HOME SWEETER HOME – Spruce up your space with ease and elegance

If you find yourself standing in your living room thinking, I’m so over it, it’s time to make those much-needed design updates to refresh your home and your psyche. But it’s not always necessary to gut the place. For this redesign, think simple. Interior designer Barbara Brenner, of the Barbara Brenner & Associates design firm in Calabasas, explains: “It’s important to go simple because less is always more. When I go into a home, the first thing I do is take out the clutter and get down to basics.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. So without further ado, here’s our list of ways to renew, revamp and revitalize.

CONFRONT YOUR CLUTTER

There’s no time like the present to take Brenner’s advice. Before you start on any other element of your simple redesign, it’s best to reassess your relationship with those knick-knacks peppering every shelf and your collection of mismatched chairs. We know it won’t be easy. According to Brenner, “This is the hardest thing for people to do because they’re attached to their things. There are two kinds of clutter: junk that accumulates, which should be thrown away or given to charity (don’t forget to get a tax receipt), and sentimental clutter. For the sentimental clutter, I suggest storing it or giving it to a son or a daughter who would appreciate it.”

A PERSONAL CANVAS

No surprise here: If you’re sick of staring at your white (or gray or yellow) walls, head to the paint store and go for a totally different color than the one currently surrounding you. If you’re not ready to commit to an all-over shade, start small. You can paint one room, or just an accent wall or ceiling. Designer Tracy Murdock, of Tracy Murdock Interior Design in Woodland Hills, suggests this grand opening: “I think painting in entry halls is a great way to get immediate impact and to receive guests.”

Maybe you’re a touchy-feely person and would like to add some texture to a room. Hire a professional to skip-trowel your walls for a cool faux-finish look. “This method is great because it has some highs and lows to it, which can add great depth, and then adding paint and glaze to it gives it highlights,” says West Hollywood designer Philip Nimmo, of the design firm Philip Nimmo & Company and Philip Nimmo Ironworks. Another one of his ideas: “I love using raffia paper (woven sea grass) to add texture to one wall.”

If your walls are void of wainscoting, that doesn’t mean you can’t install it. “Wainscoting is a fantastic way to create impact, especially on a budget,” says Murdock. “It can be traditional or spiced up and dramatized by using a bright color on the upper part, such as kelly green, or even a bold wallpaper.”

To give a bedroom a dramatic touch with a unique and unexpected focal point, simply paint a headboard right onto the wall (be sure to trace it first), or visit a flea market for a vintage screen to place behind the bed. “A friend of mine found some great old Indian doors at a flea market, and we just hung them behind the bed,” says Nimmo. Don’t worry if the piece looks too vintage, as your favorite paint or fabric will give it new life.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

“Using lamplight throughout the home creates a softer mood.”

Of course you want your home to look good, but you may as well look your best, too. Murdock suggests getting rid of the canned lighting, noting that using lamplight throughout the home creates a softer mood and “is always much more flattering on people.” Another one of her tips: “I like to use swing arm wall sconces behind sofas and next to or on headboards, creating more space on tables, not to mention that they are more functional and you can put special touches on the lampshades.”

Nothing changes the feel of a room like the right lighting. Dimmers are a must-have, Murdock says. They give you the flexibility to control lighting, even at its harshest. You can turn them up for everyday living or down when you want to unwind after a long day. And, of course, you can adjust them just so to set the mood for entertaining or romance.

Switch plates – “nobody notices those.” But the fact is, this is one of the easiest design updates, and it packs a big punch. “Switch plates go out of style very quickly, but they are so simple to change,” says Brenner. “Take out the old ones, screw in the new ones and you’ve updated the room in a matter of minutes.”

ADD FLASH TO YOUR KITCHEN AND BATH

Nothing dates a bathroom more than an old, clunky, brass-framed, tinted-glass shower enclosure, so now’s the time to go seamless and frameless, says Nimmo. Doing so will take years off the room, finally giving it that “wow” factor it’s been missing. And while you’re at it, replace the showerhead and faucets. Nimmo adds, “If you’re at the point of updating the look of the room, the faucet probably looks tired. It’s amazing what new fixtures can do.”

Don’t think kitchen and bathroom knobs are important to your redesign? According to Brenner, getting new and vibrant replacements for those old, faux bronze drawer pulls will “change the whole feel of the cabinets. It’s so easy to do, and there are so many nice ones. You don’t need to change all the cabinets – just change the pulls.”

Updating your kitchen and bathroom accessories is another simple way to transform the look of these two rooms. Buy a new accessory collection in a style that floats your boat – think porcelain, stainless steel or wood. In the bathroom, go for new towels in a color you haven’t used before, and ditch a traditional bath rug for a sleek teak mat.

“Adding some Nature makes your home fresh and alive and lifts the spirits like nothing else.”

You spend so much time slaving away in your kitchen that you deserve a new backsplash. For added dimension, think about mosaic tiles. Since this is a change you probably won’t be making very often, Nimmo advises going with a more neutral palate: “I believe the simpler it is, the more of an advantage I have when I want to swap out my accessories.”

FINISHING TOUCHES

Move a piece of artwork from the living room to the bedroom, and take one from the bathroom and put it in the hallway – just shake it up and see how the room is transformed. Says Brenner: “If the same piece of art has been on the same wall for years, you’ll notice it in a different light if you change its location. It really does transform a room and it’s the simplest thing to do.”

It’s time to retire those pillows that came with your couch and invest in new ones that will add a vibrant touch to your room. “Accent pillows are mandatory,” says Brenner. “I always suggest people buy a neutral color sofa, and change the throw pillows every couple of years to a current color – same for the bedroom. A couple of pillows in a poppy color will change the entire room.”

Decorating with – or without – an area rug is a quick way to revamp any room. Try going from a solid to a modern printed rug. Area rugs can also be a great seasonal change to any room. Nimmo reveals, “During the winter I use my area rugs, then during the summer I store them.” Or, if you prefer to decorate with rugs year-round, here’s Nimmo’s tip: “In summertime I like more textural rugs, like sea grass, and in wintertime I use a pile or woven rug.”

“Accent pillows are mandatory.”

It’s time to add an unexpected touch to your home, and a great way to do that is with jewelry. Umano Beads, designed by Barbara Bacigalupi, can be hung on lamps, door handles, vases and drawer pulls, giving your room a meditative and reflective feel. The beautiful beads can express a sentiment you’d like to project, like love, good health, prosperity or tranquility. They’re also a great conversation piece.

You’re done with your redesign, but something’s missing. Ah, nature! Start by adding fresh-cut flowers to your weekly shopping list. “This is the single most important simple way to improve your home,” says Brenner. “It makes your home fresh and alive and lifts the spirits like nothing else.” It’s true, flowers will add a seasonal and creative touch to any room – and you’ll get more compliments than you’ll know what to do with. (You’re welcome.)