Connie Nikiforoff Designs

When your budget is small but you still want to change things up a bit, you can redesign your own room with just accessories and fabrics!

These are photos of my own living room and kitchen done in three color schemes. As you can see, the only things that changed are the fabrics and accessories. All the furniture stayed the same. This is a fun DIY project especially if you can sew! Plus, if you have thrift stores (we're lucky to have 9 in our town!) you can really stretch your dollar by shopping there as I've done.

Even with small rooms like we have in our cottage (and keeping the kitchen sheers short . . . not the best look but we have to accommodate our dogs so . . .) small changes from season to season equal big returns! And you won't tire of your "same old, same old" so easily.

This DIY project works best if your big items such as furniture, flooring and window coverings are rather plain and neutral. But with some imagination, you can accomplish this even if you have patterned furniture and drapes .

Please enjoy the gallery slideshows and feel free to contact me with any questions.

DIY Living Room
Scroll down to see three different looks for the same room.

Updated French Cottage

The entire room is done in neutrals. The scroll-patterned fabric is a modern twist on a traditional French pattern. The use of many textures helps keep this room from getting too bland. The dark pillows are silky. The other pillows are a neutral nubby-textured fabric. The soft, cushy animal print pillows are there for fun!

One of my favorite things is the use of a bi-fold closet door in the corner. It lends a sort of "where does that go to?" surprise to that corner of the room. I have an uplight behind it that casts beautiful light and shadows in the room at night time.

Beach Cottage

The room got a quick-fix, spring/summer season makeover with varying shades of blue. This was a perfect opportunity to utilize collected seashells given to us by my mother-in-law. The large art print was actually "on loan" from our neighbor. Since I kept some of the scrolled patterned items, there is still a bit of French influence.

The pretty blue vases on the coffee table catch the western light and bounce it all around the room. It is quite breath-taking!

"Essentially" French Cottage

This version of the room has a more traditional French influence because of the combination of paisley, stripes, and scrolling patterns in fabrics and on furniture. The sort of rusty-red colors work wonderfully with the soft yellow walls and warm oak hardwood floors. It's "essentially" French but still with an updated look. The room is small so using a heavy-handed approach to this style might get a bit overwhelming.

One of the fun pieces is the little coffee table. It was a thrift store find that we painted. It has a pretty scrolled design under glass. The glass chess set enhanced the table top.

DIY Kitchen
Scroll down to see three different looks for the same room.

A Couple of Thoughts About Accessories . . .

I don't use an area rug because it is easier to keep the floors clean with our dogs coming in and out. But using an area rug is an excellent way to coordinate your room's colors and give you another item to switch out.

Accessories such as vases, candle holders, decorative plates, even old doors and wall art, etc. are easy finds at flea markets and thrift stores. Just keep in mind your color scheme and usually something will turn up for a steal! But don't forget to "shop in your own home" first! Treasures are hiding everywhere. Think "repurpose" and suddenly you'll have a host of goodies!

If you like using candles, keep in mind not only the colors but the fragrance as well. For example, the blue candles have a wonderful ocean/seashore scent . . . perfect for summertime. The red candles are apple/cinnamon which lends olfactory warmth to the fall/winter color scheme.

Once you amass some accessories, you will discover new ways to place things in the room each time you do your own switch-over. And sometimes, that perfect thing comes along allowing you to sell or donate one of your current items, to make place for the new find.

"Essentially" French Cottage

This look coordinates with the "Essentially" French Cottage living room. I utilized some very typical French fabrics such as red toile and small red checked patterned window panels.

Beach Cottage

The yellow and blue striped fabric and other blue accessories are part of the Beach Cottage look. Fewer accessories are used for a bit cleaner summer feel.

Updated French Country

This table cloth has a pretty woven acanthus leaf pattern that coordinates nicely with the adjoining neutral living room's scroll-patterned pillow fabrics. The white pillar soy candles are one of the nicest things in this room.

Using Kitchen Accessories

No matter how small your kitchen is, accessories help carry the colors and designs of your theme around the room. Using the same design ideas as a neighboring room (in my case, the living room) helps tie the rooms together.

Favorite accessories will often work for several of your looks. Two examples here are the use of the wicker basket in the corner on the counter and the framed botanical prints. No matter what look I have used, the marble candle holders from Crete, are a constant. They just get different colored candles and always look terrific!