Transform Your Home in a Weekend

Transform

your home in a weekend

After a long winter, many of us are tired of staring at the same four walls. Refreshing your space doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Every day, Bianca Zorzi and her Staging and Styling team transform spaces by layering and refreshing what’s already there. Follow their tips to give any room in your home a completely new look this weekend.

Reduce, Rearrange, and Re-use Before you make any new purchases, shop your house. Collect all accessories you have in one place, like your dining room table, and create your ‘store.’ This will help you purge and declutter at the same time.

Vases, jars, pillows, artwork and books are all great items for breathing new life into another space.

A decorative bowl from the kitchen can add a sense of variety to your living room. A smooth stone found on the beach can add visual interest to a stack of books.

From there, rearrange your accessories into groupings or vignettes. Follow the rule of threes: odd numbers of differently sized objects create the most dynamic arrangements. Start with larger pieces first and then fill in the gaps with smaller objects. Keep in mind size, shape and depth to achieve an effect that is thoughtful and curated.

Consolidate Colours Keep each room to a single colour story to create a cohesive, intentional aesthetic. One trend we’re seeing is a shift towards more warm, tone-ontone colour palettes. Don’t be afraid to mix objects and furniture from different periods — and purposes — for an eclectic look. A bedroom dresser could serve as a functional living room sideboard or entry storage. It’s all in how you accessorize!

Bring the outside in Nothing freshens up a space like botanicals. So grab a vase or vessel (water pitchers and mason jars will do) and create a simple arrangement featuring a few branches, sprigs of greenery, or fresh flowers.

When it comes to plants, you can go as big and bold as you like. If you’re not a green thumb, artificial plants have come a long way and can transform a room in an instant.

Follow the rule of threes: odd numbers of differently sized objects create the most dynamic arrangements.

The Goods

Bianca Zorzi, Property Stylist at The Richards Group, suggests checking out the following local and favourite home decor stores for accessories you’ll love:

Task

1915 Queen St. E

Black Rooster

1075 Queen St. E

Scout

1140 Queen St. E

Collected Joy

1035 Kingston Rd

Living Lighting

1841 Queen St. E

Tonic Living

36 Northline Rd. #6

Spruce Home Decor Inc.

455 Parliament St.

West Elm

109 Atlantic Ave.

Elte Mkt

1381 Castlefield Ave.

Maison Corbeil

1270 Caledonia Rd.

CB2

651 Queen St. W

PRO TIP: Choose frames with generous mattes to create an elevated gallery-feeling. Repeat frames to create impact.

Channel your inner artist You can change the focal point of a room through the strategic arrangement of artwork. If you don’t have any artwork to spare, you can create your own abstract painting DIY-style using simple line drawings, paint or mixed media. (This can be an excellent project for kids too.)

The photo library on your phone or pages from coffee table books can also be a good inspiration for artwork. Creatively crop them for more interesting perspectives. If you want to think outside the frame, you can give a wall more dimension by adding a mirror or hanging a feather wreath, tapestry or basket. The goal is to create a central feature in each room with points of interest throughout the space. Build your base Invest in key pieces like rugs, lighting, furniture and curtains that you’ll love for the long-term. Then adding seasonal flair and texture through layering linens, blankets, pillows and accessories to transform the look.

This home decor strategy will ensure your home feels fresh in the spring and summer and cozy as the weather cools. It’s also a great way to keep from getting bored with your space all year round.