Before diving in, I want to preface this by saying that the information in this post can be applied to any room you’re wanting to refresh. But I’ll be referring to our laundry room as an example.
I had been wanting to update our laundry room {and by room I mean closet} since we moved into our fixer upper three years ago. The doors seem to be open more than they are closed because as we all know, washing & folding laundry is a never ending cycle. And there’s no two ways around it.. this space was an eyesore.
Whenever I’m updating a room, or even a small space within a room, I always start by brainstorming – and measuring. This step is very important and will help to make the entire process go smoothly. I’ll usually pull up the notes app on my phone and record the measurements there so I can access them whenever needed.
PRO TIP: Stash a tape measurer in the glove compartment of your vehicle in case you’re out and stumble upon a piece you love but aren’t sure if it will fit in a particular room. I’ve even been known to carry a small tape measurer in my purse! With so many retailers carrying decor and furniture these days, you never know when you’ll see something you love. So you’ll want to be prepared.
Next, I’ll ask myself a few important questions..
• What do I want this room to look like? (ie. what decor style?)
***I recommend sticking with the same decor style and base color palette throughout your home. This helps to tie rooms together and make your decor/furniture choices feel intentional and complete. If you want, you can add small pops of color in different rooms to give them each their own personality. I like implementing color with throw pillows, blankets, plants/flowers, etc. And switching these items seasonally is a great way to keep things fresh and festive.***
• What function do I need this room to fulfill?
• In what unique way do I need this space to work for our family?
• And of course, what’s my budget for this room?
Once I’ve answered all of these questions, I’m ready to get an idea of what I want the end result to look like. I’m usually pretty good at visualizing the furniture and decor in my head but sometimes I find it’s best to draw up a sketch of how I want everything to come together. My husband prefers a drawing over me just casually describing where items will go and how they’ll work together. He likes to see what I’m envisioning.
Make a list of the furniture and decor you need and want for the room. Then, start window shopping online for each item. My thought process with this tip is that you save time, energy and gas money by not driving to a dozen+ stores searching for decor and furniture that they might not even have in stock.
For instance, when remodeling our laundry room, I started with the item I knew would be the most difficult to hunt down at a decent price and in the style I wanted – the wall mounted cabinet. Sure enough, I searched through numerous sites, scouring the web and viewing dozens and dozens of cabinets. In the end, I kept coming back to this little beauty…
For each item you intend to purchase, I recommend snapping a screenshot of any possible contenders so you’re able to compare them side-by-side later on and narrow down your choices. If you’re working on a PC, grab your phone and snap a picture of the screen. It will prove extremely helpful to be able to see all of the options at one time in order to weed out the ones you can live without vs. the must-haves.
FRIENDLY WARNING: Don’t panic if your vision begins to change as you look at furniture and decor. That’s bound to happen sometimes! This is why I recommend starting with a rough sketch or visual and a list of wants/needs. These two things will help you remain focused when you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the decor options available.
As you look at each piece, remember to take a peek at the measurements and determine if it will fit properly in the space you have to work with. I can’t stress this tip enough! In the past, I’ve fallen in love with pieces only to realize later that they’d never fit where I’d need them to go.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, do a quick search on the internet of the name of the piece to compare prices. There’s no sense in paying more than you have to for the exact same item, right? Even if you’re able to get free shipping from one site but not another, it all adds up.
While working with clients, I’ve realized that the most overlooked items are small decor pieces. The fun, random goodies you’d find on an end table or shelf. What some people might refer to as “knick knacks” or “fillers”.
If choosing these items isn’t exactly you’re strong suit, this is when it’s important to pay close attention to the tiny details in that picture you ‘liked’ on FB or IG, the one you took a screenshot of or the one you dog-eared in that home decor magazine. What was on the end table or shelf in the picture? How was it displayed? Use these photos as your inspiration for gathering ideas.
Stores like Hobby Lobby are great for finding the little odds and ends you need to complete the look of a room.
PRO TIP: Hobby Lobby rotates their 50% off sale on a set schedule. So if their table decor (usually the section directly behind the checkout lanes) isn’t on sale that particular week, you can be sure it will be within the next 2-3. This applies to every section in the store. Wait for the sale. There’s no justifiable reason (even for this decor obsessed gal) to pay $20 for a piece that you can get in two weeks for $10. Amirite?
It’s really the small decor pieces that complete a room and give it that cozy feeling. So grab what appeals to you and play around with it. And don’t feel like you have to commit to a certain look without ever changing things up. I’m constantly moving decor and furniture around and from room to room to freshen things up in our home. It’s part of the fun and keeps things from feeling boring after awhile. Plus, it’s a great, free way to refresh a room again in the future.
Happy decorating!
The Log Farmhouse 