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11 small interior ‘tweakments’ that will have a big impact on your home
Ever look round your home and feel like you want a total refresh? You’re certainly not alone.
A recent survey by Homeprotect found that a whopping three quarters of Brits plan on making over their homes this year.
The trouble is an entire décor switch up can be timely and costly.
But sometimes a quick interior tweakment is all you need to make you feel like you have a whole new space.
Forget knocking down walls or installing an entire bathroom suite, sometimes, it’s the smallest touches that breathe the biggest life into a home.
If your rooms are starting to feel a little stale and samey, now could be the time to embrace the power of interior décor tweakments —those subtle yet savvy changes that transform your space without the need for a full-scale reno.
“We all reach a point where our homes feel a little tired,” explains Maria Ramirez – founder and design director at BB Interiors.
“But life is busy, budgets are tight and we don’t always have the time or energy for a big overhaul. Thankfully small, thoughtful changes can make a huge impact!”
Molly Woodward-Moor, interior designer and creative director at Stone Superstore says tweakments are also a fantastic way to dip into seasonal trends, play with colour, or try out new layouts in a low-risk, high-impact way – perfect for those who love to refresh their home regularly.
“Something as simple as swapping cushion covers, layering new throws, or switching up artwork can instantly refresh a space, creating a sense of ‘newness’ while keeping the base of the room intact,” she adds.
From swapping tired lampshades for sculptural lighting to updating your cushions with bold prints or rich textures, these minor updates can shift the entire mood of a room.
Whether you’re refreshing a corner or refining a whole scheme. We spoke to the design experts about how small adjustments can make a big and beautiful impact.
Refresh your lighting
Changing your lighting is one of the simplest yet most transformative tweakments you can make in your home.
The right fixture or bulb can instantly alter the atmosphere—adding warmth, drama, or a sense of calm—while also highlighting your favourite features and giving the whole space a fresh, considered feel.
“Lighting sets the mood more than we realise,” Maria explains.
“A dim corner or harsh overhead light can make even the best-designed room feel off.”
To switch things up further Maria suggests layering your lighting.
“Swap white lightbulbs for warmer toned ones, add a statement table lamp or update a shade,” she says.
“A sculptural light can become the new star of the room without touching the furniture.”
Restyle your shelves and surfaces
Restyling your shelves and surfaces is a quick, cost-free tweakment that can completely refresh a room’s look.
By rearranging books, layering in decorative objects, or adding a pop of greenery, you create visual interest and bring personality back to forgotten corners—proving that even the smallest styling updates can make a striking impact.
“Our eyes get bored!” explains Maria. “After a while we stop noticing that vase or stack of books so a little reshuffle brings life back into the room,” Maria explains.
To really shake things up Maria recommends playing with scale, texture and negative space.
“Style in small clusters, add small art leaning on the wall (rather than hanging it!) and don’t be afraid to rotate objects in and out,” she adds.
“It keeps things feeling curated, not cluttered.”
Do a conscious clean and reset
A conscious clean and reset is a powerful tweakment that costs nothing but delivers instant results.
Taking the time to clear clutter, refresh surfaces, and thoughtfully rehome your belongings can reveal your space in a whole new light—restoring a sense of calm, order, and renewed appreciation for your home’s existing features.
“Sometimes a room doesn’t need more things, it just needs a reset,” explains Maria.
“Cleaning with intention can change the energy of a space.”
Maria suggestsusing natural-scented cleaning agents (Purdy & Figg is a favourite) and taking the time to edit surfaces.
“Clear, wipe, reset – like a deep breath for your home,” she adds.
Add plants or greenery
Adding plants and greenery is an effortless tweakment that brings life, colour, and texture into your home.
Whether it’s a statement fiddle-leaf fig or a cluster of string of pearls, greenery softens hard edges, improves the atmosphere, and adds a natural vibrancy that instantly uplifts any room.
“Nothing breathes life into a space like something… alive,” says Maria.
“Plants soften hard lines and instantly lift a room.”
Her top tip is mixing tall statement plants with trailing ones and small tabletop pots.
“If you’re not naturally green-fingered, start with something forgiving like a ZZ plant or rubber fig,” she adds.
Rearrange your furniture
Rearranging your furniture is a simple yet powerful design move that can completely change the flow and function of a room.
By rethinking your layout—even just shifting a sofa or repositioning a table—you can open up space, improve light, and create a more inviting and harmonious environment. Apple pay spending not required.
“Sometimes a change is as good as a rest,” explains Kerry Nicholson, interior design stylist at IDSystems.
“Adjust the layout of your existing furniture by considering the routes through the home and removing obstacles to create a more natural flow from room to room.”
Molly says angling a sofa differently, shifting a tv stand or armchair can make a room feel more, open, cosy, or balanced.
“This is a small but significant change and can alter the room’s flow without requiring extra furniture or cost,” she adds.
Inject some surprise colour
Introducing a new colour to a space is one of the simplest ways to completely shift the mood of a room, and it doesn’t require repainting the entire space.
“If you’re wanting a quick refresh, you can start with changes that are easy to update like swapping out cushion covers, throws, or decorations like vases, candles, or trinkets,” suggests Molly.
“These subtle touches are ideal if you’re experimenting with a new palette or want to switch up your interior space based on the season.”
If you’re feeling a little braver, you could also try a small DIY project such as painting a chimney breast, alcove, or the back of a shelving unit.
“These spaces are perfect for a small burst of colour and help to inject personality into a space, all while giving it a renewed sense of style without the commitment of painting all four walls,” Molly adds.
Alternatively, Sam Greig, head of design at Swoon suggests adding a pop of colour via a feature ceiling as a subtle tweak that can make a big impact.
“In recent years the colour green has spiked in popularity, partnering well with other neutral tones, it’s a great choice for a bold ceiling,” he explains.
“Olive green especially is a versatile and muted colour, adding an elegant look to the home while still feeling joyful and fun.”
Do some ‘floorscaping’
When it comes to refreshing a room, Molly says our attention usually goes to what’s at eye-level, such as changing up our walls, shelves, or soft furnishings.
“But your floor holds huge design potential and is often one of the most impactful, yet overlooked, areas when it comes to updating a space,” she explains.
“You don’t have to commit to installing new flooring to make a difference.
“Floorscaping is a great way to elevate a room on a budget, which involves styling your floor with rugs and décor to breathe new life into your interior space.”
Molly says layering rugs is a trend that is really gaining momentum, especially when it comes to defining different zones or adding texture and warmth to a room.
“Try starting with a neutral medium to large sized rug as a base, in a jute or cotton texture, and place a smaller patterned rug on top,” she suggests.
“The contrast in colour and texture will add visual interest to the space and will also create a more lived-in and curated feel.”
Molly says there are some other ways you can play around with floorscaping including leaning a full-length mirror against the wall to add visual interest at floor level and introducing pouffes or floor cushions, alongside placing potted plants on the floor or in low plant holders.
Switch up your soft furnishings
Another quick way to instantly revamp your space is to rearrange your soft furnishings or add new accents into the mix.
“Small décor items like throw pillows, blankets, and accent pieces (e.g., vases, candles, small plants) can bring in fresh colours, textures, and styles,” Molly explains.
“Just a few changes can instantly give a room a new look and atmosphere without any major decorating.”
Additionally, rearranging items you already own, or purchasing a few new additions makes this a budget-friendly option to refreshing a space.
“Since accents and soft furnishings are easy to change, they are perfect for seasonal makeovers,” she adds.
Give window treatments a ‘tweakment’
One of the best, and often overlooked, ways to elevate a space is to focus on your window treatments and Amy Wilson, interior designer at 247 Blinds suggests layering up.
“Pairing a functional blind, such as a Roman or roller blind, with soft, flowing curtains is a game-changer,” she explains.
“The blind provides privacy and light control, while a curtain adds warmth, texture and a ‘finished look’ by framing the window and adding a touch of luxury.
“This technique is particularly effective in both the bedroom and living room.”
For spring and summer months, Amy suggests opting for lightweight curtain fabrics, such as sheer voiles, to soften the space without making it feel heavy.
“These fabrics also allow sunlight to gently filter through to create the sun-drenched glow that we all crave during warmer months,” she adds.
Take your window ‘tweakment’ further by adding some finishing touches.
“Don’t underestimate the power of a carefully selected accessory,” Amy says.
“Adding one or two decorative touches to the windowsill or opting for a curtain rod in warm metallics or natural woods will bring the whole framing together and add luxe to any space.”
She also suggests hanging your curtains high and wide to elongate the room and create the illusion of larger windows, which will make your space feel grander and more polished.
Mix up your wall art
According to Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA the colours and decorations on your walls can have a real impact on the feel of a space.
“It can be as simple as reworking the existing artwork in your home, such as rethinking a gallery wall, or reframing and moving a statement piece of art or a mirror to a new spot,” she explains.
“It’s surprising how something much-loved can feel completely fresh in a different location.”
Introduce some statement hardware
Hardware is a key feature and often sculptural in design, but it is often overlooked.
“Changing up your hardware is an understated way to create a unique home statement,” Sam explains.
He says designs with traditional details are currently proving popular.
“They enjoy delicate touches like fluting, inspired by regency designs of the past,” Sam adds.
Looking for more interiors inspiration? Take a look at 12 ways to create a focal point… that isn’t a fireplace or 9 common decorating dilemmas solved by Interior Design Masters’ Ayisha
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