HOUSTON – From accessories to lighting and wallpaper, when it comes to design even the smallest changes can make a big impact.
Over the past week, interior designer Paul Brockman and his team have been working hard to update the look of the Houston Life studio.
Brockman shares five easy ways to elevate any living space.
Add wallpaper
Change out the wallpaper—or add wallpaper (even as an accent wall). Not only changes color, but adds texture and pattern.
Lighting
Adding light and being able to control it with dimmers is a huge change and allows flexibility to go from bright task light when you need it to more calm, ambient light for the evening.
New stain on the wood accents
Brockman sanded down all of that dark wood and put a light walnut stain to brighten up the set and make it pop. That dark wood absorbed all of the lighting and looked dull—now with a lighter finish, the entire set looks fresh and updated.
Accessories
Less is more. Brockman did quite an edit, especially in the kitchen area. Brockman moved on from all of the primary, bright colors. The new photo for the Houston skyline was the color inspiration to dress the kitchen. By pulling out those deep blues and neutral roses and pinks, we not only highlighted the Houston skyline but unified the space.
Brockman also used the “high/low” concept to display the items in the kitchen cabinet. He used large platters on stands in those blue and rose colors that cost $12.99 from Home Goods. Plus, he got some plastic bowls from Target in navy blue and light pink for just a few dollars.
Create interest with curated accessory pieces
For the planter box area, Brockman removed the rocks and succulents and added a grey platform to act a base to add interesting, curated items. He also added some common household accessories like a stack of books, pictures of the family with new, updated frames. He recommends mixing textures and and sheens. Also, you can use a stack of books to place a vase on to give it height.
Accessory rules to follow
Brockman suggests when repeating a series of items, follow this rule of thumb - use odd numbers, like 3, 5 or even 7 if you have the room.
Update the furniture you already have
Spray paint works wonders when looking for a quick and easy way to refresh the legs of old furniture. Brockman used that trick to update the ‘Houston Life’ desk with a cool, metallic gold color.
For more information, you can visit his website at paulbrockman.com.