One Room, Five Ways: How to Totally Transform a Space

By Ester White Gherea | WBN News | June 11, 2025

You don’t need a hammer, a drill, or a contractor to change the way a room feels. Seriously.

As an interior designer, one of my favorite challenges is this:
How can we make one room feel brand new—without tearing anything down or spending a fortune?

You’d be amazed at what you can do with what you already have, plus a few smart changes. So let me show you five fun and easy ways to completely transform one room—no renovations, no stress, just a little design magic.

1. Change the Layout

This is the easiest and most powerful trick. Move your furniture around!
Try flipping the sofa to face the window instead of the wall. Swap the chairs to the other side. Create a reading nook in a corner that’s been empty for months.

You’ll be surprised how different a room feels just by changing how you move through it.

2. Play With Color

No, you don’t have to paint the walls (unless you want to!).
Try adding a colorful throw blanket, new cushion covers, or even a bright rug. You can also gather items in one color family—books, candles, vases—and group them together for a mini color moment.

Color can change the mood of a space. Soft tones bring calm. Bright colors bring energy. What mood do you want?

3. Let the Light In (Or Change It Up)

Lighting is like music—it sets the vibe.

Open your curtains wide and let the sunshine pour in. Or, for cozy evenings, turn off the big overhead light and use smaller lamps or fairy lights.

Even swapping out a lampshade or changing the bulb to a warmer tone can make a room feel totally different.

4. Style Your Surfaces

Take a look at your shelves, side tables, and countertops. Are they cluttered? Empty? A little messy?

Try this: Clear off one area, and style it like a tiny art display. Stack a few books, place a candle on top, add a photo or plant. Boom—it looks intentional and beautiful.

This works everywhere—on coffee tables, nightstands, even in the kitchen!

5. Add (or Subtract) Personality

Sometimes the biggest change comes from editing. Take a few things out of the room and see what happens. You might love the cleaner look.

Or add something that shows who you are: a travel souvenir, your favorite childhood toy, a framed quote you love. When your room feels like you, it instantly becomes more special.

It’s All About Feeling, Not Fancy

You don’t need to spend tons of money or break down walls to love your space. Small, thoughtful changes can make your home feel brand new.

And the best part? You can keep changing it as often as you like. Your room can grow with you, just like your style.

Your Turn!

Look around your favorite room right now.
What’s one small thing you could move, change, or add to give it a fresh new vibe?

Tell me what you try—or send me a photo! I’d love to see your before-and-after, even if it’s just a new pillow or a totally rearranged bookshelf.

Need help seeing new possibilities in your space? Let’s talk. I’d love to help you transform your room—no renovation required.

Ester White Gherea is an Interior Designer and the founder of Gherea Studios.
She can be reached at 236-339-6644 or estergherea@gmail.com. Connect with Ester on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ester-white-gherea-6b339a2b5/. Connect with Ester at https://www.ghereastudio.com/.

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