Renovate to elevate: Three interior design makeovers you can do in small steps

Plan how to renew your space so you can start making renovations to welcome the coming year.

Sometimes, a “new you” can start with bringing a new vibe to your everyday home space. As the “out with the old, in with the new” sentiments come pouring in at this time of the year, it might be a good time to start thinking of elevating your space in simple ways so you can do a full renovation once the new year arrives.

If you want some noticeable changes in your space on a budget—without significant overhauls—here are some ideas that you can start with early.

Color drenching

Minimalists and millennials seemed to have gravitated towards neutrals, particularly grays and beiges, in earlier trends. Between the clean look of the space and the aesthetic it brings, it has become a go-to design idea of a generation.

But 2025 saw a lot of color pops far beyond the (accent) wall. Color drenching—the interior trend of painting key elements and furniture in a space with a specific color or harmonious shades—to create a character color for your living space. The key is building one piece at a time, once you’ve decided on the base hue.

Think yellowed living spaces or pinked-up bedrooms with curated pieces that match their respective paint jobs. This creates a more homogenous and harmonious feel, rather than the jarring jump from neutral to color in one sweep of the eye.

For those who may be hesitant of this bold look, remember that color doesn’t have to be loud. Some colors can have a pastel shade to become base colors, whereas other richer hues can still stand as foundational colors on which to build less striking but still on-hue spaces.

And for the millennials—maybe it’s time to bring back the spark of color that defined your style in the ‘90s, no?

Biophilic designs

From the name alone, it’s easy to think that this means “more plants” in a space. However, biophilic designs in a home space are more than just having more greens.

By definition, biophilic design means the use of natural materials, natural experience, and the natural environment to promote a unified look incorporating people and nature in the space. 

From maximizing natural lighting to putting up live walls to having vented partitions, there’s always a priority for natural movement complemented by natural elements.

It’s also about sustaining the interactions between people and connections that exist in a space. Think about the function of each space in the home. Where do people gather? What do people do in the space you have? Whether it’s a living space or the common room of a small cluster of homes, 

Because at the end of the day, biophilic design is very helpful for one’s mental well-being. It’s feeling alive in a space that allows you to appreciate life in all things.

Personal and livable home spaces

Many people have at least one Pinterest collection for their home space. Pegs exist to show us how our ideal aesthetics would look in real life.

However, real life can play out differently, starting with how you actually live in your space. Creating a livable home means understanding the functions that each area will have in daily life. 

Are you a minimalist by practice or by ideals? If your current habits align with having more items, renovating a space to consider storage space makes it more livable and personal.

Do you tend to have over a lot of people or use your space as a solo pad? If you love to host but need to have makeshift tables and eating quarters, it might be time to think about how your space serves you.

Remember, aesthetics is life, but comfort should be your lifestyle. There are many ways to make comfortable living look inspired by your mood boards—shopping in your favorite furniture store for starters—but it starts with knowing what you need in your space and having your space work towards your dream life.

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