Simple Ways to Transform Any Room Instantly

Home has become more than just a respite from the outside world. Our homes provide insight into how we perceive ourselves; our interests, our style, our vibe. And with all the changes than happen in life, often our homes need a bit of updating or freshening up to reflect our own internal changes. Enter the room hacks: simple ways to update your space and make any room feel more like you.

Paint

Paint is a simple and relatively affordable way to completely shift how you feel when you enter a room. Color choices can invigorate or calm us, becoming the center of attention or exist as a subdued background where unique decorative pieces can take center stage. While the hues of 2022 centered around back-to-nature shades of green, 2023 is all about self-expression. Valspar selected 12 livable paint colors, including soft neutrals, sweet pastels, and soothing shades of blue and green. "[They] are usable shades that encourage self-expression and anyone can envision in their space," said Sue Kim, Valspar color marketing manager, in a press release.

New (Old) Furniture

One of my favorite pastimes is going to luxery estate sales to get a glimpse of how someone else has styled their home, and snag any pieces that might elevate my own living space with vintage elegance. I have found again and again that older pieces are often made with better materials, last for life, and spark curiosity and amusement from anyone who enters you home. I tend to stick to truly unique pieces that help reflect my own amorphous but classic vintage style. Just google estate sales and your zip code to see which ones are scheduled for the upcoming weekend in your area.

Photowall Luxury Wallpaper

Nothing transforms a room faster than wallpaper, especially wallpaper that doesn’t look like wallpaper. I recently installed a stunning oceanic backdrop in my office to serve as the background for my podcast interviews, and the instant it was up, I felt I was transported to another place - one with serene melodic waves and salty sea air. The mural came in sections that were easy to apply with the accompanying glue kit. I used a simple paint roller to apply the glue to the wall and laid on each piece as straight as I could. The project took less than an hour and I am so happy with the results. Every time I enter my office to work or do yoga, I feel a sense of peace and wellbeing, all from a glance at the wall.

The idea of Photowall was born in 2006 when brothers Niklas and Charlie Johansson realized that the selection of personalized wall art on the market was relatively limited. With their technical background and a strong interest in design, they decided to try something new—printing wallpaper digitally. Without any previous printing experience, the brothers bought their very first digital printing press in 2006—and Photowall was born! A company focused on quality, creative design and custom-made products. Today, Photowall is a well-established company with offices and its own wallpaper production site in Stockholm. From the very beginning, it has been driven by the desire to create and constantly test new ideas.