5 Designer-Approved Ways to Make Your Space Feel Fresh In the New Year

Use Pillows and Blankets to Introduce Color

Bringing a new color into your space is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact, but you don't have to commit to actually painting your walls to make a new hue work for you.

"Make a statement by adding bright throws and decorative pillows to your living room and family room," suggests designer, home stager, and entrepreneur Meridith Baer. "The cool colors and various textures can help contrast muted furniture and add dimension to make your space feel more lively."

Embrace Mood Lighting

There's a vocal contingent of design lovers who absolutely hate overhead lighting, and the movement is picking up steam on social media as well. So, instead of turning on that harsh ceiling light, consider using ambient lighting like lamps or candles.

Ellen Cote-Derry, the Textile Design Team Lead at Levity is particularly fond of the candle route as it brings an extra layer of coziness.

"Bring a cozy feel to your home with lots of candles," she suggests. "This allows you to turn on fewer lights and have the candlelight warm up the space, while also making your house smell wonderful."

Add Vintage Frames to Your Art Collection

Thrift stores, vintage stores, and estate sales have long been go-tos for art lovers searching for one-of-a-kind or unexpected pieces. But some designers suggest focusing on the frame first and foremost. Adding a vintage frame to the artwork you already have on display is a simple and almost immediate way to change the look and feel of your space.

But don't worry if you don't have existing pieces that need new frames. You can always start with the frame and order a print to fit.

"I always keep my eye out for gorgeous vintage frames and then will have digital prints done to fit the vintage frames, rather than the other way around," Rebecca Gibbs of Gibbs Design + Build says.

Embrace Personal Design Choices

Following the latest trends is all well and good, but there's something to be said for making thoughtful design choices that help turn your space into a representation of what matters most to you.

Rob Natale, Sixpenny's Chief of Design, agrees.

"I’m hopeful that this year will continue to shift towards “significance,” he says. "Adding things to your home that mean something or remind you of something is a beautiful way to create a space that is unique and personal, regardless of current trends."

Rethink Where You Display Art

If you're content with your current frames you can also change things up by rethinking where you display your art. While living rooms and bedrooms are common spots for gallery walls and one-off pieces, plenty of other spaces in your home could benefit from an eye-catching artwork or two.

Tiffani Baumgart, principal designer of Tiffani Baumgart Interiors, sees kitchens as the ideal spot to display art in the new year.

“Kitchens have long been art-deprived," she says. "That’s going to end in 2023.”