Six Ways to Redecorate Your Home While You’re Stuck Inside

While we practice social distancing, many of us are spending a whole lot of time staring at our houses and apartments… and very quickly becoming bored with what we see. One solution? A super-simple home makeover that doesn’t require leaving the house to pick up extra supplies. Read on for clever home-redecorating projects from three local styling experts.

Photo by Joyelle West

Upgrade your shelfie game.

“My husband calls our house a rotating museum, because I’m constantly changing our décor and moving it around our home,” says Hannah Oravec, principal of Plymouth-based interiors firm Lawless Design. She suggests creating “a simple yet eye-catching shelf by pairing décor, artwork, and plants.” Search the house for items that’ll make an impact. Keep an eye out for baubles of different sizes to play with scale, as well as a variety of textures to make things alluring, the designer says.

Switch up your accent furniture.

“Give your home a little refresh by swapping similar-sized pieces from different rooms,” says local prop stylist Kaylei McGaw, who recommends choosing one to three items to shift around. Examples? A cocktail table could become a bedside table, perhaps. Or the bench in your hallway could be moved to the end of your bed. “Then, edit how each piece functions in its new spot,” McGaw explains. For instance, “In the hallway, the bench was a landing pad for your backpack and mail, but in the bedroom, you’ll top it with a blanket and throw pillow.”

Let there be light.

While you’re spending your days inside, it’s important to brighten your space as much as possible. “Open or remove dark window shades, blinds, draperies and let that sunshine beam in,” says Jennifer Storo, a home stager at Boston’s Stage to Sell, “Natural light opens up a room, and a view out the window carries the eye farther.”

Photo by Kaylei McGaw

Pop in some plants.
“Though we’re taking a break from our beloved florists and flower markets, we can still bring a bit of nature into our homes in thoughtful ways,” McGaw explains. Create your own artful arrangements by foraging for branches or grasses either from your own yard or on a hike (while safely social distancing), the stylist says. Any vessel you have on hand will do for displaying your assortment, and you can trim and arrange your collection to fit perfectly. In need of inspiration? McGaw suggests doing some research on ornamental grasses, as well as Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.

Go with the flow.
Another tip from Storo: Ask yourself, “Is it easy to walk through this room?” If not, that means that any piece of furniture (and of course, any loose belongings on the floor) that thwarts an easy path from one space to another should be placed elsewhere, put in storage, or moved aside for donation. “You should be able to pass through a room with ease, not navigating an obstacle course,” the stager says.

Revamp the hearth.
Television mounted above the fireplace? Think about swapping it with a piece of statement artwork instead and putting your TV elsewhere, Oravec advises. Then, decorate your mantel with favorite pieces from around the house (much like you already did with your bookshelves) and, if your fireplace is purely decorative and you have any paint lying around, give the inside a fresh coat for an instant upgrade, the designer adds.