Reinvent and Don't Spend A Dime!

There is so much you can do with what you already have.  Whether it's staging your home for sale or redesigning a space in your home for a change, if you have some time, and a little creativity, you may not have to spend a thing.

Walk around your house and look at all the accessories, pillows, throws, pictures and even furniture. Make a mental inventory of what you have.  Now, pick a room, for instance the living room? Really look at what's in there and how you can move things to shake it up a bit.  What really fits and what can you remove? Go back to your mental inventory and picture any other items in your house that would not only add a design element but would also function well.  Move furniture and experiment with new settings. Even small changes can make a huge impact.

Change pictures around on the tables.  Mix up the accessories.  Look at what's on your walls.  Can you change any art around without leaving marks and will the art or decorative pieces work in other locations?  If this is something you will consider doing on a more regular basis then start off with using removable picture hooks/hangers.  Saves a lot of time, you can re-position as needed and you won't be left with any holes to fill and touch up.

Can you change up or move your lamps? A subtle change in lighting can make a room look entirely different, especially with task lighting and heights or lamps.

Look in your linen closet. Do you have any cool throws or quilts etc. that you could drape on a chair or couch?  

What about the lovely basket you received as a gift?  Too good to get rid of but what to do with it?  How would it look beside a chair, holding books, magazines or papers?  By using it this way you will have created a comfortable reading area.

What about the various vases you have that rarely get any use?  (I have a few of them) How would they look on your kitchen counter, holding some nice cooking or baking utensils?

The lovely glass bowl that is never used? Why not put it to use in your bathroom to hold some nice facecloths or soaps or even in your front hall to hold keys and change?  

Use the footstool, that just sits in the corner, to hold and display a variety of blankets, quilts or pillows.

You have a set of napkins that you never use?  Maybe you can attach them to the top of a window treatment as a valance.

You have a set of glass jars that you had purchased to use in the bathroom? Why not clean them up and use them in the kitchen.  Display them on your counter as containers for tea, coffee, sugar, pasta or anything else you may want available. 

Napkin rings as drapery tiebacks?

A lace tablecloth as a window sheer?
A table runner as a valance?

The small occasional table that seems out of place in your living room might be a welcome addition to a washroom or front hall?

The freestanding coat rack that rarely gets used in your front hall might work well in your bathroom to hold towels?

The small bookcase that gets lost in another room might look great in your dining room or kitchen, showcasing any of your pretty china, glassware or accessories and may provide you with an extra service area?  This is great if you have a small dining room or no china cabinet.

Do you have any purses you don't use?  Any decorative or solid purses can be hung in a bathroom or bedroom to hold jewellery, accessories or even make-up while soft bags can be hung on the back of your closet doors to hold various clothing accessories or lingerie etc., freeing up needed drawer space and providing you with dedicated storage for your items.

These are just a few examples of how you can make changes in your home, using what you already have.  No cost, just an imagination.  Look at any item and picture it in a different setting or having an alternate use.  You will surprise yourself with what you can come up with and how you can reinvent any space with only a few subtle changes. 

Now, go on, you can do it!

Make some changes!!

Have some fun!!!