Own Your Space: 15 Cheap and Easy Ways to Spice Up Your Room!

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Ever since I was a kid I was constantly redecorating my room. People are constantly changing and going through phases, so why shouldn’t our room change with us? A person’s bedroom is a huge part of their daily life and mood. We sleep here, watch television, listen to music, hang with friends, relax, and much more; so it should be a place where we feel calm and happy! You want to create an environment that you look forward to spending time in after a long day.

If you are anything like me, you are changing up your room at LEAST once a year (usually more if I’m honest). This can get pretty expensive and let’s face it, most of us don’t have $500 to $1,000 to renovate a room every year. That is why I am going to share with you 15 tips that I have used in the past to help achieve a fresh new look in my room. Of course, you don’t have to do all of these things because that could get expensive, but doing a few will help you get the change you desire. Some of these might seem obvious but you would be surprised how many people haven’t painted their walls or bought a new bedspread in years! 

1. Fresh coat of paint: I usually paint my room once a year and it is honestly not as hard as it looks. Paint costs around $60 a can and that is usually all you need for a small to medium sized room. This changes the entire aura of the room! There are soft colors like pale green, lavender, and powder blue that are said to be calming and soothing, but I don’t follow these rules. I paint the walls whatever I feel like and my color scheme is always changing! I am a huge fan of accent walls, which is when one wall is either a different color from the rest or has a design on it. If you want to splurge, places like Urban Outfitters sell stick on wallpaper which can be perfect for an accent wall. Make sure you use blue tape to avoid getting paint on the ceiling (I learned this the hard way), use garbage bags as tarps and you are good to go! It seems scary but trust me, if I can do it you can do it.
2. Buy a new bedspread: Whether it is a duvet cover, a new blanket, or an entire comforter/sheet set, change it up! This can add some life and style to your room! Try a fun pattern or bright colors! Urban Outfitters and American Eagle are my favorite places to get bedspreads from.
3. Fun trinket dishes: This might seem small and insignificant but it is a really fun and useful way to add some personality to your room without breaking the bank! You would be surprised at how useful these fun little dishes are. They’re perfect for rings, scrunches, bobby pins, change, earrings or whatever small items you don’t want to lose. They come in so many different shapes, sizes, designs, and styles and are sold everywhere. 
4. New posters: Posters are a great way to add some personality to your room. You can opt for printable posters online or buy some prints (my favorite place for prints is Desenio and Urban Outfitters). You can frame them or just hang them as is.
5. Change framed pictures: If you have pictures framed from your fifth birthday party in your room, maybe it’s time to switch. Of course, if these pictures still make you happy to look at then by all means keep them! I know there can be a lot of guilt about replacing relatives’ or friends’ pictures with new ones, but the pictures in your room should make you happy, so no need for guilt. An easy DIY picture collage is a great option. Paste some printed pictures or polaroids onto a piece of cardboard and hang it up! Simple as that.
6. Declutter and reevaluate storage: If you can’t see the top of your dresser or that chair you have sitting in your room that is covered in clothes, it might be time to declutter. Party giveaways, trinkets, and souvenirs can take up a lot of space in your room, but it is hard to get rid of memories. Get a bin or a box and start a memory box! Put anything with meaning to you that you can’t part with into the box to free up some space on your counters. To optimize storage, try using vacuum-seal bags to store your off season clothes and take advantage of the space under your bed! Get creative. I always feel better with an organized room.
7. Get a new lamp: This might seem silly, but there are some really cute and affordable lighting options out there! I got my lamps at WALMART! Yes, Walmart!! It could change the whole vibe of the room.
8. Change the curtains: Most of us don’t pay attention to the curtains in our room but this plays a big role in the lighting and aura of the space. There are so many fun patterns, designs, and textures! Who says curtains have to be boring?
9. Hang some fairy lights: Fairy lights are one of the easiest way to brighten up your room, plus they are super cheap. I get most of mine on Amazon. They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. String them around your room, window, or even headboard.
10. Refurbish old furniture: If your furniture is looking a bit crusty, a fresh coat of paint, polish, or wax can make a big difference. There’s tons of DIY videos on YouTube!
11. New throw rug: A throw rug is a great way to add some warmth to your room. There’s plenty of colors, designs, and sizes to fit what is right for you.
12. Add plants, candles, and air fresheners: Adding small decorations such as plants and candles is perfect, as long as you don’t leave the candles unattended or near curtains/paper! Plants add oxygen into the room, letting you breathe in clean air and increasing your mood. They’re also super cute! Succulents/cactuses are super easy to take care of and so adorable. Fun planters/pots are also a cute way to add life to your room. Candles and air fresheners are the perfect way to keep your room smelling fresh, just be careful what you leave around if you have pets, because a lot of plants and essential oils found in fresheners and diffusers are poisonous to animals.
13. Move your furniture around: Sometimes the setup of our room becomes stale. Try arranging the furniture in a different way to create a different vibe. Look into hygge (check out the Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking) to see what should go where to optimize your comfortability and coziness. 
14. Get a fish: This is an obvious one; any living thing in your room will obviously bring life to it! A fish is a pretty easy pet to care for, just make sure it is done right! I have 2 female Beta fish in my room and I love watching them swim around and decorating their tank! However, it is important to remember fish still require maintenance, like water changes (Beta fish have special requirements when it comes to changing the water and it is never a good idea to do a full change, usually a quarter of the water gets changed once a week) and feeding (Beta fish get fed small amounts every other day because they are prone to bloating). 
15. Let in natural light and fresh air: During the day, it is important to allow for fresh air and natural light. Crack a window and open the curtains! It will leave you feeling refreshed. 

Try reading The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living for inspiration!

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Hopefully these tips and tricks inspired you to change up your room a bit! Be sure to comment any tips or tricks you may have! Xoxo