Beginning today, Gilt Home is featuring a sale of home furnishings and accessories curated by the editors of Remodelista, the indispensable online guide to home design and renovation. The goal: To inspire you to rejuvenate your home.
What if you want to freshen up your home’s look but don’t know where to start? Don’t panic — it’s not a difficult proposition. These simple tips, courtesy of editors from both Remodelista and Gilt Home, are designed to inspire you to energize your home, with minimal effort.
Organize your entryway. "It's the first place that everyone sees, so it's a great place to refresh," says Julie Carlson, editor-in-chief of Remodelista. To banish clutter, Carlson recommends installing hooks on the wall for backpacks and handbags and a wall shelf near the door that can hold keys, cell phones, and other odds-and-ends.
Update your lighting. “People tend to have too few light sources,” says Tom Delavan, Gilt Home’s editorial director. “Go for many low-wattage light sources as opposed to a few high-wattage ones. And put them all on dimmers.” Delavan notes that there are three keys to a well-lit room: lighting at eye level (such as table lamps, or sconces with shades); task lighting, and an overhead fixture.
Get painting. “Painting a small space like a bathroom, or a piece of furniture that needs new life — such as a tired-looking wooden chair or chest of drawers — will give it new life,” notes Delavan. “And feel free to go bold — there’s power in a well-placed dash of color.”
Collect throw pillows. Sarah Lonsdale, Remodelista's editor-at-large, suggests that you build a collection. "If you have a good group, you can rotate them when you want a change of scene," she says. "Here's where you can be more adventurous in terms of color and texture — you can have pillows in fabrics that you wouldn't upholster furniture in or in colors that you wouldn't paint the walls with."
Rediscover reupholstering. “If you’ve got an old chair or sofa whose lines you love, but that’s starting to look old, get it re-upholstered,” notes Delavan. “An interesting print or bold color will put it in a whole new light, and you’ll get at least another 5 years out of it.”
Invest in a good rug. "I like to switch rugs out according to the season," says Remodelista's executive editor Christine Hanway. In winter months, Hanway prefers wool rugs for a cozy feel; in warmer months, she favors sisal, for a beachy note. "For an exotic look, layer kilims or several black-and-white-striped and patterned cotton rugs together," she says.
Change the bed linens. "Nothing perks up the bedroom like a fresh duvet cover," says Lydia Lee, Remodelista's managing editor. "A duvet is like a giant painting for your bed — make sure that it is something that delights you, whether it's an interesting pattern or bold texture."
(Photo by David Duncan Livingston for Remodelista)
