Our Top 7 Tips for Refreshing Your Home in the New Year
I’m sure we are not alone in our gratitude that 2020 is drawing to a close. What a roller coaster of a year it has been. From the pandemic to a significant move for Steve and me, there have been as many blessings as burdens... but we are nonetheless ready for some stability, normalcy, and calm in the new year. (Fingers crossed that we all get it.)
The good news is that the new year is a new beginning... a fresh start. A time to realign our priorities and focus on the things that are most important: you, your family, your home. The things that bring you joy and help you live your best life every single day.
Today, I’m sharing 7 of our top suggestions for refreshing your home as we turn our calendars to 2021. Come take a look…
TIP 1. Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Whether inside or outside your home, a fresh coat of paint can be transformational. It livens up your rooms, breathes new life into your space, and makes you excited about living in your home once again. Sounds like exactly what we need in the new year, doesn’t it?
Color is a personal preference, but in case you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few of my favorite hues right now.
In the Neutral Category...
Sherwin Williams 7014 Eider White is my go-to neutral to sweep through a house, be it a new build or an update. This color blends well with other warmer finishes, which is often the case when updating a home (think travertine and dark stained stained wood from the years of Tuscan inspiration). Plus, Eider White is strong enough to handle the formality of a dining room when paired with extra trim and a statement rug.
Eider White is a color that will also serve all areas of your home well. The lighting of each room will change how the color looks, providing variation and continuity all at the same time.
Sherwin Williams 7016 Mindful Gray is a great choice for inside or outside your home.
For the interior, it works well with other gray or linen tones and sets off white trim beautifully. It provides contrast yet also serves as a neutral background for displaying colorful artwork.
When used on the exterior, the color is a warm, welcoming neutral — perfect for lightening up with white trim, or making a dramatic statement with a rich stained front door and classic black shutters.
In the Color Category...
Sherwin WIlliams 7613 Aqua-Sphere is my absolute favorite for a pop of intense color. It’s not too green, not too blue.
I’ve used it in powder rooms (which are my favorite places to use bold colors that you wouldn’t use elsewhere in the house), kids’ rooms, and other spaces where clients wanted to feel a sense of lively yet soothing energy.
Sherwin Williams 7048 Urbane Bronze is a smooth, rich brown with a touch of black. It works wonders on front doors and shutters where true black might be a bit strong. In fact, this hue is so gorgeous it earned the distinction of being the SW 2021 Color of the Year! I’ve used this on interior doors, accent walls, and other architectural features as well. It also creates a stunning contrast with Mindful Gray.
Sherwin Williams 6244 Naval is my top choice for cabinetry if the scheme calls for a navy hue. With the current popularity of blue and indigo for decor, this paint choice is an easy one to pair with other interior finishes.
I’ve also used this hue for exterior features, like front doors and shutters. It is the perfect blue that shows up without being too dark or too bright.
TIP 2. Hang New Window Treatments
Just as a fresh coat of paint will quickly update your interiors, new treatments will give your windows a gorgeous facelift as well.
When selecting window treatments for any room of the home, it is ultimately about making the right choices...in style, construction, color, fabric, accessories, etc. It is both an art and a science, but instead of diving into all the details right here, check out our past post on selecting the best window treatments for your home. It has everything you need to know and more.
3. Update your Countertops
Your countertops are a blank slate waiting to become a spectacular focal point! This one isn’t necessarily a quick fix, and most likely it isn’t one that you can do yourself, but the way it transforms your kitchen, dining room, beverage center, bathroom, or home bar will be well worth the time commitment and financial investment. (As a fixed element, it also increases property value.)
Our past blog post about choosing the right countertop material for your aesthetic and lifestyle can fill you in on all the details of the most popular materials, their pros and cons, and how to select the right one for your family.
4. Accessorize with A New Backsplash
Backsplashes can take a good design and make it great. It is the perfect accessory for any kitchen, home bar, or bathroom that not only supports the style of the room that it is in, but often steals the show...in the best way, of course!
We are going to take a deep dive into the world of backsplashes next month on the blog... so stay tuned. But if you’re eager to get started before then, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help!
5. Elevate Cabinets with MORE CURRENT Hardware
In our many years of renovating kitchens and bathrooms, Steve and I have found that it is often the smallest design details that are the biggest cause for concern and debate among homeowners... hardware being near the very top of that list.
Sure, selecting hardware may seem simple now, but when you are presented with thousands of options and combinations, you might feel like you are drowning in an endless sea of possibility... which can lead to major decision overwhelm.
Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with a whole blog post full of answers to your burning hardware questions. I’ll help you define your personal aesthetic, select the right combination of hardware, make sure the finishes coordinate, choose a supplier, and so much more.
6. Shop for Beautiful Bar Stools
If you’re finding yourself thinking that your kitchen could use an upgrade, but a kitchen renovation simply isn’t in the cards this minute, we do have one surefire way to make your space more comfortable and functional for your family... add great bar stools!
Bar stools that are the perfect height, spaced appropriately, styled for your home, and crafted with comfort in mind can transform your kitchen into a place you enjoy more fully and more peacefully.
Again, we’ve got a whole post full of helpful information to select the best bar stools for your kitchen and home.
7. Add a Home Beverage Center
Many homes, especially the older ones we see in Pensacola Beach and Milton, simply don’t have a kitchen that accommodates both cooking and entertaining. So, allow me to introduce the solution that is making every home entertainer happier in their kitchens: the beverage center.
A home beverage center is a place to grab or make drinks, serve hors d’oeuvres, entertain guests, and steer clear of the cook in a very social, inclusive way.
This keeps the cooking area from functioning simultaneously as the serving and entertaining area. If we add a refrigerator, it also saves the host several trips to the garage or basement to restock drink supplies. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Read all about the revolutionary home beverage center here. We’ve got ideas, inspiration, and everything you need to know when considering whether you should add one to your own home.
Other Helpful HOME FAQs…
We’ve been sharing advice on our blog for nearly a year now — which means we have quite the wealth of knowledge available to you for any stage of your home project. Here’s a quick overview of our Resource Library, depending on what you need:
Starting a project?
Kitchen renovation?
9 steps to preparing for a kitchen renovation (our free guide - available below)
If you need some hands-on assistance, Steve and I would love to invite you to book a consultation with us. Whether you opt for a whole home renovation or a lighter refresh, our team would be delighted to help you transform your spaces and, ultimately, fall in love with your home all over again.
Warmly,
Sarah