15 Terrific Ways to Revive a Boxy Room... |
Do you have a plain, boxy room? An unimaginative tract house? A little square apartment? It's an unfortunate fact that some of the houses built in the last 50 years have a reputation for being somewhat lacking in architectural features. Economies of scale encouraged building entire neighborhoods of "cookie-cutter" homes with identical or similar floorplans, exteriors, and finishing treatments. There are, however, lots of ways to add sparkle to one of these mid-century treasures. Here are some of our favorites... 1. Scrape the ceilings - Rooms with popcorn acoustic ceilings can be updated by removing the old flaking textured ceiling coating. Patch, repair or skim coat the smooth surface if needed, then prime and paint. 2. Replace baseboards - Tract homes are notorious for having little or no molding. Replace tiny baseboards with wider molding in a shape that compliments your style. Paint or stain them before installation and you'll just need to do touch ups once it's down. 3. Add window and door molding - Many tract homes have no window moldings at all. Install a sill and apron, and surround the window opening with mitered molding. Update doorways as well with molding on top and sides, and add raised strip molding detail to the doors. 4. Crown molding - This is the finishing touch in a room. Use narrower crown molding styles for rooms that have low ceilings. Deeper moldings can be used in homes with higher ceilings. 5. Update closet doors - Consider replacing old, troublesome bi-folds or cheap fiberboard sliding doors. This is a fairly inexpensive project using materials readily available in home centers, or order mirrored doors that can expand the feel of tiny rooms. 6. Update flooring - Hardwood flooring will warm up a room and add character as well. Good wood floors will also far outlast most carpeting and the look can be updated easily by changing area rugs. Or, look at tumbled marble, stone, tile, laminates, or other interesting floorings. 7. Paint and Color - Nothing freshens up the look of a room like a coat of fresh paint. If you long for more color, then pick a color scheme -- based on fabric, an area rug, or your inspiration piece -- and get out the paint brushes. 8. Replace light fixtures - Unimaginative builder lights can be easily upgraded. Replace sconces with snazzy new fixtures and update a tired ceiling light with a ceiling fan or new light fixture. While you're at it, replace old ivory switchplates and outlets with new white ones. 9. Add recessed lighting - Downlights, track lights, wall washers, spotlights, floods, cans, and more can be installed in many ceilings to update the look of a room. 10. Add built-ins - Some ideas: Flank a window with built-in bookcases then add a window seat under the window, build an L-shaped desk unit into a small room for a home office, add bench seating and storage under the windows in a family room, or add corner china cabinets to a boxy dining room. 11. Contrasting trim - Picture rich camel walls and bright white baseboards and trim, or soft butter yellow walls with dark wood stained trim. The drama and interest is in the contrast of light and dark, flat and glossy. 12. Add architecture - Fit in some pieces of architectural salvage such as old windows, doors, columns, and more here and there. They'll add instant interest to a room. Try hanging a stained glass panel inside an entry window, hang an old door sideways for a headboard, or use a column as a plant stand or sculpture pedestal. 13. Add fabric - Soft draperies, comfortable seating, pillows, tableskirts, and slipcovers are just a few places to use fabric to soften a boxy room. Choose one great print, a pretty plain, or a collection of coordinating patterns. 14. Place furniture on a diagonal - Rooms can look larger when furniture is placed diagonally in the room. While it may not work in every space, consider where you can use this decorating trick to perk up staid arrangements.
15. Soften corners - Add interest and softness to corners with large plants (real or artificial), folding screens, or diagonal furniture placement.
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| ~ Glenna J. Morton |