So you’re ready to change things with your living space but you’re not quite ready for a full-blown makeover. No problem. We’ve got you covered. Even small changes can make a big impact towards loving your space. And it’s super satisfying when the changes are quick and you can do them yourself! Here are a few ideas to get you started.

#1: BOOK SMART

One thing I love to do when visiting someone’s house is to browse through the titles on their bookshelves. (Oh, I read that one!) Books say so much about your interests and passions. Plus, they can be really beautiful, especially hard-bound antique books. Here are a few tips for styling your bookshelf:

Pick favorites: Keep sentimental books, purge the ones you don’t care about (please donate!)
Play around: Try stacking your books horizontally AND vertically for variety and scale. A few flat books with an object on top can create a pretty vignette.
Mix & match: Try a variety of shapes and sizes for a more collected look.
Rediscover little treasures: Add other items; a memento from a favorite trip, your grandparents wedding photo, something made by your child. These items reflect who you are!

DESIGNER TIP: You can find beautiful, hard-bound books for sale at your local library.

#2: THE POWER OF THE PILLOW

Oh, how we love our pillows here at AHI! Pillows are your furniture’s number one fashion accessory and one of the quickest and easiest ways to freshen a space. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Seasonal Switch: For this fall and winter, think velvets, chunky weaves and modern animal prints. Mix things up by combining colors, patterns and textures!
Size matters: We prefer 20”-22”.
More is better: We like lots of pillows! For sofas, you’ll want two pillows per corner and for a sectional, you’ll want five to six.

DESIGNER TIP: We love Esty makers for beautiful designer fabric pillows at a great price.

#3: FOR THE LOVE OF ART

So many clients we meet are living in beautiful homes with little to no art hung on the wall. What’s up with that? It’s one of the easiest ways to change a space and call it your own. Get the hammer out, people. It’s time to pound some nails! Here’s all you need to do:

Round them up: Gather what you want to hang. Lean it against the wall or on the floor to see what you’re working with. (Nice stuff!)
Map it out: Try the pieces in different areas to see what works best. Consider groupings of two or three when one feels too skimpy.
Mix it up: Don’t be afraid to mix media. A photo and a black and white line drawing will look great together. Keep in mind that the palettes should complement each other.
Matching not required: Mix in a few barnwood or white frames of various sizes and thicknesses with black frames for a collected, curated look.
A little TLC: An old piece may benefit from a new mat and frame to be presented in a more contemporary way.

DESIGNER TIP: There are online sites (e.g. matboardandmore.com) where you can have custom mats cut fast and affordably!

We hope these tips help! Roll your sleeves up and have some fun. You can do it!

THREE EASY WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR SPACE