How to renovate your interior without changing everything?

10 simple and inexpensive tips to easily refresh your home

Does your interior need a refresh but you don't want to embark on an expensive and time-consuming renovation? No worries! There are many simple and affordable tips for refreshing your flat or house without major works. Here's how to renovate your interior without having to change everything!

Tidying the house

Every interior renovation project starts with tidying! Decluttering the room will immediately give a feeling of renewal. Emptying shelves, putting appliances and kitchen utensils away in cupboards, neatly stacking decoration magazines are sometimes enough to have the feeling of change and space enlargement! 

The beautiful surfaces and materials of cleared furniture reappear: the raw wood coffee table comes back to life, the polished concrete kitchen worktop regains its decorative power... Much appreciated in interior decoration, the minimalist style loves tidy and uncluttered rooms.

Reorganising furniture     

Furniture arrangement clearly has a significant impact on the perception of space. Change the layout of your furniture to create new dynamics in the room. Moving the sofa or dining table will alter the perception of the room. Creating a dressing area in a corner of the bedroom to hide clothes or installing a bookcase in the study corner will also create novelty at low cost.

Home staging is very trendy! You can also consider painting or staining certain pieces of furniture to give them a more modern appearance. A bright coloured paint on an antique bedside table will completely change the appearance of the furniture. Furniture makeover is an affordable and creative option for DIY enthusiasts.

Changing colours 

One of the most effective ways to renovate a room is to give it a new colour. A fresh coat of paint on the walls will radically transform the style of a space. You can opt for a colour that harmonises with the rest of the décor or choose a feature wall to create a colour contrast with the rest of the room. Why not repaint your staircase to refresh it after years of intensive use? Effect paints, such as metallic paints or concrete-effect paints, can also add a touch of sophistication to your interior. 

Consider new flooring for the kitchen or a beautiful contrasting rug on the bathroom tiles or living room parquet! Change the colours of the wallpaper, wall paint or flooring to bring a touch of novelty to all your spaces!

Playing with lighting

Good lighting can transform the atmosphere of a room. Invest in modern stainless steel light fittings for a contemporary style or wooden lamps for a rustic interior.

Decorative hardware offers a wide choice of lighting: floor lamps for the living room, pendant lights over the kitchen worktop or table lamps that can provide soft, warm light and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Also consider installing dimmer switches to adjust the brightness according to your needs.

Focusing on textiles

Textiles play an essential role in home interior makeovers.

Replace your curtains, cushions, rugs and sofa covers with models in current colours and patterns.

Don't hesitate to play with textile colours and textures (comfortable cotton, light natural linen, thick velvet, refined silk, warm wool or printed and coloured fabrics...) to add depth to your decoration. Textiles offer simple and inexpensive solutions for renovating the décor of your spaces.  

Adding decorative objects 

Adding a few decorative objects is also very effective for revamping and personalising your interior!

Using walls to decorate the house 

Use paintings and wall art! Hang new artwork, photographs, posters, street art-style graffiti or mirrors to create an artistic atmosphere. Mirrors by reflecting light will also enlarge spaces. Empty walls can often be transformed into true works of art.

Adding decorative accessories 

Arrange vases, sculptures, candles in vibrant colours or other small decorative objects that match the theme or atmosphere you wish to create. Decorative cushions add colour and comfort. Decorative ornaments and handcrafted objects bring a touch of originality to your decoration. Poufs or hand-knitted blankets will add conviviality. 

The balance between function and aesthetics of your decorative objects is essential to create a space that reflects you.

Creating your own decoration: DIY renovation ideas 

What could be more delightful than creating your home's new décor yourself using existing furniture? Here are some ideas to inspire you!

Renovating furniture is one of the most creative and easy ways.

Use an old chest of drawers or table with damaged paintwork as a decorative object! Several techniques are available to you: 

Repainting wooden furniture 

Give your wooden furniture a new lease of life by sanding it, applying an undercoat and a new coat of paint, wax or stain. You can choose a bold colour to create contrast or opt for a light shade for a lighter look.

Using decorative adhesive paper to customise furniture

Adhesive paper is an inexpensive solution for transforming your furniture. You can use it to cover a table, a chest of drawers top or the shelves of a bookcase to add patterns and colours.

Personalising your furniture with stencils 

Use stencils to create unique patterns on your furniture! For example, add gold geometric patterns to the doors of a vintage chest of drawers or floral patterns to an oak wardrobe... Let your creativity run wild! 

Adding mosaic

Creating a colourful mosaic decoration on a tray or coffee table is an excellent way to show off your artistic talents and transform a classic piece of furniture into a decorative object!

Changing hardware and accessories 

Another simple way to modernise a piece of furniture is to replace the handles, knobs, hinges or add new decorative accessories.

Repurposing furniture

Another DIY idea for renovating your interior: creatively repurposing a piece of furniture for a personalised decorative effect! 

Here are 3 easy ideas to implement:

. Bookcase headboard: Use a low shelf or bookcase to create a unique headboard in the bedroom. Place it behind the bed to create extra storage space for books, decorative objects or plants. 

. Console table transformed into a dressing table: A narrow console table can be repurposed as an elegant dressing table. Add a mirror above the console, place make-up accessories and jewellery on top, and use the drawers to store your beauty products. This can transform a small unused area into a functional beauty space.

. Kitchen island as dining table: If you have a small dining room, use a kitchen table or kitchen island as a dining table. Add matching chairs to create a comfortable dining area. This can be a clever solution to maximise space in an open-plan kitchen.

These furniture repurposing ideas help create unique and functional spaces in your home whilst adding a touch of creativity and style to your interior decoration.

Greening your interior

Changing the atmosphere in the literal sense of the term by bringing nature into the house whilst focusing on greenery decoration is also a good way to revamp your home.

Without going as far as creating a green wall, a few green plants in decorative planters will transform the atmosphere of your rooms. Décor and nature: the invigorating duo! 

The details that change everything: furniture handles

Another decorative makeover tip: change the knobs and handles on your furniture! These small functional accessories are powerful allies for home decoration and renovation. Inexpensive, easy to install without major works, a designer door handle or contemporary furniture knob will immediately give a new look to your interior! Opt for models that match the style you want for each room in the house.

Choosing materials appropriate to your décor: Install chrome-plated steel handles for a modern look, wooden knobs for a rustic atmosphere, a bronze handle for a chic touch or glass handles for an elegant feel. The choice of materials will have a significant impact on the style of your furniture and your interior in general. Design handle materials are chosen for their durability and design effect.

Playing with finishes: The colours and finishes of handles, such as matt black, polished brass, brushed chrome or white handles can give a unique character to your furniture. Make sure the finish matches the rest of the room.

Updating kitchen handles: If you're looking to revamp your kitchen without undertaking a complete renovation, start by replacing the handles and knobs on cupboards and cabinets. The appearance of your space will be spectacularly impacted. Choose designer handles to modernise a base unit or conversely vintage-style handles for a rustic kitchen.

Handles matched to your décor theme: If your interior decoration is dedicated to a specific theme, choose handles and knobs that will precisely accentuate that theme. For example, aquatic-inspired handles for a holiday home, a textured handle for a contemporary living room or coloured door handles to energise your flat.

Researching financial aid for renovation works

If larger works need to be considered to renovate the house such as carpentry work, bringing electrical installations, insulation, drainage or loft conversion up to standard, a general contractor will need to intervene to carry out the works. 

In this case, certain aids can ease your budget, particularly in terms of energy performance such as Maprimerénov, the Tax Credit for Energy Transition (CITE) or zero-rate loan (which can help finance certain renovation works as part of an overall project to improve the energy performance of housing). Rely on companies from various trades (carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, etc.) to find out which aids you may be entitled to and thus better define the nature and cost of house renovation works.

Regarding decoration, if your budget allows, seek advice from an interior architect or interior designer who will offer you informed ideas and advice for revamping your home's interior 

Thanks to these ideas and tips, you'll be able to give a great boost to your interior without undertaking major works in the house. A new layout, revamped furniture, the pleasure of DIY and various decorative accessories carefully chosen in your image can easily renovate your interior without changing everything and at low cost.

Other articles that may interest you:

How to revamp your kitchen without breaking the bank?

How to revamp your bathroom on a budget?