I Like the Way You Work It

Fall is on the horizon, and as the season changes, so too will our decor. We’re swapping out light and bright summer accents for warmer, cozier pieces. This year, design trends have featured warm tones – terracottas, plums, and cognac browns coordinated with creams and greys – the perfect palette for fall.

But if you’ve searched through shops recently, you’ve likely noticed a problem: supply chain disruptions have left many items indefinitely out of stock, and inflation has made the available pieces more expensive than ever. This can be a challenging time to redesign, but beautiful results are still achievable – all you need is a bit of creativity.

With the help of staging and property styling expert Bianca Zorzi, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for reinventing your home, right now.

Make what you have work for you.

Before heading to the store, take stock of the items you already own – think of this as shopping your collection. What do you love, what needs fixing, and what are you ready to part with? Sometimes, wellloved items might just need some repairs. Consider what you can quickly mend yourself or, reach out to a local vendor to bring the piece back to life.

Try different configurations. When we’re bored with our decor, it’s often because we’re seeing the same pieces in the same places, day after day. Before purchasing something new, switch up your layout. Move the couch or even rearrange the art on the wall. Reorganizing might just change the space enough for you to fall in love with your items once again.

It might not be glamorous, but a deep clean can make all the difference. Powerwash your outdoor surfaces and pick up a fabric steamer for upholstered items. Sprucing up your favourite pieces can make them feel like new.

Our Top Picks for the Best Steam Cleaners for Couches

THE OVERALL BEST:

Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

THE RUNNER-UP:

Bissell PowerFresh Lift-Off Pet Steam Mop

THE BEST BUDGET PICK:

PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop Cleaner

Create a focal point.

Design is in the details. If you’re feeling uninspired by your current artwork, or if the frames are eclectic or too small to stand on their own, create a statement with a gallery wall. It’ll read as one unified installment, but will invite the viewer to explore the different images, textures, and colours within it. In fact, staging experts often incorporate gallery walls to create that custom lived-in feel.

Before hanging your pieces, place them on the floor to map out the size and layout. You can even incorporate other items like plates or bowls for more variety and visual interest. Find your inner artist and incorporate a sketch or painting – this could be the perfect place to frame and showcase your little one’s newest masterpiece. These details add a personal touch that can’t be bought.

Vintage shopping and upcycling.

Antique markets, Value Village, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Facebook Marketplace are great places to find unique pieces at affordable prices. You’ll also feel good knowing that you’re purchasing items second-hand, supporting local stores, and not contributing to waste. We recommend scoping out the glassware, vase, lamp, and book sections. When looking through the shelves, think about how pieces can be repurposed to fit your home. It can be hard to imagine a new find in context, but look at its bare bones: Do you like the shape and size? Other details like colour or fabric can be swapped out to perfectly suit your style.

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Spray paint is your new best friend.

Find a beautifully shaped vase but the colour won’t match your decor? This is the perfect opportunity to upcycle. While vintage finds add character to your home, they might need an update. Refresh them with a quick coat of paint. Even current items can be transformed with a spray of matte black, white, or brass paint. If you’ve accumulated numerous clear vases from floral arrangements, spray paint them for a new accent piece or candle holder.

Material swaps.

Our biggest items – the couch, dining room table, dresser – are visually impactful and often pricey to replace. Instead of buying new, updating parts of these items can give them a fresh look or even change their style completely. Look for cushion covers in a different colour or texture, replace couch legs with a new set, or swap out old doorknobs and handles. These small tweaks can drastically change the look and feel of your space. By reworking current or secondhand pieces, you can refresh your decor without maxing out your budget. With these thoughtful swaps, make your home a new place to explore and enjoy.