It’s hard to satisfy the craving for change in your home every time it hits, whether because of time constraints, budget constraints, or energy constraints (or a mix of all three). When the hunger to change up our home strikes, our minds usually default to large projects like painting or switching out every single piece of furniture or even tackling a renovation.

Daydreaming about these big home undertakings is fun—I do it all the time. But I’m also here to tell you that there are countless small decor changes that can completely transform a space without breaking the bank! Implementing even just one or two of these changes into your own home could give you the fresh start you’re looking for in your space.

If you have any other tips for small design changes that make an impact, I’d love to hear them down below in the comments!

Living Room

Living rooms are meant to be lived in—that’s the whole point! Here are some lifestyle-friendly decor tips to refresh your favorite lounging spots.

1. Bring in Rugs

Although the price tag for some can be intimidating, rugs can completely transform a room. According to Lorri Dyner Design, decorating a living room can cost anywhere between $2,000 to $33,000+ (read more here). With that insight, the price of a rug seems much more reasonable, right?

And if budget is your main focus (trust me, I’m with you!), finding a previously owned rug is a foolproof way to save while being environmentally conscious when refreshing your living space. Check out your favorite local thrift or vintage shop to hunt for textile treasures. Or visit Henslin, a Minneapolis-based rug shop, and prepare to feel inspired!

2. Focus on Lighting

Lighting’s functionality is often overlooked in a room. It’s easy to dive into Pinterest and look for light fixture inspiration—we all do it! But unless the inspiration room is laid out exactly like yours at home (window placement, the height of furniture, etc.), it’s probably not the most appropriate lighting solution for you.

In my living room, I have a floor lamp with a drum shade to ensure the pages of my book are lit without shining directly on the television. My advice is to think about why exactly you need light in a room and the function it will serve in that specific space.

In my living room, I have a floor lamp with a drum shade to ensure the pages of my book are lit without shining directly on the television. My advice is to think about why exactly you need light in a room and the function it will serve in that specific space.

3. Exhibit Artwork

Invest in quality frames. Walk around any secondhand store and notice the level of craftsmanship of the frames that have stood the test of time. Next, fill the frames. I like to source digital prints and switch them out based on whatever is happening in my life! This allows me to feel like an art collector while staying on budget.

Dining Room

Dining rooms are unique because they are all grounded by one important piece of furniture: the table. Here is some advice on how to design the ultimate dinner spot in your own home.

1. Create a Centerpiece

Look at your tabletop as a gallery and you as the curator of the tiny rectangle in the center. This is a lovely (and easy) way to add texture to the whole room. This can look like a rotation of the tiny trinkets you’ve collected or even just your favorite candle (here is my favorite) with a couple of succulents. It truly doesn’t matter as long as it’s a reflection of you!

2. Play With Shapes

Playing with the shapes in your dining room is a great way to add dimension. For example, if you have a rectangular table, try to incorporate some curved lines in your chairs, centerpiece, or even wall accessories and vice versa. It’s something so small that really adds to the overall design of the space.

3. Make It Cozy

I love adding some warmth to dining rooms with the use of soft textiles. This idea can be implemented through a table runner, an area rug, or even something smaller like a throw pillow placed on a chair. These small tweaks add a whole new (and very necessary) element to the space!

Kitchen

Kitchens can be tricky—there is a fine line between decor and clutter in such a high-traffic area of the home. Here are some noninvasive tricks for updating your kitchen’s decor without sacrificing its functionality.

1. Display Utility Decor

I love the idea of using all the pretty things you already use as decor. Your favorite mixing bowl? Put it on the shelf. Your grandmother’s cherished teapot? Leave it on the stove. This is a great way to decorate your kitchen with 1. things you actually use instead of “fluff” and 2. things that showcase your personality!

2. Include Flowers

I’ve never seen a grocery store that doesn’t sell flowers. Coincidence? I think not. They are not only a beautiful addition to your kitchen; they’re actually good for your health! Ingrid Fetell Lee wrote in her book, Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, that research shows that just being exposed to flowers can lift our mood, reduce anxiety, and improve memory.

3. Add Texture

There are two main materials found in kitchen decor: ceramic and metal. These two textures already complement each other nicely. Why not take it a step further? Sprinkling in other textures like wood and glass can have a huge impact on the space. It’s a great way to add visual interest without stepping out of an established color scheme.

Bedroom

Bedrooms are such a personal part of the home with one main purpose: sleep. With this in mind, I’ve put together some recommendations that are budget-friendly, so you can sleep soundly.

1. When in Doubt, Choose a Duvet Cover

Duvet covers are a functional way to update your bedding situation without completely revamping it. They are easy to store (unlike the dreaded fitted sheet) and usually come with matching shams, which make for an easy way to change up your space even more.

2. Don’t Forget About Bedding Accessories

I’m a sucker for a good throw blanket. Walk around my apartment and I’m certain you will find one in almost every room (if there were a way to appropriately get one in my kitchen, I would). One of my go-to design moves in the bedroom is to frequently swap out the throw at the foot of my bed. It’s an easy way to add texture and color to the whole room.

3. Add Mood Lighting

Setting the mood in the bedroom is important—there, I said it. However, the electrician who worked on my apartment didn’t think so. In fact, he didn’t put any lighting in my bedroom.

Looking for a solution, I found Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs and life hasn’t been the same since! Being able to dim the lighting has been a game-changer and I recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have a dimmer on their light switch.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are often musky, void of natural light, and the most neglected part of your home. Here are some small decor updates that will leave you and your bathroom feeling refreshed.

1. Incorporate Greenery

Adding greenery, especially eucalyptus, livens any bathroom up naturally. Hanging eucalyptus in your shower is an amazing (and good for you) design hack that is sweeping bathrooms everywhere. The steam of your shower releases the essential oils from the eucalyptus, providing great-smelling breathing air and all the benefits of eucalyptus for your body and mind.

2. Showcase Wall Accessories

“I will just hang this in the bathroom” is often a solution for wall accessories without a home. This mindset sets you up to be less than satisfied with your space. If you style your bathroom with well-thought-out art, it’ll add to the ambiance and feel like your space is truly designed—not just an afterthought. This print is proudly hung in my bathroom at the moment.

“I will just hang this in the bathroom” is often a solution for wall accessories without a home. This mindset sets you up to be less than satisfied with your space. If you style your bathroom with well-thought-out art, it’ll add to the ambiance and feel like your space is truly designed—not just an afterthought.

3. Show Your Design Prowess Through… Towels

Towels seem so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but in small spaces like bathrooms, they have a big impact. Having matching hand and body towels isn’t always going to be a reality, but having thoughtful color combinations in your towel collection makes it much easier to have a coordinated bathroom on a daily basis.

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Zoe Duellman

Outside of work, Zoe is usually browsing the floral department of a grocery store, planning a weekend getaway, or hosting all of her dear friends for dinner and board games. She lives in NE Minneapolis with her husband and their rescue pup, Cooper. Follow her on Instagram @zoeduellman.