5 Easy Design Upgrades You Can Finish in Less Than a Day, According to Interior Designers

If you’ve taken a look around your home recently and felt like things could use a refresh, you’re not alone. Our homes are constantly evolving spaces, growing with our families, changes in lifestyle, and in plenty of small ways throughout the year.

Doing a major upgrade can be more than a little daunting, but luckily there are plenty of smaller upgrades you can do, and many of which can happen in a day or less.

We recently checked in with two design pros who shared their top tips for quick and easy home upgrades—and all are quick, easy, and effective.

Add New Layers and Accessories

One of the first things you should do, says pro designer Steven Graffam, is look at your room’s accessories and see what can be upgraded. These upgrades work especially well in softer rooms like the living room, bedrooms, and kids’ play areas.

“New throw blankets or accent pillows make the room feel fresh and luxe,” says Graffam.

This can stretch beyond pillows and move into other areas, such as any decorative items on your bookshelves, coffee tables, and sideboards. In fact, Graffam says he’s even managed a full living room upgrade in one afternoon using this guidance.

“I swapped the throw pillows, added a sculptural lamp, and replaced the coffee table books,” he says. “The space instantly felt modern, cozy, and completely renewed, without touching the walls or furniture.”

Play With Texture and Color

If a room feels flat or uninspired, don’t stress. This often means you just have the perfect blank canvas, but it’s also important to remember that it’s not just about adding new stuff. Consider swaps in terms of specific textures and colors so you can truly make the room feel more elevated.

“Switch out a few key textures or colors—like pillows, rugs, or wall art—to instantly transform the vibe without a full overhaul,” Graffam says. 

To do this, focus on any colors or items that aren’t in line with your vision of the room, and see how they can be elevated, upgraded or changed.

Upgrade Your Fixtures

Kitchens and bathrooms are high-traffic areas, which means they’re often the first to look drab.

But while a full backsplash overhaul or a new countertop are two major changes, you can make quick but impactful upgrades by focusing on your fixtures.

“Swap out hardware, add a statement faucet, or update lighting,” says Graffam. “[These are] small changes that instantly make the space feel modern and elevated.”

Elevate the Walls

Painting your walls is probably not a one-day job, but there are other ways you can impact a room’s wall space without busting out the brushes.

“Swap out art or decorative accents and add a bold lighting fixture to instantly elevate the space,” says fellow designer and futurist John Stivale. 

In the bathroom, this can include an updated wall mirror, or even a new towel set. Focus on anything that has vertical real estate in your home is worth assessing and upgrading as needed.  

“Small swaps make it feel spa-like and modern,” Graffam adds.

Consider Your Needs

In order to figure out what exactly needs to be upgraded, it’s worth taking a moment to consider what about the room isn’t working for you. Then, make changes from there.

It could be as simple as rearranging the furniture to create better flow, or buying a new bed that makes the room feel more luxurious. 

“Whether it’s swapping a few textiles, updating hardware, or adding a statement piece, these small, thoughtful changes prove that you don’t need a full renovation to make your home feel fresh and elevated,” Stivale says.