There need not be a new season or a major life change for someone to decide to tidy up their personal space. Sometimes, one just gets that spirited craving to update their home and start fresh. I'm sure you can relate.
Updating your space can mean anywhere between rearranging your bookshelf or switching out your bedding to a full-blown gut job. It can be as time-consuming as spring cleaning or as easy-peasy as using a new room and linen spray in the bedroom.
Whether you have a few minutes to spare or an entire weekend free, there's a way for you to freshen up your home and make your mood 100x better.
Fresh Clean
Nothing says fresh better than a clean space. When corners are spotless and floors dust-free, a home is a much better place to live and relax in.
Before you do any sort of cleaning — big or small, you must first declutter your space. Out-of-season trinkets and clothes have to be stowed away, random things that were somewhat lost in equally random catchalls must be returned to their original spots and storage houses, and non-sentimental pieces that you haven't used in any shape for over 2 years have to go.
Once that's done and you've taken the time to reorganize some items in your shelves and cabinets, you can get on with cleaning. A deep clean will be tiring to execute yet satisfying to witness, while regular quick cleans are manageable and can be done for an instant fix of a particular spot in your home.
Fresh Paint Job
If you have time on your hands and a great landlord, a fresh coat of paint just might do the trick. Paint is economical, easy, and transformative. Since paint covers a big chunk of what you see in a room (i.e. walls), the right color can do wonders in creating the right aesthetic and feel for your space. Neutral colorways are a classic in interior design, and vibrant hues work best in maximalist homes that pack a punch visually.
And a fresh paint job doesn't necessarily have to entail new colors and swatches — in fact, by choosing the same wall colors as before, you can ensure that your current furniture will work with your fresh walls. All you're effectively doing is painting over cracks and imperfections in the walls that may sometimes make a house look grubby and uncared for.
Fresh Aroma
Aromatherapy is all the rage, and for good reason. The right scents are able to mask unpleasantries, provide you healing and calm, transport you to a different world — do whatever you want it to do.
Staying indoors have allowed many to be creative when it comes to freshening up their homes, targeting the different senses in different ways. Aromas are great because they're imaginative and interesting when used correctly, and fairly economical if you collect the essential oils yourself. Our recommended fresh scents to get you started: sea breeze, jasmine, and lemon.
Also, let's be honest: no one would hate on a great smelling space.
Fresh Foliage
You're literally injecting new life into a space by bringing in hydrated greenery and freshly cut flora. Plants are a great addition in a home because they not only look visually appealing (thanks to the evergreen tones) but are also beneficial health-wise, thanks to the oxygen they emit. They are also known to help bring tranquility into a home as they bring a sense of nature into otherwise cold spaces.
Whether you plan on tending to a terrace garden (Want a balcony in the city? Look for your potential new home here) or hope to grow an indoor oasis, the right plants will thrive with the correct caring technique and set up your home for a refresh that's guaranteed to withstand the test of time.
Fresh Harvest
As we are forced to live majority of our lives indoors — no thanks to the pandemic — many have shifted their eating habits to predominantly take place in the comforts of their own kitchens and dining spaces. Learning how to cook and bake have become trendy again, which has allowed some to eat better, more wholesome meals at home.
A fantastic way to make cooking much easier and eating much more enjoyable is by using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Cooking is a breeze when you put the focus on the freshness of the ingredients and their natural flavors. Buying fresh produce and turning them into fresh salads tend to be cheaper than what you can pick up from your local salad bar, plus you know everything that's going into your meal. You can even opt to plant your own herbs and small vegetables if you happen to have a green thumb!
Extra tip: Fresh fruit and vegetables come in a variety of colors. Use a fruit basket and display atop your kitchen counter like how they do it in cooking shows on TV. Instant kitchen upgrade for no additional cost, just a tiny space of counter real estate.
Fresh Fabrics
Textiles are an easy and cheap way to update your personal interiors, as they allow you to incorporate colors or patterns in small (i.e. table runners) and large doses (floor-length drapery.) In minimalist style spaces, textiles help in creating visual interest. Natural fabrics like crisp cotton pair well with raw wood for that undone aesthetic, while heavier home fabrics can work in more dramatic spaces.
To freshen up your home, choose textiles that match your overall interior design style, yet feel new. This could mean using the same type of fabric in a different pattern, color or weave.
Here in tropical Philippines, crisp linen is a crowd favorite in bedding and in window treatments. Dark shades and curtains can be overwhelming for any space — opt for white linen or plain canvas instead as lightweight window treatments. They brighten up a room and help sunny days last longer.
For more life&style and real estate content, follow us on our Facebook page (PropertyAccess Philippines) and our Instagram (@propertyaccessph).