Spruce up your home without breaking the bank

be BOLD Tired of your space?

As we are all spending so much more time at home these days, who isn’t thinking about re-vamping our interiors? Whether it’s small or large furniture pieces, adding wall decor to somewhat barren walls or simply bringing life to an otherwise lifeless room … it can all feel overwhelming and it is hard to know where to start. That is where a designer can step in to help, with useful tips to get you motivated by adding accents to truly spruce up your home. If funds are tight right now and that large furniture purchase is not in your budget, here are a few ways to make your space more interesting without breaking the bank.

Five ways to spruce up your home without breaking the bank

BY » Greta McCoy

1. Freshen up your living space with new pillows.

Sometimes we just deal with the old, saggy pillows on our sofa, but guess what? You don’t have to! Adding new pillows to your sofa and chairs will make your furniture feel brand new and it’s a lot less expensive than buying new furniture. If you have a darker colored sofa, add light colored pillows as a contrast. If you have a neutral-colored sofa or chair, add vivid pops of color in various pillow designs to give your furniture a personality. Mix and match pillow textures like velvets, lamb fur, shags and leathers to give the allure of elegance and coziness. Pillows with a feather down insert look glamorous and are the softest choice, but you can always be more frugal and opt for a regular cushion insert in your pillows as well.

Even minimalist style homes need some form of texture to keep it from looking too sterile or untouchable. Create a comfortable space to curl up and read your favorite book or relax with your loved ones with a glass of wine. 2. Add mirrors to your design plan.

When in doubt, go big. A large mirror makes a dramatic focal point. Think about adding one above your fireplace, above a console table between two lamps, or even on a dark wall in your home to add light and reflection. A mirror adds a sense of expansiveness and an ornate mirror screams personality in a more modern interior. Mirrors create the illusion of depth and space so they can really help make a small room feel much bigger.

Don’t be afraid to create a gallery wall with mirrors instead of photos. With a mirrored gallery wall, you can combine frames with different styles, colors and sizes. Add these mirrors on a backdrop of a darker color painted wall for an added wow factor. Our favorite is a cluster of brass framed mirrors (round, oval, square and rectangle) on a white wall or on a contrasting dark wall.

3. Tie in some in- teresting vintage finds to your ex- isting decor.

An antiqued mirror, a vintage round glass coffee table or small antique accent decor pieces introduce some history and patina to the modern mix of new furniture and decor your home may already have. There is a fine line between arranging accessories to create a space that doesn’t feel cluttered or too over-styled. It’s always a good idea to mix newer pieces with older ones. The right unique, vintage or handmade items you find with patina and character will make your home feel “collected.” The best places to find these items are antique/ vintage shops, flea markets or interior design boutiques. Just remember, less is more when it comes to vintage items, don’t clutter with too many purchases, the few golden pieces you find will stand out that much more by themselves.

Brass items are just as hot of an item today as they were 50-60 years ago. Brass candlestick holders or animal figurines are always a good go-to. Cute vintage animals in brass, ceramic or stone add whimsy to a space, they are always pleasing to the eye because who doesn’t love animals?

4. Dried botanicals and plants always are a great way to add organic green- ery to your space.

A basic potted plant is a low maintenance but equally lovely alternative to flowers. Adding giant houseplants, like palm trees and tall fiddle leaf trees bring eye-pleasing drama to a neutral space. Placing brightly colored vases with unusual, dried grasses or botanicals on either side of a fireplace mantle can look interestingly symmetrical. Succulents in a fun, colorful pot (or a vintage pot) are easy to care for, try adding a larger arrangement to a breakfast table or dining table as a centerpiece. A room doesn’t feel quite right without plant life in it. The organic element a plant or dried botanical gives is an essential part of most spaces. 5. Wall baskets can add texture, color and interest to your wall decor.

Wall baskets add a noticeable texture to your walls and grouping baskets together creates a fun look for lots of different styles including boho, traditional, rustic or coastal. Most baskets are a neutral color; however, colorful baskets are definitely trending and can add contrast to an earthtoned room. If you want to focus on color, try African or South American baskets. An easy way to design a basket wall is to create the form of an abstract triangle or an organic flowing pattern and use a variety of baskets in various styles, colors and textures. Vintage wall baskets are a fun find in antique stores but purchasing new baskets from shops that practice fair trade is a feel-good purchase for your home as well.

Our homes are not only a place of refuge, they are also an opportunity for self expression. When the home we create reflects who we truly are, it brings us a greater sense of joy and pride of ownership. As we begin to transition our homes to once again welcome guests, small yet meaningful changes can help us remember to love our homes again. Combining eras and styles to personalize your decor results in a unique and timeless, well designed, fresh-feeling home.

Greta McCoy is a designer and owner of The Bungalow Market, a home decor shop in the Oak Street Mill in Cornelius. When she’s not finding new, vintage treasures for her shop she’s busy raising two young pickers. Follow her designs and vintage finds on IG @bungalow_market.