Updating Your Home Using What You’ve Got

Especially at the start of a new year, when one of my goals is to save money, I try to make updates in my home that don’t cost much, if anything.  Are you doing the same thing at your place right now?  One way to change up a space is to “shop your house” and move things around.  Sometimes, once we put furniture, rugs, framed photos, etc. in a certain spot in our home, we think they have to live there forever.  Well, part of the fun is mixing things up and just seeing how they look in different places.  It might not work, but I like to try it just to see.  Also, I need to see things in place to really tell how I feel about it, as opposed to some people who can visualize more in their heads.

The evolution of our sitting room is a prime example of changing things up.  It’s not my dream for the space, but I’m trying to work with what I have.  That big leather chair/ottoman and I go way back to my single days!

A while ago, I moved that chair/ottoman to the living room to provide more seating and to hide one of the toy boxes.  So, the sitting room sat rather empty for some time.

At Christmas, we put our tree in the curve of the staircase, so we had to move the Target settee somewhere, and it temporarily went to the sitting room.

 

The scale is off, but it was only temporary.  After the Christmas tree came down and I wanted to give my son more play room in the living room, the chair went back upstairs.
But this time, I also added our Beni Ourian rug from Pottery Barn that was previously in the entryway.
So now, the sitting room looks like this.  (The side table was moved upstairs from the living room too).

 

A woven basket adds another layer of texture and conveniently holds magazines or an extra blanket or pillow.  I still really like the mini wooden crate (on wheels) that I got at Joss & Main to hold James’ books.
And fresh flowers always help breathe new life into a room.  These are from Whole Foods. 🙂
So, what are you moving around in your house these days?
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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

25 Comments

  1. I've also been in the "moving business" here! My pictures and accesseries mostly…changing them up makes you pay more attention to each room, makes them feel new again. And I'm always moving side tables/crates/baskets….~Kim

  2. I was just looking at my house this morning thinking about what I could move around. We live in a furnished rental so I am still working out the best use of space in our new house. We have been here for 3 months and I am ready to change things up a little and make our space work better for us now that we are settling in.

  3. Hey Megan. I am so on the same page right now. My first instinct is always to imagine what I could do with all new furniture and accessories in a room. It's more challenging, but probably more satisfying, to come up with a solution using what we already have.

  4. Great post! So many of us simply can't afford to purchase new rugs, accessories, or pieces of furniture. I've been repurposing a lot of picture frames lately, and I try to use what I have in a different way when I do seasonal decorating. It's not as much fun as buying all new stuff, but it does make me think creatively.

  5. Everything! I redo all my accessories after taking Christmas decor down. It is an ever- evolving space for sure! Love how bright and crisp your rooms look! Happy New Year!
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

  6. I have an odd sitting room as soon as you walk in my house and I'm always scouring Pinterest & blogs looking for ideas – it's really the most troublesome room in my house! I love what you've done here! I'm going to got move stuff around!

  7. I LOVE shopping my house – I get the itch to change things up often and its much easier on my wallet to shop my house 1st. I had knew some ladies in our neighborhood that did a Home Decor swap party. Everyone bought 4-5 items that they liked but were tired of and swapped them out for something someone else brought. A great way to re-cycle your things, huh?

  8. Megan, what a change. That rug looks so so good with the leather furniture and baskets on top of it. It just all works so well. Always fun to shop and move things. It seems to change the whole feeling of your home.

  9. Looks great. I love the rug in both areas, but it makes your upstairs room look really cozy. Do you mind sharing where you purchased the 'LOVE' print in the upstairs area? I would love one in silver!

  10. I love playing musical furniture — that room looks great, such a cozy spot for cold months! And keep your eye out for a 4-foot-ish money tree. They grow like champs, look great, are cheap, and it would look great (and flourish) in your entrance hall by the front door. Mine is taller than me now…and of course my precious fiddle leaf is pititful!! I'll try to remember to text you a pic of it tomorrow xo

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