Springtime is the time for sprucing things up! It doesn’t always have to be a huge project – sometimes just a deep spring cleaning will do it. Other times a greater change is needed.
For us, this spring meant it was time to paint. Isn’t it amazing what a can of paint will do to a room?! We’ve lived in our house twelve years, and the color of the walls and the paint itself were showing their age. We painted downstairs two years ago and it made such a difference! I knew it was time for that kind of refresh upstairs.
Like a giant spider hanging from the ceiling, the fan in our bedroom was unnecessary and unsightly to me. We never use the fan because the room stays plenty cool. For all the years we’ve lived here, that fan was my least favorite “decoration” in the room!
I keep my eyes on the lighting fixtures at Lowe’s, waiting for a price reduction. Then one day I found one half off, and I knew it would be perfect in our house.
However, when it was time to hang the light, I realized it was a better size for the living room, and the living room’s fixture was better for our bedroom, Here’s a tip I had to learn – It’s tempting to keep everything in the same place or room where you initially put it, but you need to be open to moving it elsewhere. Whether it’s a light fixture or a cabinet, allow yourself to move it into to a different room.
Change isn’t always easy, but it is a part of life. As the saying goes, “Out with the old, in with the new! As of this week, some old things are passing out of my world, and some new things are entering in!
This summer I redecorated our bedroom and I am in love with the way it turned out. It’s so much more inviting and it functions so much better!
I’ve sung Myquillyn Smith’s praises beforehere on my blog, but that won’t keep me from telling you again that her decorating steps have transformed my house! In her book, Cozy Minimalist Home, she gives the order that one should follow when decorating a space. I won’t go through the steps, but I do encourage you to get her book if you’re looking to refresh a room you hate! The “fix” won’t be found in Target’s pillow aisle or Hobby Lobby’s canvas prints. Trust me…those things need to wait. Get the book; you’ll be so glad you did!
I will tell you one secret she shared that has transformed my bedroom when I redid it this summer. Ready?
Hang the drapes high and wide!
You won’t believe the difference it will make in the room. Let me show you my visual! When I was redoing our bedroom, I took a picture with one window where the drapes were on suspension rods in the window and the other window was hung HIGH and WIDE.
Does the window on the left look much bigger? It’s all because of the placement of the drapes!
The lighting was poor in the picture above, but you can definitely see the difference, right?! Just stepping into the room now there is a “Wow!” factor simply because the windows look so much bigger!
I’m on a mission now to rehang all the drapes in the house! It will take time because I’ll need longer lengths. Buying 96″ or 102″ is usually what is needed.
Here’s the bedroom to date. I’m still hoping to paint and hang replace the fan with a light fixture, but I’m loving where it is at this moment!
Let’s do a side by side before and after. I’m being vulnerable to show this before picture! Ugh! I’m just glad it’s much better now!
Next week I’ll share with you my bargain finds and more details about what went into the room makeover, but for today I hope you’re inspired to
Hang those drapes high and wide!
Are you drapes up high or do you need to make some changes?
Your bedroom might not be a place you get to spend much time, but when you are in there, it should be a bit of a haven for you (and your spouse, if you’re married). If your bedroom doesn’t necessarily refresh your heart when you walk inside, I have a challenge for you!
Today let me encourage you in a practical thing you can do to refresh yourself. Walk into your bedroom and take look around. Is it restful? Is it inviting? Or do you want to slam the door and turn and run because it’s become a cluttered nightmare instead of a peaceful getaway? You can fix that – today.
Remove the clutter.
Clear off tabletops and dressers.
Pick up loose items and put them away.
Hang clothes on their hangers.
After you’ve de-cluttered, give your room a good cleaning.
Dust, vacuum, and polish, then make sure the bed is made each day – after all it takes up a good amount of space in the room. If it’s unmade, the whole room will seem messy, even if the rest is sparkling!
Look at Pinterest or magazine pictures of beautiful bedrooms that you love and see what you can do to copy the photo. You will be amazed at the things you’ll find just by shopping in your own house, items to bring into your room to make it inviting and cozy. It might be a lamp, a few wall hangings, a plant, a bedside table, or a rug.
You will sleep better in a bedroom that is clean and rid of clutter. Your bedroom should be a place that feels like a bit of a retreat. You will love spending time in there…and you’ll be refreshed!
If you don’t have time to tackle the whole room at one time, set the timer and work for 30 minutes on the spot that is the most bothersome. Then tomorrow, add 30 more minutes effort! By a few day’s time, you’ll have a place you love to return to!
RefreshHer 