Ahhh, winter. The time when we spend a little more time indoors, cozied up under the blanket watching our favorite shows or movies. It’s also the time when we start looking around our house and looking for room painting ideas or other ways to make it feel just a little bit more like home.
Want to add a little spice to your Florida home this winter? Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
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- Work on Your Accent Pieces
Add a little paint appeal to the accent pieces and smaller areas of your home. For example, you can buy a can of whiteboard paint for about $10 at Home Depot or Lowes and use it to turn anything (I mean anything) into your own personal canvas. From refrigerators to spice racks or menu boards, this is a great way to add some excitement to your house and make it more fun during the chillier months of the year.
- Bring the Outdoors Indoors
When it’s a little chilly outside, consider bringing in some greenery from outdoors to create an illusion of spring weather inside your home. Take some inspiration from your garden. Use a hanging flower pot, piece of a wrought-iron gate, vines, garden tools, baskets or even garden-inspired clothing to add an extra layer of warmth to each room.
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- Go Florida Chic!
One of the great things about Florida is the wealth of natural decorations and sea-inspired home accent pieces we have at our disposal. Go to Hobby Lobby, the local aquarium or even the beach (nice excuse for a road trip) and pick up some items for a Florida winter collage. Seashells, sand dollars, starfish, or even synthetic coral will add a festive Florida feel to any room. Throw the items together in a wooden or ceramic bowl, and you are good to go.
- Hang a Mirror (In Just the Right Location)
Mirrors are a hugely underrated way to dress up a home in an instant. By strategically placing a mirror in each room, you can add a huge amount of natural light, warmth and color to your home. Just hang a large mirror directly where the sun beams in or directly across from your favorite piece of décor (a painting, light fixture or photo collage). Then, enjoy seeing that light or image reflected across two walls, multiplying the joy and appeal.
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- Declutter, Store and Declutter Some More!
Nothing is more satisfying during the winter months than adding a little more order to your life. Just like squirrels, we tend to hunker down in the winter and stay indoors – so it’s a great time to store our goods in just the right place for when the weather warms. Besides, clutter-free spaces give the impression that your home is bigger. Read this great post from Coupons.com on how to organize your linen closets and gain some extra storage space to boot!
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- Freshen Up Your Kitchen Cabinets
Are your cabinets getting a little dirty from cooking in the kitchen? To clean off any extra layers of gunk, use a firm paintbrush and a wood cleaning product to help them look good as new. Or, if the stains are too hard to remove (or your cabinets just need a refresh) consider a new coat of paint or stain. Or, remove the doors altogether for a truly European style! For other room painting ideas, call The Paint Manager.
- Consider Adding Crown Molding
Most of the time, it’s better not to sweat the small stuff. But that could not be further from the truth when it comes to interior decorating and design. Crown molding is a great way to make your home look high-end without shelling out high-end dough for a complete remodel. For the full effect, choose the widest trimmed molding that your budget will allow, and avoid the plastic, paintable versions. From baseboards to columns, ceiling beams and chair rails, you are only limited by your own imagination. Read this great post by Houzz to see if crown molding is right for you and your home.
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- Start Pillow Talkin’
Adding new pillows to your living room or bedroom add a one-two punch effect to each area. One, they provide yourself and your guests with some extra comfort. Two, if selected carefully, they can add an extra layer of warmth and elegance too. We recommend choosing a larger than standard pillow. Instead of the 12 to 18 inch sizes, go for a 22-inch pillow cover with a 24-inch insert instead. Overstuffed pillows look more high-end, and larger covers mean you get more of a design pop as well.
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- Update Your Window Treatments
Window treatments are one of the most budget-friendly decorative changes you can make. However, if you choose the wrong materials, it can make your home look cheap. We recommend you avoid using any see-through materials. Even if you buy your curtains from a discount rack, thicker cotton or linen draperies have the feel of a high-end store. Natural silk is another good way to go. Of course, bamboo shades and wood blinds look great too, and they go well with the Florida Chic style mentioned in Tip #3.
- Let Some More Light In
If you are fortunate enough to have ample windows in each room, consider opening the shades or curtains wider during the winter months. Because our days our shorter, you want to take advantage of the sunlight we do get each day. But don’t fret if you lack enough natural light to begin with. Read this great article from Better Homes & Gardens on how to add lighting to any room. We personally liked the page 13 tip on using open plan overhead lighting to warm up a room.
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- Give Your Walls a Little Love
The color of your walls (inside and out) are one of the most important things to think about when setting the tone of your home. While it can be daunting to make a change, it can be just as rewarding when the new color matches the feeling you are trying to create. First, decide between a bold/dramatic color and more soft/understated hues. Match your choice to your personality and design goals.
Want even more room painting ideas? Give The Paint Manager a call.