DESIGN & DECOR
FIVE WAYS TO ADD
Personality to Your Home
How to make any room go from drab to fab.
S TORY AND PHOTO GR APHY BY SAMANTHA L AB RECQU E
Is there a room in your home that you avoid showing guests? What about a space that has looked the same since the very first
day you moved in? We’ve got tips and tricks to make any space showcase your personality and go from drab to fab.
ADD ANTIQUES
Seek the unique and pick out pieces with history
for your home. Whether it’s a statement piece like
a buffet or console table, or smaller collectibles
like dishware to display, antiques add a touch of
timelessness. Don’t be afraid to incorporate old
items in a new way into your home without feeling
like it is dated.
Display artfully arranged glassware like milk
glass atop simple shelving or behind glass
cabinetry. Place similar items together to create
an impactive, effortless charm in plain sight.
◆ Breathe new life into an antique chair or couch
and reupholster the piece with fresh, new fabric
that suits your style. Recovering a piece of
furniture can completely transform it while still
showcasing its original beauty and charm.
◆ Pick out a piece of furniture with good bones
and then get creative and find a new use for
your furnishing. Our favorite is a rustic, patina
dresser turned into a bathroom vanity. A wooden
element mixed with shiny fixtures and a beautiful
countertop? Yes, please!
◆
PLAY WITH PATTERNS
Paint is a powerful interior design tool, but if you’re
looking for something far from ordinary, dress up
an accent wall with board and batten or shiplap.
There are hundreds of easy, DIY tutorials online
that offer step-by-step instructions. However, if you
are unsure that an accent wall is up your alley, or if
you are unable to change the walls, try removable
wallpaper — it gives any space a designer look
without the long-term commitment.
CREATE A GALLERY WALL
A gallery wall is ideal for any home and brings
personality to a room, whether you display
family photos or artistic prints. Before you begin
hammering, determine the type of gallery wall you
are looking for. Choose from either a grid / linear
arrangement or an organically placed grouping.
We suggest using painters’ tape on the walls in the
8 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020