Itching
changes? for some
table from the living room in the entryway and a narrow entry table behind the sofa. Place an upholstered chair in the mudroom, where it will feel extra luxurious, and bring an outdoor café chair into the dining room for a flea market–chic vibe.
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Bookshelves looking a bit boring? Try colour coding your bookshelves. Spend a rainy afternoon rearranging your books by the colour of their spines rather than the contents for a change.
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By Leslie Cochrane, Loft 3 Design Company
Turn a crate on its side to hold books. An old wooden crate is perfect for keeping books neat and tidy. Crates look fabulously rustic on their own, but if you want to spice one up, try lining the back in a patterned gift wrap.
Got the itch to make some changes around the house? Before you head out shopping or hit the online stores, why not first see what can be done with what you have? Sometimes all it takes is a bit of inspiration to see your space with fresh eyes. Let these ideas spark your imagination and motivate you to see your own space anew.
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Frame illustrations from a book or magazine. Art magazines and vintage books are great sources of frame worthy illustrations — just cut pages out neatly and pop them into any blank frame you have lying around. Look through your stacks with a fresh eye; you never know what you may find.
Style your open shelving. If you have glass-front cupboards or open shelving in the kitchen, consider it a styling opportunity not to be squandered. Take a look at your shelves as they are now, putting function aside for just a moment. Can you spy any clashing colours or patterns? Remove those first, then step back and look again. Do you see a theme emerging among what’s left? White and silver, for instance, or blue and white would work well. Search your other cupboards and storage areas for objects you use that fit the color scheme, and work them in.
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Repurpose fabric remnants as art. If you do any sewing or crafting, I am willing to bet you have some cool fabric pieces in your stash, just waiting for the right home. Stretch a larger piece over a blank canvas or place a small swatch in a frame.
Paper a wall in old maps. Make your own wallpaper by decoupaging maps directly onto a freshly cleaned wall. Use maps of your area or nautical maps, or mix and match maps from places you have traveled to.
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Use vases to display jewelry. Instead of hiding extra vases in a cupboard (which is probably overcrowded as it is), put them to work displaying your favorite necklaces and bracelets atop your dresser.
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Swap out accent furniture from room to room. Small furniture (side tables, stools, slipper chairs) is easy to move, and a simple swap can completely change the feel of a room. Try a side
Remove a door and create a hideaway office. Even a tiny closet can be transformed into a workspace. Install some floating shelves and a memo board. Replacing the door with a curtain will help the nook feel more inviting and give you a bit more space — and you’ll still be able to close off the room.
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