Key Takeaways
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You don’t need a full makeover to refresh your space—simple decor swaps can transform a room with minimal effort.
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Swapping out pillow covers by season keeps your space current, cozy and visually dynamic.
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A few thoughtful touches—like a new rug, catchall or candle—can completely reset the vibe at your front door.
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Coffee tables, kitchen islands and dining tables are prime spots for curated, personality-packed moments.
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Layering different materials and finishes adds warmth, depth and a designer feel—no color needed.
When it comes to updating your space, it’s easy to assume you need a full makeover—or a full budget—to make it feel fresh and new again. But some of the most satisfying home upgrades don’t require a contractor, a credit card meltdown or even a weekend’s worth of time. In fact, small decor swaps can have an outsized impact on your home’s look and feel. That’s why members love Third & Main—between our home decor boxes and decor shop, keeping your home stylish couldn’t be easier! But if you’ve ever wondered how best to incorporate a seasonal vibe or just change things up, these five simple switches from the decor pros at Third & Main offer a fresh perspective—no heavy lifting required.
Update Your Throw Pillows
It’s the oldest trick in the book for a reason. Swapping out your throw pillows is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to update your space. Pillows are a visual anchor—on your sofa, bed or reading nook—and they instantly communicate mood, season and style. The trick is investing in quality inserts and swapping out the converse. It’s storage friendly and sustainable.
For spring and summer, lean into lighter textures like linen or cotton in breezy neutrals, soft blues or nature-inspired prints. In the fall, transition to velvets, woven patterns and earthy tones like ochre, rust and deep green. Winter is a great time for luxe textures like boucle and faux fur—it’s an easy way to add a cozy touch.
Swap Your Entryway Decor
Your entryway is more than a landing spot—it sets the tone for your entire home. It’s often overlooked, but a few thoughtful swaps here can make a dramatic difference. Try changing out the bowl or tray where you drop keys for something seasonally inspired—a wooden catchall in fall, a ceramic dish in spring. Refresh your entry mirror or wall hooks with updated silhouettes. Even swapping the runner rug for something textured or patterned can give the whole space a lift. And don’t underestimate the power of scent! A well-placed candle or diffuser by the front door is an instant mood-setter.
Switch Up Your Wall Art or Frames
Art doesn’t have to be permanent. Even a small rotation can dramatically change how a room feels. Try pulling pieces from other rooms or seasons—or swap prints within your existing frames to reflect a new vibe? Feeling adventurous? Mix in nontraditional “art” like framed fabric swatches, botanical clippings, or antique sheet music. A vintage mirror or textured wall hanging can add dimension where flat art might fall a little short. If you’re a Third & Main subscriber, odds are good that you have a few fun pieces on hand from past boxes that deserve a fresh spotlight.
Update a Focal Surface
A focal surface—your coffee table, kitchen island or dining table—is prime real estate for style impact. Instead of letting it get cluttered or overlooked, use it as your mini design canvas. Try layering a new tray with seasonal objects: a candle, a bud vase, a cluster of stacked books or coasters. In the kitchen, a wooden board with a jar of wooden utensils and a sprig of herbs can feel both functional and styled. For the dining table, a simple linen runner with a centerpiece that evolves with the seasons (think fresh greens in spring, pinecones in winter) makes a quiet but powerful shift. These little groupings are where you get to express personality without redoing the room.
Play With Texture and Layering
Often, the most luxurious spaces aren’t the most colorful or expensive—they’re the most textured. Layering different finishes and materials brings visual interest and depth without overwhelming the senses. Try adding a woven basket in place of a plastic bin, or layering a sheepskin or cotton throw over your armchair. Replace shiny or mass-produced accents with pieces that show hand-touched detail—like ceramic, stoneware, wood or hammered metal. And yes, even your lighting counts. A lamp with a textured shade, or even a new bulb with warmer lighting, can change the tone of a room more than you’d expect.
The Bottom Line: Small Swaps, Big Joy
The best part about small decor updates? They’re easy to undo—or redo. They let you experiment, personalize and evolve your space without committing to big changes. And when you curate a collection of timeless, mixable pieces (hint: like the kind found in Third & Main boxes!), refreshing your home becomes second nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 3-5-7 rule in decorating?
The 3-5-7 decorating rule is a guideline for arranging decor items in odd numbers. The finished look tends to be more engaging and balanced than it is when you group pieces in even numbers. It’s just more balanced and natural.
What to avoid when decorating?
There are a lot of decor mistakes, but the biggest tend to be overlooking scale and proportion, matching everything too perfectly (like matching furniture sets or using a single color or material in a space), poor lighting, forgetting to incorporate texture and shoving all your furniture up against the wall.