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Rooms are like relationships: It’s a good idea to spice things up every once in a while. The family heirloom that’s been sitting in your entryway for ages, the bedspread you bought six months ago—old or new-ish, it’s easy to grow bored of our decor when we see it day in and day out. Hitting the reset button with a slew of fresh purchases is certainly an option, but it definitely isn’t the most economical. So what do you do when the spark begins to fade? According to designer (and new Delta Design Trust member) Jeremiah Brent, it’s a matter of shifting your perspective.
“This isn’t a popular thing to say because it stresses people out, but we move things around in our house three times a year,” Brent shared with us when he stopped by the Domino office to chat about Delta’s new voice-enabled faucet. That’s right, every few months, Brent and his husband, fellow designer Nate Berkus, rotate console tables, paintings, living room rugs—basically anything that isn’t permanently affixed to the walls or floors. “The biggest change you can make to your space is moving it,” he adds. “You don’t have to get rid of anything.”
What does a seasonal refresh look like in the Brent-Berkus household? These are three of the (free!) changes they make:
Move the Big Things First
Switching up your largest pieces of furniture (nightstands, sofas, armoires) will have the biggest impact. “Everyone is always like, ‘Change the throw pillows.’ That’s great, but change the entryway table also,” says Brent. “Take the dresser that’s in your bedroom—shift it around.” Nothing, including bedroom storage, has to follow the rules of convention. Who’s to say that dining chair wouldn’t look great as a bookstand?
Work From the Ground Up
If you’re up for the heavy lifting, tweaking a floor covering can make a room feel brand-new. “I was texting Nate today, like, ‘The rug needs to be flipped. It’s the wrong way!’” Brent says, laughing. Turning it is only the tip of the redecorating iceberg. Cut it for a new space, set it on a diagonal, or even layer another rug on top.
Rearrange the Art
If you’ve hit the point where you barely notice what’s hanging on your walls, give your art a new home down the hall. “We’re constantly curating our artwork,” says Brent. “You see things in a completely different light.” This can be as simple as taking a painting that’s been in the dining room forever and mounting it above the bed. Another quick trick: Lean a few pieces against a wall (they’ll feel like new furniture!).
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