interior design Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

SIMPLE FALL DECOR IDEAS

Gather inspiration from these simple Fall decor ideas. They will have you ready to celebrate the season!

It’s officially Fall here in the Midwest! It honestly feels like there was a switch that turned the weather from warm and sunny to cold and rainy. The change just happened so suddenly!

Fall is probably my absolute favorite season of all, and I am genuinely bummed that I likely won’t be able to decorate this year. With the building of Arrow Hill Cottage nearing completion, our time is split between site visits, choosing finishes, and packing up the rental house. Add in school activities, and we essentially have no spare time anything for extra, including decorating!

But, if YOU have time to decorate, I have some ideas for you today! Though these ideas have been on the blog before, I thought they were worth another share. Click on the link below each picture to read more details about the decor.

SIMPLE FALL DECOR DIY

Looking to create something unique to decorate your home? Try one of these simple DIY ideas.

Natural Centerpieces

These natural Fall centerpieces would be the perfect accent to any tablescape, from now through Thanksgiving!

read the post

Pleated Table Runner

Even though it looks like a detailed and complicated piece, this pleated table runner can be made in just minutes. And for less than five dollars in material costs it is definitely worth a try.

read the post

‘Be Thankful’ Printable

The start of Fall means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. One of the most simple ways to decorate this Fall might just be printing out this sign!

read the post

SIMPLE FALL DECOR IDEAS

The internet is an absolute wealth of ideas when it comes to simple fall decor ideas. Below are some of the favorites I have found!

Decorating Ideas From Instagram Part 1

Great ideas from fellow Instagrammers. Such inspiration!

read the post

Decorating Ideas From Instagram Part 2

More ideas from Instagram.

read the post

Cottage Style Fall Decor

These decorating items from Amazon can warm up your home this Fall.

read the post

I hope you will gain some inspiration from these simple fall decor ideas, and that you will enjoy the season!

CAST IRON SINK RESTORATION | POWDER ROOM

While the crews are hard at work on our house construction, my husband has been busy with a cast iron sink restoration. Read all about his progress and see how the sink looks now!

It’s been a super busy summer for the construction crews out at our house build site. They are currently finishing up the framing and sealing the exterior. Hopefully, all of that can be finished before the cold Fall weather starts up! In the meantime, We have been cleaning and preparing items that will be used in the new house. Bathroom vanities are getting painted, chairs are being refinished, and the cast iron sinks are getting restored!

We have two vintage cast iron sinks that will be installed in the new house. One is a large, single basin farmhouse sink which will be used in the kitchen. The other is this smaller model 1930’s Kohler wall hung unit, which will be the perfect compliment to our main level powder room.

HISTORY OF THE CAST IRON SINKS

Both sinks were recovered from the property we are currently renting, my husband’s grandparents farmstead. They remodeled their house sometime in the 1960’s, and at that time put the sinks outside. They sat for 50+ years in the woods, covered with leaves and debris. Because of this, the sinks definitely needed some TLC.

We talked about hiring a company to do a complete restore, but decided to test out a DIY version on the smaller sink. Once we knew the results, we figured we would be able to make an informed decision about what to do with the larger one.

CAST IRON SINK CLEANING

First, the sink needed some good old elbow grease. Craig started with very mild cleansers – such as a baking soda/water mixture. Eventually, he moved to harsher chemical cleaners, including ‘Iron Out’ and ‘Bar Keepers Friend.’ While they did clean the sink somewhat, none of the products were completely removing the rust stains.

Craig really wanted to remove the rust, as it could affect the sink’s future integrity if not addressed properly. He ultimately needed to use a wire wheel brush to remove the rust spots.

FIXING THE CHIP

Besides the rust, the biggest issue with this sink was a large chip in the enamel, as well as a hairline crack that ran along the side and up the back splash. They were both cosmetic issues, as they did not cause any problems with the sink being able to hold water.

We found an epoxy material that could help fill in the imperfections. Over the course of a day, Craig applied layer after layer, allowing the epoxy to dry between coats. Once the material was above the height of the original enamel, it was left to dry for a few days before sanding.

This product requires a ‘wet sanding’ technique – to help keep the dust down, and to eliminate scratches on the sink’s surface.

PAINTING THE CAST IRON SINK

We had determined, while cleaning, that the original enamel would need to be covered to get a uniform look. We were in no way looking for perfection, as we understand that this is an old sink. However, the discoloration was pretty bad from the years the sink had sat outdoors.

Once the epoxy had been sanded down smooth, it was time for paint! Craig started by painting the back of the sink with a black ‘rust inhibitor’ paint.

Rustoleum makes a specialty paint product that can be used for bathroom fixtures such as sinks and bathtubs. We decided to give it a try for the front!It goes on about the same as a standard can of spray paint, but the drying time is much longer. This allows the paint to harden.

After three coats, the sink is looking great! The finish isn’t quite as shiny as the original enamel, but it is pure white and uniform. All of the rust spots are covered, and you would need to look extremely close to see any sign of the large chip or crack.

We are quite pleased with the outcome – especially considering the money we saved by doing it DIY style! Of course, until the sink is in use, we won’t know how this paint will hold up over time. I will try to remember to write an update after we have used the sink for several months.

WATCH THE CAST IRON SINK RESTORATION

For an even closer look at the steps involved in this restoration process, check out the THREE PART SERIES of videos that my husband created for his new YouTube channel, Weirdy Beardy Workshop. He has been busy filming a lot of projects, actually. So, if you want to see some behind the scenes footage, go check out his channel!

PIN THIS POST

Minimalist Cottage | Virtual Tour

Join me today as I give a virtual tour of our minimalist cottage! This is the home we hope to spend the rest of our lives in, and we have worked diligently to design it to meet all of our needs, now and in the future.

With framing in full swing, I thought it might be a good idea to do a quick virtual tour. This could prove helpful for anyone following along with our real life progress updates. I share day to day on Instagram Stories. And also give detailed updates every couple weeks on Youtube. It will be fun to look back and see how close to the original design intent the house ends up.

When this blog was originally started, about two years ago, we were under the impression that the house would be built within the first year. But, as you know, that wasn’t the case. And, though the delays were frustrating, I am able to look back with gratefulness for the extra design time.

DESIGN CHANGES

For reference, THIS is my very first post regarding the design of the house. It was quite a bit larger then. We realized fairly early on that we needed to make major square footage cuts to keep the budget in check.

In fact, it seemed that as time went on we continued to simplify the design MORE and MORE. But with each revision we became increasingly satisfied with the house. There hasn’t been a single change, or simplification, that we have regretted – including THIS surprise last minute revision that created a more open concept main level. Every single change has led us to where we are today.

And where exactly are we? Home. A structure so perfectly suited for our family of seven that I hesitate to call it a house. It genuinely already feels like home, and we can’t wait to move in!

OUR MINIMALIST COTTAGE

The design of Arrow Hill Cottage has forced us to look closely at the way our family lives. And to explore our spacial needs both now and in the future. We realized during this process that, in many ways, we are quite minimal. It is more important for us to have time together within the same spaces, rather than retreat to our own rooms. And the storing of rarely used items is not a priority for us either.

We were able to settle on a comfortable floor plan that is just over 2,000 finished square feet. This includes the basement, main and upper levels. It should meet our needs now, with five growing children, and also accommodate my husband and I with main floor living, as we age. There is even potential, when all the kids are grown and moved out, to rent out the lower level for additional income.

TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR

I encourage you to watch the video of our cottage. It is quite a bit longer than the typical video I put out, but there is a ton of information! And, I think it gives great insight into why certain design decisions were made. I hope you enjoy!

Be sure to keep checking back for more house progress updates in the near future!

Design Elements | Inspiration For Our New Cottage

Today I am excited to share with you a few of the design elements we are planning for our new cottage. Hopefully, by the end of this post you will have a good sense of what our finished interior space might look like.

OUR FOREVER HOUSE

To be honest, I haven’t given a ton of thought to the interiors of any of the houses we have lived in. I think, in part, it is because I knew we would only be living in them temporarily.

This house though, being our forever house, has caused me to think more critically. We want to be very intentional about what we surround ourselves with.

MIXING OLD WITH NEW

Though we are building a brand new home, we feel it is important to incorporate items that have seen a bit more life, and wear and tear. The reason for this is twofold. Number one, we don’t want to feel that we can never touch anything, or be worried that our kids might break something.

Number two, we feel that a new house can seem a bit bland and stark if everything is perfect and new. A mix of found items can really help to give the interiors a casual, comfortable, and lived-in and vibe.

MAIN DESIGN ELEMENTS

There are four main categories of inspiration that I will be discussing: geometry, color, texture, and specialty items. They all work together to form an overall design style that is simple and orderly while also comfortable and casual.

Geometry

As an architecture major, I am fascinated with geometry. I love how simple lines and shapes can come together to form something interesting and beautiful.

One example of how we plan to incorporate geometric design into our new cottage is the five panel doors we have chosen. They mimic the pair of wooden doors we refinished last summer. I think they have a classic look that will pair well with the simple lines of the cottage.

This window also displays basic, yet interesting geometry. I saw it out of the corner of my eye one day when I was browsing through an antique shop. Though it was priced higher than I wanted to pay, I could not get my mind off of it. Eventually came home with me, and we have loved it ever since.

Color Scheme

When it comes to color theory, I am definitely one who prefers a mostly neutral palette, with pops of interesting color. Knowing what colors to ‘pop’ with has been something I have slowly learned through the years.

In fact, the realization of the color scheme for our new house came to me a bit by accident. A few years ago I purchased this simple pillow. It kind of spoke to me, even though I couldn’t really put my finger on why. The pillow has been a mainstay in our living room since that day, and every time I look at it I smile.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the pillow brings a couple of my very favorite design elements to life. The geometric pattern is simple, and pleasing to the eye. But also, the colors themselves are those I tend to gravitate toward. With the exception of the tan color, which I would replace with a mustard yellow.

Without even knowing it, I have been accumulating items with these colors and bringing them into our home.

This rust-red pitcher, for example, adds just the right amount of color. And the small lithograph print features many of my favorites.

Texture

I am a huge fan of texture. More specifically, neutral texture. It is one of the reasons I am a sucker for a woven basket or a macrame wall hanging.

This pillow is one of the ways that I added a bit of texture to our home decor. I created a blog post a while back which details the steps to make one for yourself. I will be re-doing the video link in the near future. There have been people who have tried to make the project and have commented that the video could use a few more step by step instructions.

Other textured items might be really subtle. This pair of white bowls, for example, have a small bit of ribbing around their rims. I think this tiny bit of detail really adds visual interest to an otherwise ordinary piece.

Special Items

A house filled with generic, store bought items will not have the same feeling as one adorned with well loved items. Displaying items that bring you joy or remind you of someone you love is the perfect way to make a new house feel like home.

We have special items of all types that we plan to utilize at our new cottage. The cabinet in this vignette, for example, is one of a set that my husband painstakingly restored this past winter. He put so much effort into them, and they are absolutely stunning!

A cream can, saved from the run down farmstead of my great-grandparents, will become a special conversation piece in the cottage.

This crate has been used as a toy box for many years by our children. We plan to bring it with us when we move. Although it may eventually be filled with different items, it will forever hold the memories of a time when our kids were younger and enjoyed it as a toy box.

We are so excited to see all of these design elements come to live in our new home! If you would like to be the first to know about the construction timeline, be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter. I will be sending out house information there first. Also, consider subscribing to the Arrow Hill Cottage YouTube Channel. There, I plan to post a house building update once per week, as soon as we break ground.

Thanks for stopping by! I enjoy sharing this journey with all of you!

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

In this video, I do a little walk-through of each piece in the vignette. I describe the design elements and talk about each piece and how they represent the elements.

PIN THESE IDEAS

LIVING ROOM FURNITURE ARRANGEMENTS

Rearranging furniture is a great way to add variety and interest in your home. In this post, I share the living room furniture arrangements I have designed for our cottage.

Even as a little girl, I enjoyed rearranging my bedroom furniture to give the space a fresh look.

When Craig and I got married, this was an even more exciting adventure as I began to develop my decorating style. I must have come up with about 8 different living room furniture arrangements in our first house.

It is no surprise then, that while designing Arrow Hill Cottage I have had the idea of furniture placement in the back of my mind. With our original main floor layout, there wasn’t much wiggle room in terms of where the pieces could be situated. This sort of bummed me out, but I figured that if I could come up with one great placement I could learn to live with it long term.

I was excited though, once I made the major plan breakthrough that opened up the main level. Not only does the layout have a more relaxed and spacious feeling, it also allows for multiple furniture arrangements!

FURNITURE PIECES FOR THE LIVING ROOM

We have not yet selected our furniture, but I have in mind a few key pieces to search for.

Couch: I would like to find a sleek, tailored back couch – perhaps around 7 feet long. Nothing too stuffed or with a high back. Since this will be the largest piece on the main level, besides our long harvest dining table, I want to be sure that it isn’t overpowering.

A Pair of Side Chairs: Again, preferably not overstuffed. I will be looking for simple chairs with a basic and classic shape.

Coffee Table: This piece may have a bit more visual weight to it. I haven’t decided yet if it will include storage or not. In my mind right now, I envision it with black metal legs and a wooden top.

Small Side Table: To coordinate with the coffee table. A simple place to set a book or a drink.

Area Rug: In the following images, the area rug is an 8′ x 10′ size. Potentially, we could purchase a larger 10′ x 12′ size. I envision this to be a semi colorful or patterned piece.

ARRANGING THE FURNITURE

I love the ease of planning furniture placement through computer drafting. Obviously, it is much easier to move the pieces around and come up with a variety of ideas quickly. I was able to determine four living room furniture arrangements that I think would work well for our cottage.

Arrangement 1

This layout is very fireplace focused. From the front entry, a person can easily see the fireplace and the furniture is arranged to make it a focal point as well. Even though the side chairs are positioned in front of the large wall of windows, I believe there will still be a very open feel and a great view to the woods and pond.

The couch serves as a bit of a visual divider between the living room and the kitchen/dining space.

In the 3D images, you can see that the view from the windows is not greatly compromised by the chairs. One note for this arrangement is that I might want to consider adding a sofa table into the furniture mix, so that there isn’t so much couch back exposed.

Arrangement 2

For this next layout, I used the exact same furniture placement but rotated it 90 degrees. The fireplace is flanked by the chairs, which makes the living room more intimate and cozy.

The flow between living and kitchen/dining is open, with plenty of space to walk.

The couch back is one of the first things a person entering the house from the front door would see with this furniture layout. Again, this might be a good opportunity for a sofa table. It is also one of the reasons that a lower profile couch will be a priority when making the furniture selection.

Arrangement 3

This living room set up gives off a more formal vibe. The couch is placed with it’s back to the large wall of windows and the chairs directly across, with the coffee table in between. The benefit of this layout is that the room feels open from both the entry and the dining space, since the couch isn’t visually dividing the passage from either direction.

Again, a low profile couch will be important so that it does not block any of the wonderful natural light that is sure to spill through the living room windows.

Arrangement 4

This combination is what I am calling the ‘Holiday Furniture Placement’. This layout might be my go-to when we have company. In the living room, the chairs and couch are set up for maximum conversation in a U-shape facing the fireplace. Additional chairs could be brought for more seating.

There is also a bit of a configuration change that could happen in the kitchen/dining space. By rotating the table, the counter space overlooking the windows could be opened up for seating as well.

I can see that there would be plenty of space for a Christmas tree in the corner closest to the entry. This would allow it to be visible, yet out of the way.

I will need to work through my ideas for this a bit more to determine if setting the cabinets a bit might be worth the compromise of less storage. The very valuable aspect of this furniture placement, and why it would work so well for large gatherings, is that it would allow us to seat 14 for a meal. For a house that has a small main floor, that is a big deal!

BENEFITS OF ARRANGING FURNITURE

Rearranging furniture is worthwhile, and not just because it provides a good cardio workout! There are many other benefits that make re-arranging furniture a good idea.

Deep Cleaning: It’s amazing the amount of toys and cracker crumbs that can be found when furniture is moved. By arranging furniture more frequently, those dust bunnies will have no place to hide.

Furniture Wearing Evenly: People have a tendency to find their favorite spot and stick with it. By moving furniture, you just might make someone give another place to sit a try.

Sunlight also has a tendency to fade certain types of fabric. By rotating which furniture has a place in front of the windows, the sun fading will be less noticeable over time.

Appreciating the Space: When a room is always set up in the exact same way, it has a tendency to become visually stagnant. By changing furniture pieces around you can invoke new life into the space. This fresh perspective can allow you to appreciate the room again.

GIVE YOUR SPACE A FRESH LOOK

If you’d like to try out some new living room furniture arrangements without sweating, check out this link from Better Homes & Gardens!

Better Homes & Gardens Furniture Arrangement Tool

Do you have tips on how often you like to re-arrange furniture? Which of the four living room furniture arrangements of the four shown above is your favorite? I would love to hear from you!

PIN THESE FURNITURE LAYOUT IDEAS FOR LATER

TRENDING IN HOME DESIGN & DECOR: BOLD WALLPAPER

There is a saying ‘What goes around comes around’. It’s true in fashion, entertainment, and even home decor. Wallpaper is in the middle of a revival moment that doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

WHAT IT IS

Machine printed wallpaper was introduced in the late 1700’s, as a means to decorate interior walls of domestic and public buildings. It is most commonly sold in rolls, with graphics in repeating patterns. These patterns overlap so that they look continuous when installed.

Unlike the wallpaper of years gone by, the newer versions are much more simple to install and don’t require the paste to be awkwardly applied to the back of each piece before being hung. Some types are even removable, meaning that if your style changes, you can switch it out easily.

The patterns and colors available today are so diverse that there is sure to be something that matches your style.

OVERSIZED FLORALS

source

TEXTURED/3D

source

GEOMETRIC

source

WHERE/HOW TO USE IT

Wallpaper is most typically used, well, on walls of course! From the bathroom to the kitchen, homeowners are finding a pattern they love and making a major statement!

FULL ROOMS

Mix & Match Design Company

ACCENT WALLS

Claire Brody Designs

Creative people have proved that wallpaper is useful for other purposes as well! These are some interesting applications:

ACCENT THE BACK OF CABINETS

Practically Functional Blog

LINING DRAWERS

Duece Cities Henhouse

FURNITURE

Salvaged Inspirations Blog

STAIRS

Bower Power Blog

If the thought of installing wallpaper is what is holding you back, read this article from dwell titled ’12 Pro Tips For Installing Wallpaper In Your Home’. It is well written, and the step by step guide proves that this DIY project can be done easily.

WHERE TO BUY

Wallpaper can be purchased in home improvement stores, as well as Interior Design shops. The most common place to find the widest variety of options though, is online.

This a collection of my favorite finds from Amazon

From top, left to right

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS HOME DESIGN TREND

Wallpaper has notoriously had a bad reputation of creating a ‘dated’ look to a home, and is typically one of the first things removed when new owners move into a house, along with popcorn ceilings and shag carpeting. That fact has more to do with the personal nature of wallpaper than anything else. Though one homeowner may find a print that they love enough to make a statement on a wall, or in an entire room, that print might not be a favorite of someone else.

With that being said, I think that wallpaper is a great way to personalize. If you are living in your ‘forever home’ then by all means, go with what you love. But, if you will be selling your home in the near future, you might want to consider something in a neutral tone or with a simple pattern, or better yet with a peel + stick backing so that it can be removed before the house is listed.

If you would like more wallpaper inspiration, check out my Pinterest Board on the topic!

***This post contains affiliate links***

MY FAVORITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS THAT FEATURE POPS OF COLOR IN DECOR

Today I am finishing a three part series on COLOR THEORY and how it relates to home decor and design preferences. The basic belief is that people choose to use certain colors because of their own personalities as well as the mood that they want their home to convey. And, just as there are multiple preferences on how to furnish a home – there are variations on how color is used as well.

I have found there to be three main ways that people utilize color in their homes:

ONE: Neutrals Prevail

TWO: Pops of Color

THREE: Color Explosion

I have already featured interiors that showcase the idea of COLOR EXPLOSION , as well as those where NEUTRALS PREVAIL.

Today though, is devoted to those interiors that are a combination of both. A little bit of neutral, and a little bit of color. Maybe this is the camp that people fall into when they just can’t make up their minds. They love color – but don’t want to over-do it; and yet they feel that keeping everything neutral is a bit boring and plain for their liking.

I’m especially excited about today’s feature because it happens to be the category that I would put myself in. I love how a mostly neutrally decorated space seems to come to life with a small infusion of color. The following Instagram accounts are swoon worthy, and feature this decorating technique well.

Note that each of these accounts seem to highlight specific colors or color combinations, which are most likely the owners favorites.

@happyhomeonhighbridge

Jennifer’s home is lovely and simple, yet is brought up a notch in drama by the combination of teal and coral that she tends towards. She has an amazing teal ship-lap wall in her dining room you need to check out!

@jogalbraithathome

It is apparent that Jo has a love for nature. The greens of her house plants serve as one of the main colors that she likes to ‘pop’ with. A complimentary Navy blue completes the palette. Her home seems casual and comfortable – as if anyone scrolling through could just hang out and chat.

@anettetalstad

Anette really loves color. Her amazing home features a variety of bright and pastel colors. The muted tones throughout are balanced with an even amount of sleek white. The tagline for her Instagram page is ‘happy home with a view’ – and yeah, she has a view all right. Go check it out!

These accounts are all gorgeous, right? I hope you have been inspired not only by today’s interiors, but those featured in the previous posts in this series also. After seeing examples of them all, which category would you say you fall into?

TRENDING IN HOME DESIGN & DECOR: ROSE GOLD ACCENTS

Brass, Silver, Bronze and Copper finishes have been commonplace in homes for many years. But there’s a new metallic in town that is taking center stage – Rose Gold.

No, it isn’t brand new. Rose Gold finishing has been around for quite some time, mainly in jewelry. However, in the recent years, it is having a moment trending in home decor and seems to be rising in popularity.

WHAT IT IS

Essentially, Rose gold is a mix of Copper and Gold. Pure gold has a natural yellow tone to it, and pure copper a reddish hue. When the two alloys are mixed together, coloring will appear more or less red – depending on the concentration of copper use. Rose gold has just a ‘touch’ of copper, and appears more on the pink side of the spectrum.

Where Blush / Millennial Pink seems to have been the ‘it’ color for the past three or so years, Rose Gold is getting in on the action – as it’s metallic cousin.

WHERE/HOW TO USE IT

The metallic is shiny enough to catch your eye and command importance, but pale enough to be almost considered a neutral – meaning that people are not afraid to mix it into a multitude of home decor applications. Rose gold accents are showing up all over the house – from furniture, to wall art and small appliances!

Office

Check out how the blog fox & gypsy were able to DIY this amazing rose gold + marble desk for a fraction of the store price!

Kitchen

The kitchen styled by @all.things.homely is all glammed up! Check out the rest of her home via Instagram. I love how she ties little bits of rose gold into just about every room in her house (including the bathroom)!

Accents

Art for the home has also stepped into the rose gold trend. This gorgeous world map print , available on Etsy, really makes a statement!

Hardware

image via Styled on State

From cabinet pulls to the kitchen faucet – The detail that is added with the rose gold coloring is like jewelry to what could otherwise be considered a plain or utilitarian piece.

WHERE TO BUY

Rose gold accents and home decor items are popping up more frequently in both brick and mortar stores such as Target and Pier 1, as well as online. I found this collection of beauties on Amazon! *By clicking on the numbers below you will access affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here *

lamp |pillow | hanging lights

tea kettle | art print | planter

clock | table | hour glass

votive | tissue box | mesh bowl

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS HOME DESIGN TREND

I have to say that although I am intrigued by this additional metallic finish choice, I do feel that the rose gold trend is one that may not stand the test of time. To me, it just does not seem as classic as other finishes such as oil rubbed bronze and silver.

I could see myself adding a few touches of rose gold here and there to my home decor – a pillow, a picture frame, maybe a lamp. I personally have no intention of changing over more permanent aspects such as the kitchen faucet or the door hardware; But, if you love the look – I say go for it!

SIMPLE INTERIOR UPDATES FOR THE HOME

This post contains five simple home interior updates that don’t require a ton of do-it-yourself energy. In fact, you don’t even need to lift a hammer for any of them!

One of the joys of home ownership is the ability to ‘make it yours.’ From room size and layout, to window and cabinet choices – everything can be customized. And though you can hire a contractor or DIY your heart out to make things just right – sometimes you want to freshen things up without breaking the bank, or a sweat.

ADD SOME PAINT

Painting is one of the most inexpensive and simple interior updates a homeowner can tackle. Not only will the paint choice affect the feel and mood of the space, but it can also add visual interest. If drama is what you are after, consider painting one accent wall a bright or bold color, or adding a patterned design.

A peaceful, neutral color can soften a space and provide a simple background to build upon with other design elements such as furniture and art.

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE

If your interior is feeling stagnant, re-arranging your furniture can give you a whole new perspective. Just swapping a few pieces can have a big impact. Play around with different configurations and make it an adventure/challenge by shopping your own house instead of the stores. You may find that a piece you didn’t care for in one room looks great in another!

Don’t be afraid to try out an antique hutch as linen storage in the bathroom, for example. You might be surprised at where each piece finds a new home!

CHANGE CABINET / DOOR HARDWARE

Hinges, knobs and pulls are like the jewelry of cabinets and doors. They make a statement. Perhaps though, yours are making an obvious statement that they are outdated. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of replacement options available at your local home improvement store and online. Grab new hardware that you love, and a screwdriver. Within hours you can have a transformed look.

ADD A GALLERY WALL

One of the easiest ways to personalize a home is by including artwork and photographs that have special meaning to you. Arranged in unique ways, a gallery wall can really make a statement. Creating one of your own doesn’t have to be a mystery. There are plenty of tutorials online that simplify the process step by step. I always suggest using adhesive backed hooks for gallery walls, which will allow you the flexibility of re-arranging easily without filling in any pesky nail holes.

OPEN UP A CLOSET

Closets often house the most undiscovered / under-utilized square footage in a home. Many are either poorly organized or crammed with rarely-used items. By simply removing the doors to a standard depth closet you can gain space on the perimeter of the room for something useful, such as a small office or reading nook. A walk in closet can be transformed into a mini-bedroom or small meditation space. Get creative!

I wrote a post about alternative storage solutions. It offers tips on where to put any displaced items that you need to move out of the closet to regain the space.

These simple interior updates can be executed in a day or two, making them perfect beginner projects. The great news is that they are also reversible. If you aren’t happy with the results, you can always revert to the way things were pre-project.

PIN THESE SIMPLE INTERIOR UPDATES

SIMPLE + NEUTRAL ACCENT PILLOWS

Did you catch my recent post about Neutral Home Decor? The interiors I featured seem so relaxing and clean! If this is a decorating style that you are wishing to incorporate in your home, a great way to start is by adding accessories that are neutral; And one of the most versatile (and inexpensive) accessories is the basic throw pillow.

I have put together a collection of my favorite neutral accent pillows (and pillow covers) for inspiration. There are some great finds! * Numbers, with links, shown from left to right.

SIMPLE + NEUTRAL ACCENT PILLOWS

1. Crochet Pom Pom Pillow 2. Quatrefoil Trellis 3. Coastal Floral

4. Printed Burlap Lace 5. Gray Aztec Tribal 6. Natural Tan Burlap

7. Jute Pick 8. Natural Ticking Stripe 9. African Mud Cloth Print

10. Grey Dandelion Print 11. Embroidered Stripe 12. Metallic Diamond

Go grab one (ore more!) of these awesome finds! And be sure to pin the image below so that you can purchase the rest later. 😉

*This post contains affiliate links to products for your convenience. If you purchase via my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, click HERE. Thanks for supporting Arrow Hill Cottage!