DIY: Adding Color to Your Space
Alright, you’ve fallen into the fad of neutral tones and whitewashed textures and your home now feels like a glorified hospital waiting room. Sure, maybe it’s ‘calming’... but maybe it’s just boring. Maybe it’s trending… or maybe it lacks any trace of you-ness. If your friend walked in would there be any evidence that you were the owner of the house? One of the easiest and quickest ways to introduce some personality into your house (and thus make it a home) is to add COLOR. What are some simple DIYs you can execute in order to add color and life back into your space?
Spend Money On What You Want
First, reform the way you shop. If it doesn't come in the color you want, then it’s not the right one. It seems that no matter what you search, Google and most apps will give you the gray or beige option at the top, but all you have to do is be a bit more specific and you can find most things in the color you want (and if not, you can makes them the color you want—but more about that later). If they only have it in white at the store, order it online. It doesn’t matter what it is. From your couch to your Tupperware containers, there is always another color option than gray, black, white, or beige. It can take courage to use color, but we’d rather be brave than boring.
Paint Something
Now, if you can’t find it in that color (red, green, pink, etc), then MAKE it that color. Walls, furniture, picture frames. Family room feeling stark? Go buy some cans of paint. It doesn’t even have to be the whole room, sometimes one colorful wall makes a bigger impact. Struggling to find the perfect furniture piece to liven up your space? Buy it secondhand, sand it, prime it, and paint it your desired shade. It’s as simple as that. Lamps, bed frames, tables, chairs—all of it can be painted and given a new life that fits more closely with yours. These are some of the simplest DIYs you’ll ever do, and the payoff is incredible!
Hang Something
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. Blank walls are an opportunity! If you need a way to avoid taking up floor space while adding color and personality to your home, just hang something. Yes, this means pictures and artwork, because these are wonderful ways to bring love and interest to your walls, but this also means wallpaper, shelves, and even tiles. Wallpaper is like one giant picture for your wall and shelves can be practical. If you don’t like your kitchen backsplash, cover it up. Peel and stick is a wonderful thing!
Find a Way
Speaking of peel and stick, don't let your apartment and deposit keep you from making your house a home. What is modern technology for? You don't have to destroy your home to make it beautiful. Use hanging strips instead of nails, they’re surprisingly effective. Wallpaper and tiles can actually be removable and any damage they may cause is easily repairable. It’s amazing what some putty and paint samples can do. Check out college dorm rooms, there is always a way. Don’t wait for ‘stability.’ Just because you’ll only be there for a few months or a couple of years doesn't mean it can’t be a home during that time. Safety and comfort in the palace we live is incredibly important for emotional health, and putting even the least bit of care into making a space your own can bring immense joy. To look around and know you have changed a space for the better is an encouragement few can claim. It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. You’re one DIY project away from living instead of just surviving.
At the end of the day, a home should be just that…homey. A place you live in ought to be a place that feels lived in. Clean and simple doesn’t have to mean sterile and boring. Buy not just what you need but what you want, paint something, or hang something. It’s not rocket science, and thrift stores are magical places. We hope you enjoyed this DIY motivator and that you check out our other DIY posts which have more tips on how to personalize your living space. Happy DIYing!
