Decorating
11 Ways to Refresh a Room in an Hour
Got a spare 60 minutes? Try one of these quick-change projects for an instant interiors hit
When time is limited, be inspired by one of these speedy ideas. From DIY dabbles to simply switching things around, see if you can satisfy the urge to try something new without having to commit to a full-on room makeover.
Bring in some greenery
No time to dash to the florist’s? Head outside and gather an armful of greenery instead, then arrange it in a big vase for an instant injection of colour.
Use whatever’s in season – blossom in spring, lush foliage in summer, evergreens in autumn and even bare twigs in winter. If you don’t fancy the idea of one big vase, try arranging a few stems in a collection of smaller vessels instead.
No time to dash to the florist’s? Head outside and gather an armful of greenery instead, then arrange it in a big vase for an instant injection of colour.
Use whatever’s in season – blossom in spring, lush foliage in summer, evergreens in autumn and even bare twigs in winter. If you don’t fancy the idea of one big vase, try arranging a few stems in a collection of smaller vessels instead.
Lay a rug in the kitchen
If you’ve been flirting with the idea of a kitchen rug, borrow one from another room to road-test the idea. Or maybe you have one rolled up somewhere that no longer goes with your living room scheme?
Either way, it won’t take you the full hour, so, if you like the effect, you can use the remaining time for a spot of internet shopping to make it a more permanent fixture!
Ever thought of doing this with your rugs?
If you’ve been flirting with the idea of a kitchen rug, borrow one from another room to road-test the idea. Or maybe you have one rolled up somewhere that no longer goes with your living room scheme?
Either way, it won’t take you the full hour, so, if you like the effect, you can use the remaining time for a spot of internet shopping to make it a more permanent fixture!
Ever thought of doing this with your rugs?
Switch furniture around
It’s easy to become ‘room blind’ when you’ve lived somewhere for a while, so try moving furniture from one space to another to give a different look.
Here, an easy chair has been placed in the bedroom, but it could also work in the kitchen. Or try swapping a side table for a bedside cabinet, or move lamps into different rooms or even just to a different area in the same room.
It’s easy to become ‘room blind’ when you’ve lived somewhere for a while, so try moving furniture from one space to another to give a different look.
Here, an easy chair has been placed in the bedroom, but it could also work in the kitchen. Or try swapping a side table for a bedside cabinet, or move lamps into different rooms or even just to a different area in the same room.
Add some hooks
Whether to display pretty items or as a practical way to store anything from coats to mugs, hooks are an easy way to change the look of a space. Here, a simple twig has been threaded though the shelf supports, with S-hooks hanging off it, so there’s not even any need to get the drill out…
Whether to display pretty items or as a practical way to store anything from coats to mugs, hooks are an easy way to change the look of a space. Here, a simple twig has been threaded though the shelf supports, with S-hooks hanging off it, so there’s not even any need to get the drill out…
Hang a strip of wallpaper
Papering a whole room in an hour might be pushing it, but a narrow strip is doable. A cloakroom like this is an ideal place to experiment, but a narrow wall or alcove in a hallway, bathroom or kid’s room would work well, too.
Papering a whole room in an hour might be pushing it, but a narrow strip is doable. A cloakroom like this is an ideal place to experiment, but a narrow wall or alcove in a hallway, bathroom or kid’s room would work well, too.
Paint a door
Give it a rub down with sandpaper to key the surface, then add an unexpected flash of colour to an internal door with a coat of paint.
Feeling inspired? Check out this guide to painting furniture
Give it a rub down with sandpaper to key the surface, then add an unexpected flash of colour to an internal door with a coat of paint.
Feeling inspired? Check out this guide to painting furniture
Show off a collection
A few hooks on the wall are all it took to elevate – quite literally – this collection of baskets. Plates or framed pictures, postcards or photos can all get a new lease of life when taken off the shelf and put onto the wall, so grab a drill and get to work. If the pieces you want to hang are reasonably light, you could even use removable Command sticky hooks.
A few hooks on the wall are all it took to elevate – quite literally – this collection of baskets. Plates or framed pictures, postcards or photos can all get a new lease of life when taken off the shelf and put onto the wall, so grab a drill and get to work. If the pieces you want to hang are reasonably light, you could even use removable Command sticky hooks.
Colour-code your books
You could use your spare hour to do some reading, or you could have fun rearranging the spines by colour. It’s a win-win either way.
What do you think of this other controversial way to display books?
You could use your spare hour to do some reading, or you could have fun rearranging the spines by colour. It’s a win-win either way.
What do you think of this other controversial way to display books?
Rearrange a display
Had the same collection of bits and bobs on the sideboard for so long you never even notice them anymore? Look at your surroundings with fresh eyes and enjoy moving things about. Regroup, swap stuff around or bring in items from a different room for an easy-peasy way to update your scheme.
Had the same collection of bits and bobs on the sideboard for so long you never even notice them anymore? Look at your surroundings with fresh eyes and enjoy moving things about. Regroup, swap stuff around or bring in items from a different room for an easy-peasy way to update your scheme.
Tile a mini splashback
Retrieve leftovers from another project or buy a few patterned single tiles, then stick them up behind the basin using a tub of ready-mixed tile adhesive for a pretty (and practical) splashback.
Tell us…
What are your favourite quick-change ways to update the look of a room? Share your tips in the Comments section.
Retrieve leftovers from another project or buy a few patterned single tiles, then stick them up behind the basin using a tub of ready-mixed tile adhesive for a pretty (and practical) splashback.
Tell us…
What are your favourite quick-change ways to update the look of a room? Share your tips in the Comments section.
A painted panel behind a bed makes a surprisingly effective headboard. Use masking tape (picking a professional-quality tape will help you avoid colour bleeds) to mark off the area behind the bed and to achieve a neat edge, then simply paint the wall to form a headboard.
Here, the effect has been enhanced with a slimline shelf above and a bedside cabinet painted in the same colour.