In Spanish | There is no better time to refresh your home than spring, a time of renewal.

Goodbye burgundy velvet curtains; hello taupe linen panels. Maybe your all-gray palette, so popular last year, could do with a teal or yellow boost.

In addition to simply wanting a change, a year of pandemic-related restrictions has transformed the way people see and use their homes.

“After this last year – there was so much pain and sadness and we just had the [winter] hell storm – I’m ready for spring, ”says Carolyn Tillery of Dallas, 59, who works from home as a book reviewer and writer of budding detective novels. “I redecorated about eight years ago. Now I’m ready for something a little cooler and lighter. “

With people spending so much time at home during the pandemic, they figured out what they needed, and what they liked and didn’t like, says Michelle Harrison-McAllister of Michelle Harrison Design in San Diego. “If you hate it, you can change it,” she said.

There are many ways to change your home are easy and affordable DIY projects, including:

1. Try to rearrange

From furniture to photographs, rearranging the contents of your home can freshen up a space, says interior designer Beth Brown of Beth Brown Interiors in Atlanta. “Maybe the dining room credenza could work in the bedroom under the television and provide storage,” she suggests. It’s also free.

2. Invest in bold colors and patterns

Adding accents of color to a room can make a big difference. “Color can change your mood,” says author and lifestyle expert Robin Wilson of Robin Wilson Home in New York City. “Find your own style; if you like purple, find a way to introduce it into your home. Warm colors this year include blues and earthy tones like dark brown and mustard. Bold geometric patterns, like with floor tiles, are popular.

3. Take pillows

Pillows are an easy way to add a splash of color to a room. “You don’t have to be quite a matchy-match; mix a plaid pillow with a floral pillow, ”says Harrison-McAllister. “And sometimes you don’t need to add color, but texture.” If you have a solid black pillow, for example, add a faux sheepskin or black linen pillow.

4. Consider new wallpaper options

You can easily and quickly update an accent wall or small room with mess-free, removable wallpaper. Choose from thousands of options. You can buy children’s wallpaper for under $ 15 a roll at Target or spend over $ 100 a roll for designer designs. “It’s a very inexpensive way to modify a space,” says Wilson, who has written two books on home design.

5. Brighten up with lighting

Lighting can help set the mood for a room. “Your whole place should be lit,” Wilson says. “It’s not about intensity (or lumens) but about lighting up dark corners.” She recommends using layered lighting, such as table and floor lamps to complement the ceiling lights, or opting for a trendy chandelier with a sculpted or industrial look.