In an age of picture-perfect rooms and extreme home makeovers, interior designer and DIY queen Liz Morrow’s unique point of view is a breath of fresh air.
Over the past decade, she’s carved out a space online that’s all about making home reflect your authentic style. Bringing her audience along through the complete renovation of two homes – the first of which she turned into an ultra-cute Tacoma AirBnB and the second she now lives in with her family as she flips it — she knows a thing or two about getting into the weeds to make any space feel like home. And with most of us spending more time than ever in our homes, her design wisdom has never felt more relevant.
With that in mind, we’ve tapped Liz to share her top tips for how to update your home this season. So whether you’re looking to freshen things up for spring or want to create a calm space to hunker down in during quarantine, her ideas are fun and doable. Read on for tips on giving your home an update – that actually works with your budget.
What’s your favorite way to update a space without breaking the bank?
Paint! It’s the most affordable way to create a huge impact. You can paint a bold accent wall, refresh an entire room, paint your cabinets, paint a mural… there are so many ways to take advantage of a gallon of paint!
Painting a door a fresh pretty color is a quick and easy way to add a pop of spring vibes to your home. I love painting doors because you only need a sample size of paint, so it’s an affordable update too.
What is one small decor change that makes a big impact?
Plants! I love the fullness and lush feeling that plants can bring to a space, it really changes the vibe in a room. I like to keep plants that are hard to kill because I have a lot going on in my life and I don’t want to add worrying about killing a plant to the list. Snake Plants, Pothos, Peace Lilies, and Philodendrons are all great and easy to keep plants.
What is your top tip for amping up a home’s cozy vibes?
Candles and warm textiles. Being able to wrap up in a warm blanket while you curl up on the couch with a few candles lit doesn’t get much more cozy than that!
What about for making a space feel calmer?
I really like diffusing essential oils. I can tend to get headaches with some incenses and scented candles, but diffusing essential oils strikes that perfect balance of infusing my space with a calming essence, while not being overwhelming.
How can you use decor to make you feel better if you’re going a bit stir-crazy?
It can be really nice to focus on a project where you’re working with your hands, so if you’re stuck at home, try your hand at doing macramé or weaving, or some kind of hands-on DIY decor project. When you’re done, you’ll have kept the anxiety at bay, and now you have a beautiful creation to add to your home decor.
Do you have any tips for setting up a small workspace for those new to working from home?
I don’t have a dedicated work station or office in my home, but wherever I’m working, whether it’s on the couch, or on a barstool at the island, I like to keep the things I know I’ll need close by. Calendar, notebook, coffee, pens, laptop.
If you aren’t able to keep your workstation set up, grab a cute box or tray to keep your “desk” things in so that you can put them away when you’re done working, and then easily pull them out when you’re working the next day.
Are there any spring decor trends you’re loving right now?
I’m a big fan of rattan pieces and am always on the lookout for them when I’m thrifting or perusing Craigslist. Rattan has that earthy, bohemian look that I love adding to spaces.
How do you approach seasonal interiors?
I don’t do a lot of seasonal specific styling, but I do like to use the change of seasons as a signal to rearrange, refresh, and declutter.
