Last month we talked about the "A" in the "ABC's" with regards to making small changes in your home, and this month we continue with the letter "B." The "B" stands for the "Begin With the Architecture." The architecture is something that already exists, and you want to use it to your full advantage in order to make a big difference in the way a room looks. Think about the style of your home, the amenities that you would like to accentuate and the focal points of a particular room. Let's look at a handful of small changes that allow you to achieve a different look architecturally.
You can change the facade on a fireplace or add moldings to contribute to the historic aspect of the architecture. Installing stained or painted ceiling beams can really change the look in a room. Adding built-ins to existing blank walls adds character as well as functionality. Drawers, shelving, and bookcases add storage and can be used to take advantage of usable space that might otherwise be wasted.
Consider the height of your ceilings and paint them a color instead of white. When ceilings and walls are painted a different color, the area where they meet becomes a focal point. If you have a low ceiling, paint the walls and ceiling the same color so there will not be a line of demarcation. If you have a high ceiling, paint it a color to help lower the ceiling. Eggshell paint has a little bit of sheen and can help to bounce light off of surfaces due to its reflective quality.
Recycling and repurposing architectural items such as windows, light fixtures, drawers and doors can give you a unique look and is good for the environment. You can paint, stain or tile existing stair risers to give an entryway more panache. Brightly colored fabric or paint inside a glass-paneled door can give your cabinets a personality all their own!
You can change the facade on a fireplace or add moldings to contribute to the historic aspect of the architecture. Installing stained or painted ceiling beams can really change the look in a room. Adding built-ins to existing blank walls adds character as well as functionality. Drawers, shelving, and bookcases add storage and can be used to take advantage of usable space that might otherwise be wasted.
Consider the height of your ceilings and paint them a color instead of white. When ceilings and walls are painted a different color, the area where they meet becomes a focal point. If you have a low ceiling, paint the walls and ceiling the same color so there will not be a line of demarcation. If you have a high ceiling, paint it a color to help lower the ceiling. Eggshell paint has a little bit of sheen and can help to bounce light off of surfaces due to its reflective quality.
Recycling and repurposing architectural items such as windows, light fixtures, drawers and doors can give you a unique look and is good for the environment. You can paint, stain or tile existing stair risers to give an entryway more panache. Brightly colored fabric or paint inside a glass-paneled door can give your cabinets a personality all their own!
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