These 6 Small Fixes Will Transform Your Entire Home

I've designed hundreds of homes over the past few years.

And here's what kills me:

Most people think they need to gut their kitchen or drop five grand on a new sofa to love their home.

But that’s just an excuse that keeps them stuck.

The biggest transformations?

They're small, strategic changes that cost less than a decent dinner out for two.

Here are the six that work every single time...

1. Fix Your Lighting (Please!)

If you do nothing else, do this.

Most homes don’t look bad. They’re just badly lit.

Here's what actually works:

Table lamp on your sideboard
Floor lamp by the sofa
Beautiful pendants from the ceiling
LED strips under shelves
Wall sconces if you're feeling fancy

The magic number is 3-5 light sources at different heights.

Lizzie Green

👉 Notice how this living room has a table lamp on the sideboard and wall sconces between the artworks.

If you think budget is a problem, look to IKEA, Kmart, Target, and Facebook Marketplace. There are gems everywhere.

Pro tip: Put a mirror opposite a window or lamp. It helps bounce light around.

2. Paint

Want to give your home a facelift? A new paint job is all you need.

You don’t need to repaint the whole house.

Here are some small jobs you could do this weekend:

Fresh trims and baseboards
Interior of built-in shelves
Repaint doors for a bolder look

Two coats of paint: $50.

New sofa because you hate your room: $1,500.

The maths isn't hard here.

3. Get Your Proportions Right

This is where most people go wrong, and unfortunately, it’s expensive to fix!

You buy a massive sofa online because it looked great in the photo. Now it’s eating up your entire living room.

You pick a cute coffee table that’s accidentally dollhouse-sized.

Here’s my cheatsheet:

Rug = at least 15cm wider than your sofa on both sides
Coffee tables = ~2/3 the width of your sofa
Side tables + armchairs = in proportion to your main furniture, not bulky or tiny in comparison

If your proportions are wrong, it’ll ruin your whole home, no matter how much you spent.

4. Upgrade Your Curtains (Goodbye Vertical Blinds)

If you still have vertical blinds… I’m begging you. Please let them go.

Window treatments take up a ton of visual real estate.

Updating them, even to something simple like linen sheers or roman blinds, can instantly modernise a room.

If you’re unsure where to start, I’ve got a full beginner’s guide video:

5. Hide The Uglies

You know what's exhausting?

Visual noise.

All those cables. Random papers. Keys scattered everywhere. Phone chargers are breeding in corners.

You don't need new furniture.

You need strategic hiding spots:

Cable management box
Entryway tray or bowls
Storage baskets

6. Add Layers

Rooms need contrast like lungs need air.

Here's how to fix it:

Texture mixing:

Linen cushions on a leather sofa
Wool throw on a cotton chair
Ceramic vases on wood shelves

Photo by Dylan James

Start small. Add one contrasting element this week.

Cheers,
Reynard