5 Ways to Make Your Home More Artistic

Nowadays, it seems like we're spending more time at home than ever. With all that additional time spent indoors, the desire to bring some new artistic touches to the home has gotten stronger than ever for many people. If you've been putting off some remodeling, this could be the perfect time to consider upgrading your home. Whether that entails a simple scheme like buying new furniture to get your apartment looking chic, or a massive upgrade to a suburban house, here are a few timely ideas for feathering that nest.

1. Put in a Swimming Pool

This is obviously one of the more time and cash intensive options. Even so, with most people already planning for next summer, the addition of a swimming pool could be just what your backyard needs. Specifically, in-ground pools tend to increase property value, especially if you're in a neighborhood where not many people have them already. The caveat is of course the cost, not only of installation but of upkeep as well. Thankfully, there are multiple options for financing pools. In fact, getting a pool loan is becoming quite common across the country.

2. Create Artificial Space With Mirrors

For those who don't have a large home, a sly trick to making it seem like you have more space is to put up mirrors. It's all a function of human perception; mirrors give the illusion that the room is actually larger by making the brain think that reflected space is additional space. Bathrooms in particular are one area of a home that can feel cramped. A few well placed mirrors can make the room look up to twice as large, as well as adding a touch of elegance. This works best when using larger mirrors, so consider a stylish floor-length mirror attached to an open wall.

3. Include Art

Simply hanging art on the walls can turn a seemingly lifeless room into a creative zone. Oftentimes, a room feels incomplete if it's allowed to be entirely utilitarian. Placing art in a home is about more than imaginative whimsy though. A piece of art acts as a focal point for the entire room. It gives the space its unique and memorable character in the minds of not only the owners but visitors as well. Wall art can also serve to give a room a sense of texture. Smooth textures can give a streamlined, modern feel to the room, while rougher textures tend to make things seem more organic and intimate. Remember that art isn't limited to flat paintings. Sculptures can add depth and character to a room just as well.

4. Shop at Thrift Stores

Whatever items you decide to put in your home, consider acquiring them at a thrift store. Over the past few years, thrift stores have experienced an upswing in popularity. Thrift stores offer shoppers a way to get classy and high quality items at a low cost, but there's more to it than that. Everywhere you look, vintage is trending as people fill their closets with old-fashioned clothes and their homes with authentic furniture from bygone years. Shopping at a thrift store is an empathetic choice in times of economic hardship too, since the money you spend there goes right back into the local community.

5. Add Some Bookshelves

Bookshelves placed artfully against the walls can add a refined ambiance to any home. People naturally associate the presence of books with sophistication and intelligence. You don't have to make the whole room look like a library to achieve the effect; it's enough to place a few smaller, unobtrusive shelves against bare walls or affixed to other items in the home such as television sets or work desks.

Whatever the path you choose to take in upgrading your abode, remember that every home is as unique as the person living in it. Whether you're dressing up the interior or exterior, your space should be a reflection of your personality, as well as being a refuge from the world that brings out the best in you.