Give your home a facelift

It is time for an update! It may not be the updating you are thinking about, but it’s time to update our homes. We may love the floral curtains and butterfly wallpaper, but we still need to update them periodically.

Research has shown that we spend 90 percent of our time in our homes. So we should make them as comfortable and as beautiful as possible. Macon-Bibb Cooperative Extension would like to provide the following helpful hints to create wonderful spaces for our homes this season.

▪ Accent pieces are important. A few carefully placed pillows, wall art or an area rug can make a huge difference to a space. Ensure the accent pieces coordinate with other colors in the space. Most of all, make sure you love the accent piece.

Recently, I was in a local store looking at accent pillows. One pillow had “Blessed” in huge letters in a nice contemporary bold letters. The pillow spoke to me. The message, design and color was a good fit for my space. I now smile when I see it every day.

▪ Do not overlook window treatments. Window treatments can serve a dual purpose. First, they can help keep the space cool. Window treatments such as blinds or curtains can block sunlight, making our homes cooler. Second, they can be a component of your design. Rooms with window treatments tend to look more pulled together.

If you are using curtains, they can be solid, have designs or even pictures on them. There are tons of options for blinds as well. Be mindful you may have to special order them if your windows are not standard measurements. You are the designer — just make sure you love it.

▪ Incorporate those wonderful photographs. I am sure most of you are like me and have tons of photographs. Use those photos as design elements in your space. Several local stores are able to make canvases and prints out of your photos. There are also websites where you can order your favorite prints on glass or plastic. Decorative picture frames also can help to make our beloved pictures a work of art.

▪ Freshen up the bedroom. If you are interested in giving bedrooms a facelift, think about comforter sets in colors that you love, adding an area rug or window treatments. Consider updating the pillows on your bed. One trick I always use is a solid pillowcase on a new pillow as an accent piece. A few small changes can make a room look almost new.

▪ Don’t forget outside spaces. Outdoor furniture comes in a variety of colors and styles. Once you have that in place, you can plan your design form there. A few carefully placed accent tables, wall art and decorative citronella candles or torches can tie the space together.

▪ Plants, flowers and design. I have grown to like plants and flowers, but love I decorative planters and flower pots. Vary the size and color of your planters. Place them in inside and outside spaces.

Try a new flower or plant that strikes your fancy. I must admit my family did a lot of trial and error. We lost a few in the process, but it did teach me a few things: what I can grow successfully, the difference between annuals (grows during one growing season or year) and perennials (grows more than two years and are generally dormant during fall and winter), watering schedules, and (surprise!) I do have somewhat of a green thumb. Who knew?

In closing, have fun with your design. Mix and match colors and textures. You never know where you will find something to add to your design. It’s a work in progress — so be on the lookout!

This story was originally published May 26, 2017 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Give your home a facelift."