your room for visual interest

• Add artwork to create a focal point that isn’t your television.

• Incorporate natural decor elements such as real or faux trees, plants and flowers.

• On shelves, arrange interesting vases, trays, etc., of varying heights and textures.

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Personalize the owner’s suite

You may spend most of your time sleeping there, but the owner’s suite is also your sanctuary. It should feel comfortable and relaxing. A few updates can take it from the room that collects clutter to the Zen zone.

Color drench the walls

White walls are fine, but they don’t create a mood. What do you want your room to feel like? Tranquil? Try a soft blue. Sophisticated? Maybe a charcoal gray. Fresh? Use earthy greens.

Remember the ceiling and baseboards. To make your room more interesting, paint those in the same color as the walls, a style called color drenching. Or consider the latest trend: cloud capping. Instead of painting the ceiling the wall color too, finish it with white paint tinted with matching undertones. It still provides color saturation, but it feels lighter and less intense.

Create a mood with an electric fireplace.

Add a fireplace

Installing an electric fireplace will give your bedroom a focal point and make the room feel cozy. It also provides supplemental heat, a bonus if your room gets especially cold during the winter months.

Upgrade your bedding

You know a mattress on the floor is out, but a boring headboard isn’t a whole lot better. Try a new bed frame to liven up your look. Choose from brass, wood and padded options — whatever fits your aesthetic.

Add a bit of elegance by replacing bedside lamps with plug-in wall sconces. This also frees up space on your nightstand to hold a plant and a pretty tray or basket.

To keep it simple, try a new quilt or duvet cover and pillows. It will refresh the entire room without doing anything else. Bring it all together with a rug under the bed.

Rearrange your bedroom furniture

Your furnishings don’t have to stay against the same walls just because that’s the first place you put them. Move pieces around for a new viewpoint when you wake up. The new arrangement may open up space for a bench or comfortable chair.

Add some art to the wall and new window treatments to make your space feel brighter or moodier.

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Organize your closet

Even if you don’t have a massive walk-in closet, you can make your existing one feel more functional. Add built-in shelving and drawers so every item has a designated place. You may even be able to get rid of your dresser, so your bedroom has more open space.

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Brighten up your kid's bedroom with a mural.

Create a unique kid’s bedroom

Make your kid’s bedroom feel special by customizing it by theme, based on their age and interests. Some common themes include:

• Space

• Dinosaurs

• Woodland creatures

• Princess castle

• Travel

Choose paint colors or a mural based on the theme. Don’t go overboard! When everything has the same color and imagery, it becomes repetitive and boring.

Instead, personalize the room with clever accent pieces that are a subtle nod to the theme such as a moon-shaped light wall plate or a bus-shaped toy organizer. Use distinct textures and patterns for the bedding pieces too.

Make it an even more desirable place to play and read with a kid-sized chair and fluffy rug. Add a themed wallpaper to the ceiling for an unexpected pop of color.

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Add spice to your kitchen

New cabinets and countertops would certainly upgrade your kitchen, but there are much more affordable ways to refresh your space. Focus on updates that will add personality.

A backsplash makes an basic kitchen look custom-built.

Update your work area

If your sink is stained, dented or cracked, you can replace it in an afternoon. A leaky or aged faucet takes only a few minutes to change. Install a new backsplash to add new color and texture to help your daily workspace feel more polished.

Finishing touches make a difference. For instance, a small lamp in the corner of the kitchen counter adds some warmth to an otherwise lifeless area. Replace counter stools or your dining table to introduce a different aesthetic.

Organize your pantry

Even the smallest pantry will feel more spacious when it’s well organized. Install some new shelving to give yourself additional storage space. Remember, the floor can hold larger items.

Add storage containers and baskets to keep like-items together. It’ll make your space feel less cluttered and help you find ingredients faster.

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Transform your bathroom

The bathroom is arguably one of the most visited rooms in the house, so don’t overlook the opportunity for updates here when you’re refreshing your home. But you don’t need to rip out the shower or flooring to make a big splash.

Bold wallpaper turns a functional room into a showpiece.

Use bold colors

Because it’s a small space, you can use bold choices that would otherwise feel overwhelming in a large room. Bright, colorful wallpaper instantly makes the entire space feel whimsical instead of merely functional. Paint the baseboards and/or cabinets in a coordinating color to add more warmth and provide a good contrast to the austere plumbing fixtures.

Enhance your vanity

Upgrade the vanity with a mirror in a unique shape or add trim to your existing wall mirror. With a bit of rewiring, you can swap out your boring vanity light with something that better fits your style, be it modern, rustic, industrial or farmhouse.

Remember the accessories

The quickest and simplest way to upgrade your space is to accessorize. Place faux flowers or a plant on a shelf or the counter, add a piece of framed art to the wall or change your plastic trash can to a wicker basket.

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Need more inspiration for your house refresh? Explore the KSL Classifieds Resource page for more helpful home tips, from decluttering to major remodeling.