5 Creative Ways to Improve Your Home’s Ambiance

By Mikkie Mills
When you first moved into your home, the walls may have been white with beige carpeting. Although this decor choice is classic for nearly every rental and brand-new home, you don't have to live with the neutral colors. In fact, there are simple ways to improve your home's ambiance with just a few creative changes. Take a look at these exciting ways to transform your home and customize your space with flair.
Try Vintage Furniture
Your home's ambiance isn't just dependent on paint color and flooring choices. In fact, it also depends on your decor selections. The furniture is a focal point of any living room. Purchasing brand new furniture limits your budget because of high costs, so you might be inclined to buy a basic beige couch. Think outside of the box, and shop around some vintage stores in your area. You can find upholstered chairs, love seats and other items for incredibly low prices. The fabrics that you'll encounter will be distinct too. Older items tend to have decades-old patterns that can improve a home's ambiance with one quick glance. As you narrow down your furniture selections, however, be sure to have the item cleaned before you take it home. Vintage furniture can have a lot of dust because of its age.
Decorate Your Glass
Your glass can also take on a decorative look when you try stained glass film. This cover for your windows should be used in strategic ways. Ideally, it should be used as an accent instead of a full-coverage decor option on every window. Select a window that has a high-traffic volume around it. Choose a stained glass film that has complementary colors to your interior. Clean the window and apply the film with strict attention to bubbles forming along the way. In many cases, the stained glass film comes with a tool that helps you smooth out these bubbles. When you carefully apply it, the film should last for many years. The sun shines through the colors and creates a dramatic effect across any room in the home.
Go Green with Indoor Plants
Although you could try artificial plants indoors, they still won't have the same effect as real plants. Add real plants to your home in nearly every room. There are so many varieties that work well in any shaded area that the choices are endless. Along with adding a distinct look, you also benefit from better air quality. Your home has certain pollutants that leech off of paints, woods and other materials. Plants are constantly absorbing carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. During this process, the plants also absorb toxins that you're otherwise breathing in. Choose plants designed as shade-loving or indoor species, and give them a home that they'll love. Water them regularly and they should flourish.
Lighting Your Rooms with Flair
It's possible to make any room look fresh and inviting with the right lighting concept. Improve your home's ambiance with wall sconces along a hallway. You'll free up valuable floor space with lights hanging off of the walls. You may even use sconces along a living room wall as accent points. Many families are also starting to use glass doors inside their home because of the wonders they do for in-house lightning.
When you want to add a distinct decor point to your kitchen, look for drop-down lamps. These lamps hang from your ceiling and culminate with a subtle lampshade and bulb a few feet above your working surface. Add two or three of these lamps just above your kitchen island, for example. You'll always have enough light to cook by while adding a creative look to your home. In fact, you might want to connect the kitchen and dining room on a decorative scale with matching hanging lamps. All of these fixtures will draw attention and spark conversations among friends.
Shelve It
Improve your home's ambiance by increasing your storage space and making a decorative statement too. Add floating shelves under staircases or along living room walls. Use them to store books, but also add in quirky collectibles too. The shelves should appear functional and interesting simultaneously. If you keep a lot of collectibles in boxes within the garage, free up that space by placing them on display. You may have forgotten what's hidden out there.
When you add shelves to any wall, be careful about the chosen location. Each shelf should be carefully attached to the wood studs or beams inside the walls. Use a stud finder or hire a handyperson to install the shelves. You want them to be as sturdy as possible for all of the weight that they'll carry.
To realize your dream home, create a budget first. Look at the maximum cost that you can afford for your purchases, and try to stick with that amount. When you go shopping for materials, you can be more selective about your choices. With smart material purchases, you can buy more for your home's enhanced ambiance.
For more information, please contact me at Announcements@mycbpp.com or toll free at 800.505.8111. Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Real Estate Service in Georgia and South Carolina.