A Resourceful Decorating Trick

If you are in the mood to freshen up your space but don't want to invest in new decor night now, consider trying this simple trick to add new flavor in your home.

Swap your art. Look around your space and at your color palette. If you want to add new dimension and color to an area, switch your art around. You'll be surprised at the difference this simple trick can make and you'll enjoy the cost as well - zero. Morgan of The Brick House recently did the "old switch-a-roo" when she re-painted an area and felt that space was now too bare. By swapping some art she already had, she changed the look of the space.

Click here to read more art ideas from Apartment Therapy:

(Image: The Brick House)

Comments (10)

I'd love to see some before-and-after examples of the impact this can have.

posted by fabframes on September 4th 2009 at 4:32pm
view fabframes's profile

That's too funny!!! I just did this at my house yesterday! Cool! : )

posted by Bohemian Vintage on September 4th 2009 at 4:49pm
view Bohemian Vintage's profile

Oops that link doesn't work.

Thanks for the shout out. I switch art around a lot. Really freshens things up.

posted by moepong on September 4th 2009 at 5:24pm
view moepong's profile

sorry about that! the link has been fixed and is working now. go visit morgan's blog.

posted by RebeccaATLA on September 4th 2009 at 6:59pm
view RebeccaATLA's profile

This is great for various reasons...

You stop "seeing" your art when it never moves. It becomes so familiar that you just stop noticing it. But when you move it, suddenly it is brand new! You see it in a whole new light.

Also, if you have "real" art, it is good to rotate your collection periodically to limit sun and light exposure. Store some pieces awhile, and hang other things.

Another good reason to use those wall ledges, instead of pounding holes in the walls. Flexibility.

posted by arroyo on September 4th 2009 at 7:21pm
view arroyo's profile

I used to do this with the change of the seasons when living in an apartment, and it was just what I needed. It was nice to notice and appreciate our art collection in each new space.

posted by Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe on September 4th 2009 at 10:48pm
view Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe's profile

Spam Alert again!

http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/com/User/ws

posted by Daniel Poitiers on September 5th 2009 at 1:34am
view Daniel Poitiers's profile

I live in a military dorm so I have set my furniture to maximize open space.

As a big movie person, I've been using posters to change my room's "look" every couple of months. I have 5 pieces (both actual art and posters) that I keep up permanently but I've been using poster hangers - one designed by Jorgen Moller as well as two smaller "insert" sized ones, that I keep above my futon, to change out my film posters. With a small poster tube to keep the unused ones organized, it makes for an effective and quick dorm refresh.

Nouniard

posted by Nouniard on September 5th 2009 at 5:06am
view Nouniard's profile

I do this ever so often and every single time I do someone that visits will ask me ....Is that new?

posted by LoriSF on September 5th 2009 at 12:16pm
view LoriSF's profile

Great idea! Museums rotate their collections, so why shouldn't we?

posted by mirandabee on September 5th 2009 at 3:01pm
view mirandabee's profile