"Like many 20-somethings, I started furnishing my first “adult” apartment on an extremely tight budget. Constrained by my pitiful entry-level salary, I relied heavily on cheap furniture and hand-me-down pieces that didn’t necessarily fit my style but did the job well enough. Fast forward several years and jobs later, and now I’m in a place where I can invest a bit more in decorating my home the way I want to. Now that I’m nearing 30, my home aesthetic could use a refresh.
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It’s time to upgrade some of those cheap pieces that no longer suit me and start making my home into the cozy, inviting sanctuary I’ve always wanted it to be. And while my budget has a bit more flexibility than it did when I was fresh out of college, I’m not looking to drop a small fortune on all-new furniture and decor. So here are the small changes I’m making to update my home aesthetic this year:
1. Identifying what I want more and less of
Somewhere along my decorating journey—without fully realizing it—I accumulated a lot of furniture and decor with a pretty modern look. Think a midcentury modern coffee table, contemporary framed artwork, and accessories with sleek silhouettes. However, as my tastes have changed over time, I’ve realized that what I really love are cozy, layered designs with a mix of old and new. Thus, I want more pieces with a vintage feel to balance out the modern ones and more layers to fill in places that feel too sparse.
This realization has since guided every decorating decision I make. With every new purchase or project, I ask myself, “Will this bring me closer to or further away from the home aesthetic I want?” By thinking of it like a sliding scale (more of this, less of that), I can focus on small, incremental changes instead of feeling like I have to start over from scratch.
2. Upgrading what no longer fits my style
Although I’m not planning on putting all my furniture out on the curb and buying new, there are definitely a few pieces in my home that no longer serve me, either functionally or aesthetically. For example, the flimsy IKEA side table that has far outlived its intended lifespan and the bulky boob lights I’ve hated since I moved in. This year, I’m identifying those eyesores that always draw my attention or don’t work as they should and focusing my attention there. By making single swaps—replacing something I don’t like with something I love—I can inch closer to the home aesthetic I want in ways that will be most meaningful.
3. Rearranging what I already own
Updating my home aesthetic isn’t all about buying new things. I’ve also learned that rearranging what you currently have can be just as impactful. In my case, that means rotating wall art from one room to the next, swapping accessories between my coffee table and bookshelves, and trying out lamps in different corners of a room. Finding that “just right” spot sometimes takes a few tries, and in another month or so, maybe I’ll want to move things around again. Regardless, playing around with your current furniture and decor can give you a fresh perspective and replicate that feeling of newness without actually buying anything new.
4. Painting walls and trim
Does my living room look drab and dated, or do I just hate the shade of gray that’s currently on the walls? I have a sneaking suspicion it’s the latter. The walls provide the foundation for your furniture and decor, and a new color can change the look of everything else in the room. Apart from updating the flooring, there’s not much else that can transform a room the way paint can, and it’s way less expensive and easier to DIY. The prep work and conundrum of picking a color might be a bit of a pain, but the impact of fresh color on the walls is always going to be worth it for me.
5. Thrifting
In my quest to give my home a more vintage feel, antique shops and thrift stores are natural stops. I’m specifically on the lookout for dark wood accent furniture, ornate gold picture frames, and fun tchotchkes whenever I go thrifting. But even if you’re not aiming for an antique look, secondhand shops are great places to find high-quality furniture and decor on a budget. You can find some serious gems at prices that would be unheard of at traditional retailers. Plus, shopping secondhand means you’re not contributing to more waste as you give your home a new look.
6. Adding lamps to every room
Not to be dramatic, but I recently added a lamp to the dresser in my bedroom, and it completely changed the look and feel of the room. Instead of searing my retinas with the overhead light or fumbling in the dark until I reach my bedside light, I can flip on the lamp for soft, cozy lighting in the evenings. It’s a small thing that made such a difference, and I plan to recreate the effect in every room. From the entry console table to the kitchen counter, there are so many places where adding a lamp would make things so much cozier and more inviting.
7. Shopping slowly
I’m at a point in my life where I only want to buy things that I plan on keeping for the long term. I’m no longer packing up and moving to a new apartment every couple of years—or only looking for the cheapest possible option—so I’m ready to settle in with furniture that will last me for the foreseeable future. Because of this, I’m not interested in spending money on fleeting trends or pieces I’m not sure I’ll still like in five years. I want to fill my home with timeless pieces I truly love. So instead of trying to fill a room quickly with pieces that are “good enough” or buying something because I keep seeing it on social media, I plan to take the time to shop slowly and intentionally.
This slower approach is beneficial in multiple ways. First, for budget purposes: I can afford to invest more in high-quality pieces if I space out those purchases more. But perhaps more importantly, creating a home you love takes time. Trying to rush the process can quickly become overwhelming or leave you with pieces that don’t truly reflect your style. By taking a slower, more intentional approach, you can be sure the end result is exactly what you want.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers. Jessica also holds a certificate in interior design from the New York Institute of Art + Design.