With a background in professional decorating, I love sharing helpful home tips here on the blog. Since my back-story also includes an unhealthy focus on image, Clean House looks at the heart as well as the house. This post is for those who struggle with confidence in decorating. When you finish reading, I hope you can freely say, “It’s just where I live and what I do, it’s not who I am!”

When it comes to our homes, we may have big ideas, but the path forward might seem impossible for one reason or another. Sometimes the project stalls and we get discouraged, or we never start because what needs doing seems overwhelming.

Before you jump to the tips, I encourage you to get comfortable and welcome the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your home and your heart. Forgive who you need to forgive; release the lies and accusations of the enemy, so the Lord can replace them with truth.

You have creative ability because you are made in the Creator’s image.

You are free to change your mind.

You are free to try something new without fear or doubt.

You are free to enjoy your home without guilt or shame.

Your value is not attached to your success or failure.

It is possible to approach change without fear or doubt; now let’s get into the home details:

What is re-styling?

Re-styling is one of my favorite ways to transform a space. Instead of adding new décor to spruce things up, I use what’s readily available in the house (and have a lot of fun treasure-hunting in the process). You may already do this seasonally—moving furniture and rotating decorations to make room for the Christmas tree and trimmings, or staging for a large holiday party—but I’m encouraging you to do it more often.

Re-styling is sustainable decorating.

Why re-style?

It’s true, sometimes you need new stuff. If you apologize every time a friend sits on your sofa, it may be time for a new one. There are also times to hire a professional designer: when remodeling or you need expert color selections. But for a fresh look with minimal investment of time and little to no investment of money, re-styling does the trick.

If you’re bored with what you see, your lifestyle shifted due to someone moving in or out, or the flow of traffic and function of the space just doesn’t cut it anymore. . . it’s time to mix it up.

When to Re-style.

Anytime is a good time, but make sure you have permission if you’re moving other people’s stuff (including your spouse, kids, or roommates). It’s better to have conversations on the front end than fights on the back end.

When taking time to deep clean or edit your things, sometimes re-styling happens naturally. When I’ve already emptied the shelf to dust, it make sense to put things back differently. If you need a little extra de-cluttering motivation, read my post, Three Temptations of Materialism, on the voices we hear and how to silence them.

How to Re-style.

How do I decide what to move? Take a look at your space: anything movable and any surface is fair game. Here are four areas to pay attention to when re-styling: lighting, color, displays, and furniture.

Light tends to be one of the background features of life, yet from color and texture to form and shape, it’s the foundation of all we see. Here are a few ways to let your lights shine!

Dust regularly. Wipe bulbs, shades, and fixtures to keep them shining bright. It may be common sense, but don’t wipe hot bulbs with damp rags or, “pop!” you’ll triple your cleaning time.

Rearrange your fixtures. Just like moving furniture (which I’ll mention below), shifting the light in a room can make it appear and feel like a new space. To up-light or backlight, place a small lamp close to the wall, behind a large floor plant or behind the sofa to create instant mood (just be careful not to create an instant fire hazard while you’re at it).

Highlight a new area. Like a spotlight focuses our attention on the main singer while fading the band, where light shines, your eyes will naturally be drawn; so light-up what you want to stand out. If you lack electrical plugins (especially on areas like bookshelves and mantles), battery powered candles, string lights and LED strips can do wonders.

Change bulbs. Swap out “daylight” for “softlight” or “cool” for “warm” bulbs; it can make a notable difference in the feel of your space. Use the same light tone throughout the room unless certain lights are for different times of day. I prefer and recommend daylight brightness in bathrooms and kitchens, but soft and warm light for bedrooms and living areas.

I love color: I once had a red velvet sofa! But you don’t have to have something big in a bright color to make a statement.

Rotate textiles. From hand-towels to decorative pillows, textiles are easily switched out and can change the feel of your room.

Collect from around your house. Color is everywhere. From plant-pots and pitchers to candles and picture frames, we can create a mood, a look, or a vibe by collecting similarly colored or color-schemed items into one area. Color is a powerful visual, use it to re-create your room.

Rearrange wall art. Move what’s on the walls every couple years. Something new at eye-level heightens interest. Still love the piece? Move it to a new spot. Tired of it? Store it for a couple months or years until it’s fun and fresh again. Hate it? Swap it with friends, or donate it.

No matter your style, I encourage creative and functional decorating. Here are a few ideas to keep your décor fresh and worth a second look.

Repurpose to extend lifespan. Unbox keepsakes, restore heirlooms, and convert items to use differently in your space. Display your Gram’s vintage trivet collection for an eye-catching wall display. You could frame the movie tickets from your first date, or use those clunky cameras as unique bookends.

Make décor do double duty. Use kids toys, game pieces, and books for playful wall art or display. Hang pretty jewelry or purses on hooks for colorful interest and easy access. Strategically position serving dishes to catch keys or corral odds and ends on the coffee table.

Decide your preference. All exposed surfaces are fair game for decorating, but how much or how little differs from person to person. Some prefer stark, empty surfaces while some pack them until all functionality is lost. I’ve found the homes that feel the most comfortable and hospitable don’t look like cold, sanitized, operating rooms, but also don’t resemble stifling garage sales either. Shoot for somewhere warm in between: show-off some personality while still maintaining function. Do what fits your style.

Unless you’re preparing for an epic dance party, furniture looks best when it’s not all stuck against your walls. Let some pieces float to create interest and use area rugs to keep it all visually connected. Furniture—especially the smaller things like chairs and end tables—can be moved around easily, but don’t be scared to move your largest pieces to really change the flow of a room.

Decide the purpose. How you use your space fluctuates over time; notice what organically happens in the room and go with it. If the kids are too big for their reading corner in the family room, put a basket of their fort-building materials in its place. Relocate the TV to emphasize face-to-face conversation and group games in the living room. Block the fireplace in the off-season, then do a big reveal to elevate the excitement and coziness when wintertime comes.

Have fun with multipurpose spaces. Whether you have a large space or a lot needs to happen in a small space, use furniture to designate the areas. Low open shelving makes great half-walls. Even a large formal living room can accommodate a more casual game or reading area.

Pay attention to flow. Instead of forcing it, see what furniture is naturally used and for what. If you have beautiful desks but everyone seems to work at the kitchen table, sell or donate the desks and enforce table clean-up rules. You may have special dishes for parties, but can’t remember to pull them out. Don’t be ashamed or beat yourself up if the reality of your life doesn’t match your fantasy.

You (and those you live with) will enjoy life more if you embrace your reality.

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Restyling is an easy way to change your view and the feel of a space without needing to hire an interior designer or tear down a wall. Remember to have fun, don’t be afraid, and give yourself lots of grace and freedom to try new things!

In your home (just like in life) nothing is permanent; everything changes except God’s love for you.

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