Little changes can bring about a whole new look.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Winter 2024
Nothing brightens the gray days of winter as much as a new look, even something as simple as a new haircut or a new outfit. Your home can benefit from the same attention. And you don’t have to break the bank or disrupt your life for months. You can give your home a primpover in an afternoon.
Step 1. Choose one room at a time.
A primpover, by definition, is simply creating a fresh look for an existing space. It involves only refreshing, not remodeling, so it’s best approached one room at a time.
For most homeowners, that means focusing on one of the public spaces first. Because they get the most use, any improvements there will also be most noticeable. Refreshing the family room or updating decor in the kitchen can bring immediate gratification.
However, those spaces are also the first to benefit from remodeling projects, and other areas of the home can experience a bit of neglect when it comes to decorating dollars. If that’s the case in your home, focusing your primpover efforts elsewhere might bring you even more satisfaction, such as refreshing the master suite or making the family entryway more welcoming.
Before you dive in, take a good look around your home and assess which space is most in need of a makeover or which area you find least welcoming. Once you’ve chosen your first target, the fun can begin.
Step 2. Start with a clean slate.
First, minimize distractions. Take some time to declutter so you can see what you really have to work with.
Remove everything but the furniture and reassess the layout. Play with the furniture arrangement. Changing the view from the sofa can make a room feel completely different. It can also open up space for new pieces to be brought in.
Adding one new, foundational piece can make old furnishings seem fresh. A different style headboard in the bedroom, a comfortable side chair in the family room, or lockers in the back entry can create a starting point for your primpover plan.
This is also the ideal time to reconsider your wall color. Without the clutter, the condition of your walls is more obvious. And changing the background can go a long way toward refreshing your space without adding a great deal of time to the project.
Step 3. “Shop” your home.
Once you’ve settled on a layout, consider what’s lacking. Does the new arrangement cry out for a throw rug? Would accent furniture or lamps enhance the comfort and functionality of the space? Are there open areas now that need to be filled?
Wander through your home and do a little window-shopping. Most rooms have furnishings or decor that are underutilized or could benefit from a new setting.
With a fresh coat of paint, that side table that’s been tucked in the living room corner for years could be transformed into an accent piece in the master bedroom. The throw rug in the lower-level game room might be the perfect finishing touch
for the new family room layout. And those lamps that you removed from the room during decluttering would be ideal in the guest room.
Relocating these pieces not only refreshes the primpover space, it breathes new life into your possessions.
Step 4. Add finishing touches.
After updating wall color and arranging the key pieces in your new layout, it’s time for the final touches.
Consider each of these areas as you complete your space:
- Shelving displays. Rearrange, restyle, rethink the display areas in your new space. Instead of displaying your photos, books, or artwork in the same old way, find a new layout. Bring in different items and remove some tired ones for a fresh look.
- Accent lighting. That newly restyled shelving area would pop even more with some simple undershelf lighting. Focused lighting for artwork can be added easily these days as well without having to rewire or string unsightly power cords.
- Window coverings. New paint, new layout, and a whole new look for the room might also mean updating the window coverings or removing them altogether. Depending on your home’s layout and your privacy needs, you could eliminate the window coverings completely and opt for a more minimal look. If some sort of privacy or light filtration is important, replacing curtains or old blinds with a sleeker product can serve the same function without detracting from the room’s decor.
Your home is as much an expression of your personality as your hairstyle and your fashion choices. Doesn’t it deserve a primpover every so often, too? •