5 Sneaky Styling Hacks To Upgrade Your Space With No Reno Needed

Who’s got the budget to splash out on a home reno right now? Nope, us neither.

And yet when you’ve spent what feels like eternity switching around cushions and artfully draping throws on beds, only to find your home still feels meh, it can seem like smashing everything up and starting again is the only solution.

Not so. (Phew). There are some secret tweaks that interior designers use to instantly refresh a living space—and you don't need to splurge heaps of cash

Add Texture To Transform

Sometimes a space that’s feeling bland just needs a little somethin’ somethin’ to pull it together. Enter texture. Your best mate when it comes to fixing a flat-feeling room. And rugs are the answer.

Rolling out a rug is a super-easy way to add an extra dimension to your space without spending a fortune, but the type of rug needs a bit of thought. Go for a thick wool rug if you want to soften hardwood flooring, and in a dining room you can use a patterned rug to link the furniture with the rest of the space.

It's a good idea to rotate your chosen rug regularly to prevent uneven wear in high-traffic areas. A new rug can go a long way in enhancing your space.

If you’re game to go a step further in search of comfort, you can try adding carpet instead. You’ll want to choose loop pile if you’re refreshing a high-traffic area like living spaces, but in the bedroom, you can opt for bouncy, fluffy plush, which feels fantastic on bare toes.

Think Of The Windows

Curtains and blinds do more than block out the light. They set the tone for the whole room, and they’re an easy way to switch up your home styling game. Blockout blinds are for the practical DIY designer, who wants to smash privacy, light control and sleep setup goals all in one go. But there’s a secret hack you can use to make the whole thing feel softer. 

Hello sheer curtains. These whimsical little wonders can be layered on top of traditional blockout blinds to totally transform a basic bedroom into something a little more swish. 

Image credit: Carpet Court | Supplied

Embrace Pops Of Colour

If you’ve spent an age selecting classy neutral colours for your space and discovered the end result is a bit too beige, it could be time to layer in some contrast. A plain base is great and incredibly versatile—so all you need to do is bring in a couple of accent colours.

Pops of colour are best added through temporary style updates (think things like rugs, cushions and accessories) as it means you can change up the look depending on the season.

To pull it all together, you can choose a rug that picks up the same tones as your accent colours and if you’re in need of a spot of inspo there’s a heap of trending options available through Carpet Court right now. 

Layer Your Floors Like a Pro

Sometimes a space just feels a little off, and you might not realise that your flooring is to blame. Floors carry a lot of visual weight, and so it can be worth adding some layers if your current set-up isn’t working for you.

Again, this is where the humble rug comes in to help, but if that doesn’t do the trick you can start to explore whether a different flooring option might achieve the look you’re after. If you feel a bit out of your depth when it comes to comparing floor types, it’s worth bearing some simple tricks in mind.

Timber flooring adds warmth and texture without making the space feel too busy, and it’s ideal for use in bedrooms or living rooms that don’t get a lot of foot traffic and where you want a calm, clean finish.

If you’re re-flooring a busy zone though, like kitchens, hallways, or play areas, you’re going to want to consider hybrid flooring. You get the timber look, but it’s way more resistant to spills, scratches, and scuffs so if you’ve got a family it’s a win-win.

Image credit: Carpet Court | Instagram

Style Right For Your Lifestyle

There’s no point spending time putting the luxe factor into your pad if the look isn’t going to last the distance. So it’s important to think about how you use your spaces and then choose the right products to work with your lifestyle.

If you’re changing things up, you should consider that wool carpet works best in living rooms and bedrooms because it adds a soft, comfortable feel underfoot. But if you’ve got kids or pets (or both) you might want to try solution-dyed nylon for a low-maintenance option that stands up to wear.