Small changes, big difference (PART 1)

Image from Interiors Porn.

Allergies are killing me today--really making me want to scratch my face off and then plunge what is left of it in ice cold water.  I can't stop scratching my eyes and rubbing my nose.  I've sneezed about 100 times.

But...I had a great day.  Despite the clouds, despite the rain and despite the sneezes, it was full of wonderful little moments.  To top it all off, I am in my pjs with a cup of tea and a little Sex and the City.  But enough about me...

Today I have a few great tips for making small changes (with big impact) in your home.  While I was home in March, I found many of my mom's old magazines.  She seems to keep them forever, so believe it or not, these tips come from House Beautiful of February 2008.  I didn't know Peter and I certainly didn't live in Germany.  Heck, I don't even know if I knew what a blog was back then.

Nonetheless, many of the tips are great and are as useful and timely now as they were in 2008.  They are simple fixes that you can use to spruce things up.  Where possible, they are free or cost very little.  Most can be achieved simply by going to the thrift store and/or the hardware store or by re-purposing unloved pieces that you already have.

For the next few weeks, I will be sharing a few tips* with you over a series of posts titled "Small changes, big difference."

Here are the first 6:

1. If you have a modern room, make yourself buy (or find or thrift) one traditional thing.

2.  If you have a traditional room, make yourself buy (or find or thrift) one modern thing.

Perfect mix of traditional and modern.  Image by sfgirlbybay from Houzz via Pinterest.

3. Wallpaper the inside of your bedroom closet (or wardrobe or coat closet or china cabinet).

Image from Project Nursery.  (Okay, this isn't your closet, but it was too sweet not to show you!)

 4. Find an old brass chandelier at a thrift shop.  Spray paint it white or a color (bright yellow is HOT right now) if you dare. (You can find great how-to's by searching "painted chandelier" on google.com.)

Image from MStetson Design.

 5.  Find or thrift a pretty tray and arrange all the things from your coffee table on it.  It will look more pulled together (and will make it easier to remove things when you need space for pizza and a movie night).

Image from Baer Home Design.

6. Buy or pick flowers for your bedside table (instead of your living room).  They're just for you!

 

Image from Hot Tea and Milk Chocolate.

*All tips are from a February 2008 House Beautiful article titled: "101 Decorating Makeovers."