The average home price in Milton, GA, was around $910,000 as of early 2023, but the right interior design can make your home look priceless. From accent pillows to new paint, a wide range of small touches can add up to make a big difference in your home. While some interior design moves can be costly, there are many small changes that can be made for next to no cost. Here’s some simple, practical interior design advice to make your Milton home shine.
1. Use ambient lighting
Lighting is one of the main factors that set the mood in any space. One of the best ways to make your home feel more comfortable is to use ambient lighting. It is better to have several lighting sources spread out over a space than to have a single bright overhead light. Get some attractive lamps or other lighting sources and find bulbs that create a pleasant effect in your home. Many home improvement stores will have displays that show off light bulbs with different levels of tone and brightness. A good option is to use dimmable bulbs or dimmer switches in order to have adjustable levels of lighting for different situations. Supplementing with natural light from a window or skylight can enhance your lighting dynamic as well.
2. Spread things out to create balance
If you have not purged your home of extra clutter or unnecessary furnishings lately, now is a good time to take inventory. If a space is too crowded, consider spreading things out a little. The goal should be to create balance. In some cases, moving or entirely removing a piece of furniture can help to create a greater sense of space in a room.
3. Fill empty spaces with accents
After you have sufficiently decluttered and created some space in your home, look for empty or sparse spaces that can be brightened up with small accents. Pictures, mirrors, and artwork can spruce up walls. Flower vases, bowls of fruit, interesting books, and other conversation pieces can liven up a coffee table or kitchen counter. Accent pillows can be placed on sofas and bedspreads to create added visual interest.
4. Create symmetry
Symmetry is one of the most basic elements that make a home aesthetically pleasing. While it would be impractical and possibly even boring to make every room perfectly symmetrical, small touches can create symmetry and visual balance. Examples include the placement of identical lamps, pillows, and other accents on opposite sides of a space.
5. Install mirrors
Mirrors serve a functional purpose, but they can also be used to improve the design and aesthetics of your home. A common use for mirrors is to create the impression of more space by placing large mirrors in bedrooms or common areas. A mirror can also be used to brighten up a hallway or a dark corner of your home. Mirrors come in many shapes and sizes, so find one that works for your space.
6. Repaint or apply touch-up paint
Paint is one of the main elements that set the mood of a home and make an impression on guests. Lighter colors are generally preferable since fairer shades can help to brighten up a room. A possible exception would be the bedrooms, which might be better in a nice relaxing shade of blue. If your home isn’t quite in need of a full repainting, you can focus on select rooms, create accent walls, or just use touch-up paint to spruce things up as needed.
7. Recaulk your sinks and showers
Old caulk is a small thing that can subtly drag down the appearance of a kitchen or bathroom. If you have dirty, worn-out caulk anywhere in your home, get rid of it and apply new caulk. You can have a professional do this, but it can also be a very satisfying DIY project. If you do it yourself, just make sure that you have the right kind of caulk for the job.
8. New bathroom and kitchen accessories
Take a look at your bathroom and kitchen sinks. Soap dispensers, utensil holders, and other accessories cost very little, but they can give your kitchen or bathroom a nice mini-makeover. If you’re keeping your toothbrush in a plastic cup next to a messy bar of soap, consider upgrading to classy bathroom and kitchen accessories that match the theme of these rooms.
9. Change out switch plates, outlet covers, and cabinet hardware
Here’s an easy one that can be very satisfying. Hit your local home improvement store for some new lightswitch plates and outlet covers. If you have cabinets and drawers with replaceable handles, consider looking at these too. These are small, inexpensive upgrades that can make a really nice difference in the appearance of your home.
10. Refinish hardwood floors
Hardwood floors can make any home look great, but they wear out over time. If you have waxed hardwoods, then you can easily apply a new coat of wax. For seriously worn floors, you can sand them down and refinish them. This is a fun project you can do yourself for a low cost or get a contractor to do it. This minor fix will boost the value as well as the aesthetic appeal of your home.
11. New curtains and blinds
Do a quick assessment of all the curtains and blinds in your home. If you have those thin, plastic blinds that are standard in many homes, upgrade them for more substantial wooden blinds. The thin plastic ones break easily, and they are difficult to clean. As for curtains, they don’t have to be anything fancy, but you should select a nice material and a color that goes well with the theme of the room. Curtains can be an interesting opportunity to throw an accent color in a room with neutral walls.
Learn more tips on selling your Milton home
These interior design tips can double as staging tips when you are selling a home. To apply this interior design advice to a new Milton home, the market still has great opportunities. The Happy Homes Team is an Atlanta-area real estate firm offering these and many other tips for selling top-tier real estate in Milton, GA. Check out the firm’s portfolio of featured properties in the best neighborhoods of Atlanta, Cumming, Milton, and the surrounding area. From high-quality affordable homes to luxury properties, the Happy Homes Team can introduce you to the finest in Georgia real estate.
