I am in a constant state of styling, editing, re-arranging. It’s something I have been unable to turn off since I found muscles enough to move my room around when I was little. You may be like me, or, you may be like a friend of mine who is always complaining that she needs to do something to make her space more enjoyable. It feels stale. I’ve been there before and know the feeling well. Nod if you’re with me. But maybe you don’t have the budget or the time for a big renovation. Here are a few things you can do to breathe new life into a room without a big remodel:

Throw Pillows. Your local Home Goods should have a great selection of throws, but I urge you to step out of your comfort zone and get something with a pop of personality. Stray from the norm. Please. Still have the same pillows that came with the couch? Run, don’t walk, to grab some new ones. There are also incredible options on etsy from super talented makers. I love this one, this sweet little number, and these too (mudcloth is so hot right now). Pillows are a great way to incorporate the latest trends in your living space without a permanent mark or mucho dinero.

Basket Case. Speaking of on trend, baskets are having a moment. This beauty pictured above was made in Africa by a husband and wife team (we’re partial to those) and we picked it up at our local farmer’s market. Right now he’s holding magazines and the latest bestseller that I cannot seem to find the time to read, but the opportunities here are endless! Depending on the size of the basket, they could be a great way to hide toddler toys, remotes, you name it. #NixonPack nugget: I like to keep an empty basket on the main floor to “clean up” on the double if someone shows up at our door unexpectedly. Nice to see you, yes of course it’s always this clean! 

Clear Clutter. This is something Jon and I feel strongly about. We hate clutter. Not to say we don’t have a junk drawer, but it’s not a big one. If we can no longer use something, we donate it, recycle, or trash it. If you take a look around your room and can edit it like you would a picture, you will be wowed by what a difference it makes. Not to mention the mental space you will clear by not having to look at it. So I challenge you right now to snap a quick pic of your room, then imagine posting it to your facebook page. What would you remove before doing so? Let it go.

Hang a mirror. Mirrors are my favorite tool in our design arsenal. A room can always use a mirror. Or several! Not only are they practical, but they reflect light beautifully, can help open up small spaces, and you can’t go wrong with them. This could go with any decor and I am loving the idea of a gallery of these in different shapes. Plus, I always know when a hair is out of place.

Make a vignette. So we mentioned taking a picture of a room as a tool up above to help you edit. Now we’ll use this tool in a different way. Let’s take our living room for example. I have five different “vignettes” set up around the room. They are all different moments that could be perfectly displayed in an Instagram square. I change up each of them frequently, but in a small way. It could be swapping out the stack of books, adding a new picture or a fun knick knack to get people talking. Trust me, the little things won’t go unnoticed and you’ll get that fix you’ve been craving.

Bring the outside in. What do you have right outside your front door? Fresh daisies, fronds from a fern, heck even a branch from your pine tree. Something fresh from the outdoors will liven up any dull spot in all the right ways. If you’re a city dweller or don’t have any greens around, head to your local Trader Joe’s. You can pick up some sweet flowers for as little as $4.

Room Swap. Have a walk around your house. The dining room is my favorite room in our home, yet it’s the room that gets used the least. Yesterday we were having impromptu visitors and I knew we’d be spending more time in the living room. So I popped in the dining room and “stole” some of my favorite pieces and swapped them out for what wasn’t as loved in the living room. What a difference! It didn’t cost me a dollar, yet felt like a happy mail day in the Nixon residence when the UPS guy shows up with all the good packages.

What small changes have made a big difference in your home? Post with the Pack below!