Swap Standard-Issue Pillows For ...
Something with Personality
Ditch the pillows that came with your sofa and layer in a contrasting color or pattern. But don't toss the old pillows into the donation bin just yet. Oftentimes these pillows have reusable forms and will fit inside new covers. Or if you're handy with a sewing machine, stitch new covers to size and you'll save the expense of new pillow forms.
Swap a Cluttered, Utilitarian Nightstand For ...
Something Prettier
Bring some luxury to your life by simply giving your nighstand a little love. Clear out the unnecessary clutter (we mean that pile of receipts and five random pens) and add a few pretty accessories that make your bedroom feel more like a retreat and less like a dumping ground. Designate a drawer for the basics, such as chargers.
Swap a Plain Lampshade For ...
A Patterned Cousin
Most lampshades are plain white, which can stick out like a sore thumb in a room where color or muted neutrals reign. Do your whole room a favor and replace these offending lampshades with something that blends in better.
Swap a Coffee Table For ...
An Ottoman
This swap is particularly effective if your coffee table is part of a matched set with your end tables. An upholstered ottoman softens a furniture arrangement and provides another opportunity to add pattern and color. Add a large tray to the top as a stable spot for drinks and accessories.
Swap Silver For ...
Gold
The gold trend is here to stay, so what are you waiting for? Start small and work in a few gold accessories to a specific spot. If you want to start riding the next trend, go with copper or rose gold.
Swap Solid Curtains For ...
Patterned Counterparts
If your room is feeling devoid of pattern, look to your window treatments. Are there plain ol' panels staring you back in the face? Ditch them for something a little more lively. Keep the new curtains within the same color family as your old ones, and use the existing patterns in your room to determine the scale of the new window treatments. For example, if you have small- and large-scale patterns in your room, opt for curtains in a medium-scale pattern.
Swap Bulky Furniture For ...
Airy Pieces
Heavy, solid-frame accent furniture (such as end tables and ottomans) can weigh down a space. Replacing this dead weight with less-bulky pieces will make a space feel lighter and refined.
Swap a Builder-Grade Mirror For ...
A Version That Matches Your Style
You know those mirrors we're talking about. Those blah, frameless rectangles that came standard-issue in any house built in the last 30ish years. So rather than be like every other bathroom in your home's vintage, stand out with a nonstandard mirror. Try a different shape or a model with an interesting trim detail. Or better yet, both.
Swap a Bare Bed Foot For ...
A Well-Heeled Foot
You can have the prettiest pillows in the world, but if the end of your bed is bare, you may be missing out on the full effect. Drape the end of the bed with a pretty throw that coordinates with your bedding and pillows, and you'll take the look to the next level.
Swap Your 15-Year-Old Shower Curtain For ...
Something More Current
The marketplace is awash with plenty of trendy/cute/fresh shower curtains at a range of prices, so there's no need to hang on to yours from the last century. A new shower curtain will give your bathroom a refreshed look without the cost of a remodel.
Swap a One-Note Color Scheme For ...
An Unexpected Duo (or Trio!)
If your one pop of color feels like it's missing something, add another pop. Keep proportion in mind as you infuse color. Pair a smaller pop with a larger bang (such as the slender turquoise lamps and crimson console in this entry) and you'll be on your way to success.
Swap Basic Hardware For ...
A Custom Combination
Who says all hardware needs to be the same? Forge your own path with a mixed-and-matched set of knobs, pulls, and bars.
Swap a Plain Ceiling For ...
A Colorful Alternative
The ceiling is sometimes called the fifth wall, so why not give it a treatment deserving of a wall? In a room with white walls, a color-coated ceiling is an unexpected element that will command all the right attention.
Swap 'Parched' For ...
A Little Vegetation
More of an addition than a swap, adding a tall potted plant to a room is like changing the landscape from desert to lush forest or jungle.
Swap Completely Hardworking For ...
An Infusion of Style
Kitchens are called on to do a lot -- meal prep, entertaining, homework hubs -- but that doesn't mean they need to be completely utilitarian. Start by identifying one spot that can be more style-driven than function-focused and incorporate a few just-for-fun pieces, such as pretty vintage dishes. If you can't spare the utility, pull together a collection of functional yet eye-catching items and put them on display. Look to your cookbooks, serving ware, or even canisters of pantry staples.
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