A new year has officially arrived, and now that the holiday decor is packed away and your home is feeling nice and fresh, you might be thinking about taking on a few small design upgrades. By no means do you need to call up a contractor or text your interior decorator friend, though—these five projects are simple enough for you to tackle on your own on a frigid weekend afternoon.
Make the TV More Attractive
Wintertime is all about hunkering down and catching up on new TV shows and favorite movies. It’s widely accepted now that everyone watches TV; there’s no need to try to fully hide yours or eliminate it from your living room design scheme. That said, there are some ways to make your setup appear a bit more aesthetically pleasing. For one, corral the cords. A simple box like this one is great for keeping everything organized and out of sight and costs less than $15. Then, think about your display. One fun idea to consider is placing your flat screen TV on an easel. This is particularly appealing if you own a Samsung Frame TV or another TV that is designed to resemble a piece of art when not in use. We’ve rounded up a few easel options below to consider depending on your budget—they’re all majorly design-forward!
- Gallery Easel
- Extra Large Heavy Duty Artist Easel Stand
- Grayfox Art Easel
- Amber Lewis x Four Hands Lakon Light Art Easel
Repurpose a Piece of Furniture
Parting with favorite furniture pieces can be difficult for both sentimental and logistical reasons, so don’t be so quick to list something you’ve loved for many years for sale. Have a secretary desk that has great bones, but find that you rarely use it for work? Consider turning it into an entertaining cabinet. The shelves can hold special pieces of glassware and liquor bottles, while the drawers are useful for tucking away napkins, coasters, and more. On the other hand, maybe you’ve recently pared back on alcohol and are wondering what to do with your beautiful bar cart. Try it in the bathroom—it would look super chic holding folded towels, perfumes, and a candle—or arrange it so that it serves as a tea or coffee bar instead.
Touch up Random Nail Holes and Scuffs
If your walls are looking a little lackluster, you can revamp them in just minutes using a couple of handy and inexpensive products. Magic Eraser sponges are perfect for wiping off scuffs and dirt in seconds, while this drywall putty works wonders in covering up nail holes. These fixes are so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t tackle them sooner!
Organize Your Backstock in the Bathroom
If your bathroom closet or under-sink area is flowing with lotions and potions galore, it’s time to get organized. Keep all of your backstock, travel minis, and other essentials organized by category using small clear drawers like these. They’re stackable, easy to open and shut as needed, and will help you find exactly what you need in an instant. Not sure where to begin? Consider putting sunscreens in one bin, extra daily makeup in another, mini shampoos in another, and so on.
Design a Cozy Canopy Bed
Romanticize your winter slumbers by designing the canopy bed you’ve always dreamt of—this style of bed is majorly in vogue at the moment and is easy to DIY. If you already have a four-poster bed, sheer curtains like these will add a dreamy touch in no time and come in a range of colors. If you’re willing to invest more in this project, you can order higher-end custom curtains (we love these!) and attach them to your four-poster frame using drapery hooks.
About the Author
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9
