Rekindle the flame: 30 ways to fall in love with your home all over again.

1. Everything old is new again.

Sometimes, the key to refreshing your home is as simple as getting rid of old furniture — or upgrading a piece so it better reflects current home trends or your personality. 

Do a walk-through of your home, and identify which pieces don’t spark joy anymore. Assess each piece and determine if it can be:

• Covered
• Reupholstered 
• Painted or re-painted
• Accessorized with new hardware (pulls, handles, knobs, embellishments)

You can alway save a little money by repainting the wood on an old chair before having a pro redo the upholstery. There are endless online resources for inspiration and instruction, so don't give up on your outdated furniture.

2. Let your inner art dealer out.

Well-curated, vibrant works of wall art can instantly make a room more lively, brightening up a space that otherwise seems dull. If your walls feel a bit blah, consider changing your pieces’ frames and matboards, rearranging where they sit on the wall or even picking up a few new works of art from your favorite shops or artists.

The colors and styles of mattes and frames can have a dramatic effect on the look and feel of your wall art, so take a minute to re-imagine what you’ve got before you give any individual piece the boot.

Related: 20 brilliant ways to brighten up your home.

3. Show your loved ones some love.

Any chance you have a bunch of photos of loved ones on your camera, phone or social media? Print them out, buy a couple of frames and display them in your home office, hallways, entryway — or on desks and end tables. Whenever you’re feeling down, seeing pictures of your child’s first birthday or your wedding day will surely put a smile on your face. 

4. Do a deep, top-to-bottom clean.

Take a look around your home, and answer these three questions…and you have to be honest.

1. Do you notice years’ worth of grime, grease and residue build-up in your kitchen or bathroom?
2. Do you have dirty baseboards or stained floors? 
3. Wanna bet a million bucks there’s a layer of dust on top of your ceiling fan?

If you answered yes to any or all of the above, it’s time to hire a house cleaner to deep clean your home. And while you're working on hiring a pro for the more difficult cleaning tasks, focus on a few smaller projects that you can tackle. Something as simple as washing the curtains and vacuuming each room in your home can go a long way in sprucing up the place. 

Related: How much does it cost to hire a house cleaner?

5. Give your windows a new wardrobe.

Those old curtains covering your windows may be cramping your home’s style. Upgrading your window treatments with a fresh new color or a bold pattern can breathe life into a tired room. Replace drapes with Roman blinds, install new curtain rods or brighten up gloomy rooms with sheer window coverings.

While it’s easy to redo window treatments on a budget, you can also have them custom-made if you’re feeling like a treat. Either way, our professionals can help you design, plan or install your new window dressings. 

6. Put the ‘fab’ in your fabrics.

Experimenting with new textiles is one of the fastest, easiest and least expensive ways to transform any room.Throw pillows, blankets and rugs in the right combination of colors and textures can elevate your couch from drab to dashing overnight.

In the dining room, something as simple as colorful table settings and tablecloths can make a yawn-worthy space memorably chic. Same goes for bedrooms — a new bedspread and accent pillows can dramatically rejuvenate your boudoir. Tapestries make excellent wall art and provide a simple alternative to an accent wall if you want to test out a particular color scheme. 

7. Up your floor game.

Floor coverings are practical, but also punch way above their weight in the interior design game. If you're still using the same hand-me-down rug your parents gave you a decade ago, it might be time for a change — or at least a cleaning from a professional rug cleaner. 

Rugs and floor coverings come in endless shapes and sizes — at all different price points. When exploring new options, consider the amount of traffic and type of use each space gets before you decide. For example, interlocking foam mats are great for home gyms and children's play areas. Some other types of floor covering materials include:

• Wool rugs
• Cotton woven rugs
• Woven sisal rugs
• Seagrass mats
• Cork mats

In addition to adding color and texture to a room, floor coverings absorb sound, making the house feel calmer and cozier overall. 

Related: Best flooring ideas for kitchens, basements, bathrooms & more.

8. Rekindle the flame with new light fixtures.

More often than not, the light fixtures that come with a home end up being its permanent solution, even as other features get much-needed love and attention. And just as often, those light figures are outdated, boring or just plain unattractive. It doesn't have to be this way. Switching out lighting fixtures is an easy way to radically alter the look of any room.

You can find light fixtures in every style and material imaginable, so you’re only limited by budget and imagination. If your overhead lighting is harsh, look into a fixture that diffuses light. Dark, narrow hallways can benefit from wall sconces. Recessed lighting gives kitchens and bathrooms a clean, modern feel. 

Keep in mind some installations are as simple as replacing a lampshade, while others may require some electrical work. So you may be able to do it yourself, but if not, hire a pro for help. 

Related: How much do new light fixtures cost?

9. See your windows sparkle.

Windows can get pretty grimy over time. It happens so gradually that you might not even notice. Removing and cleaning screens and doing a comprehensive window cleaning will let in more light than you realize. 

If your windows are super high up, detailed or inaccessible, hire a pro. A good window cleaner will have all the equipment needed to make short work of a dirty — and potentially perilous — job, saving you the time and trouble. 

Related: How much does professional window cleaning cost?

10. Bring the outdoors in.

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, but the weather doesn’t cooperate most of the time, find ways to liven up your home with outside elements. Place a few potted plants in your office or living room, and see what a difference it makes. 

Some of the most popular indoor plants include peace lilies, jade plants, spider plants, cacti, fiddle-leaf figs, birds of paradise and parlor palms. Purchase pots that complement your home’s style, and make sure you choose plants that are best suited for each room’s level of light — and your level of commitment.

11. Glow-up your ceilings.

Brightening up your rooms can uplift your mood and improve your mindset. If you have rooms that feel dark, gloomy, or dingy, you might want to consider lightening up the ceiling before you make any other moves.

Choose a color that reflects the light, such as white or off-white, and consider using a glossy paint instead of a matte one. Once you see how much lighter the space is, you can decide if you need to bring in more light or if this one tweak is enough. 

A note of caution: painting a ceiling can be hard on the neck and shoulders. If you want to spare yourself the suffering, hire a local painter to get the job done for you. 

Related: How much does it cost to paint a ceiling?

12. Make your space more spacious.

The fastest way to make a room feel brighter is to hang a large mirror. Sure, adding windows or a skylight brings more natural light into a space, but a mirror can be added in minutes at a fraction of the price. 

Mirrors can also make a room feel roomier, especially when covering a large surface, like sliding closet doors. Any room that feels cramped or dark is a good candidate for a mirror.

Bear in mind that large mirrors are heavy and must be hung securely to avoid a potentially dangerous mess. If you're not sure how to do it safely, contact a handyman to take on the job. 

13. Carve out a relaxation nook.

No matter how large or small your home is, it can sometimes feel like there's just no place to escape from the responsibilities and chores on your to-do list. That's normal — especially for parents with small children and those who work from home. For your peace of mind, it's important to make space for quiet reflection, reading, mindfulness and alone time. 

Any corner that doesn't get much traffic can become a designated relaxation nook. If you can use a folding screen or curtain to create visual privacy, even better. Set out scented candles, plants, soothing art and pictures of calming landscapes in the space.

Pillows for sitting on, a yoga mat for stretching and headphones so you can slip into a soundscape are all welcome in your nook. Keep it uncluttered and tidy so that you always have a place to escape to — even if it's only for five minutes. 

14. Transform an unused room.

Sure, you can design and decorate a nook to be your go-to place to escape, but if you have an underutilized room in the house, even better. This provides a golden opportunity to create your own little slice of heaven, tailored just to you. Consider these ideas for commonly underused rooms.

• Transform your basement, loft or attic into a home theater with a new flat-screen TV, projector screen, couches, surround sound and more. 
• Convert your garage into a craft room or hobby center where you can unleash your artsy side. 
• Not too many guests these days? Turn one of your guest rooms into a den, mini-library or office by adding new furniture like a desk or bookcases.

Related: How much does a home theater cost?

15. Stop the excuses — build a home gym.

Going to the gym costs money and requires, ya know, getting there. It can be easy to make excuses not to go. Having a home gym makes it much easier to carve out time for workouts — and eliminates a lot of excuses. 

Convert your basement or garage into a home gym equipped with a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike and other exercise equipment. Even if you only have a small guest room or office to spare, weights don't take up much space. You can even place them on a rolling rack that can be tucked under the bed when guests are in town — and let your rooms do double-duty. 

Related: Find pros who can assemble your home gym equipment.

16. Elevate your style with built-in bookshelves.

While standalone bookshelves can look clunky or out of place, built-in shelves give a classy, elegant and dramatically transformative feel to just about any room.

Because they are custom-built to fit into your space, there are endless configurations and styles to choose from. For example, custom shelves can be built ceiling-high to draw the eye up and make your room feel bigger. They can wrap around doorways or windows — or they can cover an entire interior wall. They can be metal or wood, open or enclosed and may include integrated lighting. 

Unless you’re very handy, hire a top-rated craftsman to help you design and build your custom shelves for the perfect look.

17. Add an accent — with or without paint.

The all-white interior has been trending for awhile, and let’s be honest — it’s left many of us with boring designs. A fresh coat of paint can help jazz up a plain space, but painting an entire room can feel like a bit of a commitment — especially for a bold color that might overwhelm the room.

If you're not quite ready to commit but just want to add a stylish splash of color to a drab room, try painting an accent wall. A single wall painted in a chic color (think: blue, emerald green, orange, yellow, black, gray or even purple) can transform your entire space overnight. 

Wall paint isn’t the only accent solution. Consider these ideas:

• Add wood paneling
• Paint just the trim or moldings
• Put up patterned wallpaper
• Hang up a mural or large painting
• Install affordable tiles or splurge on natural stone

Related: How much does it cost to paint a room?

18. Complete your rooms — don’t crowd them.

Decorative objects are like jewelry for rooms — you can have too much or too little. If you find yourself uninspired by your home, take inventory of what you've got going on decoration-wise. Too many decorations can make a room feel cluttered or chaotic, but a lack of accessories can feel blah and boring. 

If you suffer from the former problem, consider replacing collections of multiple small objects with one or two statement pieces. Those small decorations can even be moved to a display case or wooden frame with multiple compartments.When decorating any space, consider color, texture, size and utility. For example, a large ceramic vase can add color and beauty on its own, or it can be filled with a floral arrangement. 

19. Make every day a spa day.

Giving yourself the gift of spa-like luxury at home is priceless — but there are a number of ways to do it without breaking the bank. For example, portable steam saunas let you create a pop-up steam room whenever you want. Whirlpool tubs come in all shapes and sizes, many of them small enough to replace a standard tub. Add a collection of fluffy towels, plants, a silky robe and a portable speaker to pipe in soothing music, and you can have a spa day anytime you like.

No spa is complete without a cabinet of facial masks and aromatherapy oils. Stock your spa with your favorites, and drift away on a cloud of self-care. 

Related: Hire a bathroom remodeling pro near you.

20. Step into a pro chef’s kitchen.

Some people swear by takeout, but others are happiest in the kitchen creating mouth-watering dishes for their families and friends. If you are one of those people, then falling in love with your home again might mean giving your kitchen a makeover. 

Cluttered countertops, overflowing drawers, and hard-to-reach cookware can make you dread cooking. Tackle your kitchen like a pro, looking at each area and figuring out how to optimize it. Get rid of the accessories you never use, and make sure your most frequently used items are the easiest to access. Install a convenient spice rack to keep you organized, and regularly toss out any pantry items that are past their prime.

Some other innovations to keep your kitchen organized and tidy include:

• Hooks and rails for hanging cookware
• Uniform-sized jars and labels for spices
• Larger, airtight jars for baking supplies like sugar and flour
• Drawer organizers
• Freezer-friendly labels
• A rolling butcher block with storage

Related: Find professional organizers for your kitchen makeover.

21. Don’t let the clutter win. 

Over time, it’s easy to lose your passion for your home because you’ve lost your home to clutter. Fight to get your true love back by removing junk from your property and decluttering your closets. Not only will getting rid of excess items leave your house looking rejuvenated, but it will also free up space for new decorations you might want to add.

If you’re overwhelmed with the amount of organizing you’ll need to do, consider partnering with a home organizer. They can help you decide what to toss and what to keep, and how to make room for the latter.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a professional organizer?

22. Reimagine your layout.

It’s hard to feel inspired staring at the same thing day in and day out. That doesn't mean it's time to get a new house — just to make what you have feel new again.

Finding new places for your favorite pieces of furniture is a surefire way to rediscover the things you love about your home and envision possibilities you’ve never thought of before. Look at each room and try to reimagine it. Use a measuring tape to see where furniture can fit, and remember that you can always move it back if you don't like it. 

As you move things around, look at where you have clutter. Find a forever home for anything that usually gets in the way — and put it away when it’s not in use. Make a pile of things you’re ready to get rid of, and relish how good it feels when you clear it all out at once.

The first time you walk into your freshly rearranged home, we’re willing to bet you feel that old spark. 

23. Commit to your home office. 

With remote work and learning becoming the norm, having the right space to focus on homework, projects and meetings is a must. If your home office area is the result of a halfhearted effort, take time to improve this much-needed room. Your productivity will thank you later. 

Start by writing down every pain point you currently have with your home office. For example, perhaps your office chair is uncomfortable or you're tucked away in a dark corner that feels drab. 

With your list of pain points, plan out solutions for each problem. Some might be simple, such as buying and assembling a new office chair. Others might require a professional's help, like installing new lighting, bookshelves, or outlets. Either way, having a dedicated home office can go a long way toward keeping your work and home life balanced, so it’s worth prioritizing.

24. Escape to the great outdoors. 

Maybe you’re tired of being cooped up in the house all day and need an outdoor refuge. Creating the perfect outdoor lounge is an amazing way to escape to a little fresh air and open space — no matter where you live. 

If you have a porch or a deck, you're halfway there. Add a couple of comfortable chairs, some pillows and a table, and your lounge will begin to take shape. You might want to include screening to create privacy, or a fountain to drown out sounds with white noise. 

If you’re in a climate with chilly winters, an outdoor heater, a chiminea or a contained fire pit can make your outdoor lounge feel downright cozy even on the coldest days. 

Related: How much are professional landscapers in your area?

25. Take your kitchen outside.

In mild climates, there are few more valuable additions to the home than an outdoor kitchen. You can go all-out with a full gas stove, pizza oven and sink, or keep it simple with a sturdy grill, rolling butcher block, and functional serving area.

To make your wildest outdoor cooking dreams come true, consult with a professional builder. If you happen to be handy, you might be able to get away with just hiring a plumber. Either way, an outdoor kitchen makes falling in love with your home again effortless. 

26. Reinvent bathtime.

If your happy place is a toss-up between outdoors and the bathtub, consider adding an outdoor bathing area to your home. It might sound a little out there, but there’s nothing like stargazing while you wash your hair or rinsing off after a long run while listening to the birds sing. 

An outdoor shower or tub can be rustic, fancy or simple. Just make sure your outdoor area has enough privacy — and if not, talk to a local landscape designer to design and build one that does. 

27. Freshen up your front yard.

There’s nothing like the feeling of coming home to a well-cared-for house. It's hard to feel the love when your house looks dumpy every time you approach the front door. A little focused attention on your home’s exterior can make a huge difference in how it looks.

First, clear any clutter from the front yard. Rake leaves, mulch flower beds and cut back any overgrown or dead plants. Planting seasonal flowers or adding colorful planters with striking ornamental blossoms can give a polished look to an otherwise boring porch. 

Painting the front door or mailbox can add a little whimsy, as well. And keeping the lawn mowed and edged will give your home a manicured, cared-for look. 

Related: 7 easy ways to boost your home’s curb appeal.

28. Add fresh paint to your exterior.

Nothing enhances your home’s style or curb appeal quite like a fresh coat of paint. Beyond just adding value to your home, investing in new paint can help you love your house a little more.

For a fresh exterior paint job, follow these tips:

• Walk around your home’s exterior, and inspect the paint. Write down every place it’s peeling, chipping or simply looking worn.
• Measure every surface that needs paint. This will help you determine how much paint you will need.
• Research different types of exterior paints and colors to pinpoint the best shade and type for your home.
• Start searching for local painters. Reach out to at least three painters to ask for price quotes.

Related: The complete guide to painting your home’s exterior.

29. Step into the shade. 

Tired of hot, sweaty days when you just can’t seem to escape from the sun? Make your days in the backyard a little shadier by investing in some smart upgrades. For example: 

• Build a gazebo.
• Install a retractable screen for your porch or patio. 
• Add a shade, awning or large umbrella over your porch, deck or patio.
• Plant a tree. Northern red oaks, pine oaks and red sunset maples are some of the fastest-growing shade trees.

Related: How much do patio covers cost?

30. Refresh your home's decor with small tweaks.

Falling in love with your home doesn’t always have to involve a major project. Sometimes, it’s as simple as spending time once a week to focus on small tweaks that boost your ambiance. Here are a few easy ways to keep the dream alive:

• Dress up the dinner table once a month with different floral arrangements.
• Hang up twinkling lights in your backyard the next time you eat dinner outside.
• Install a light dimmer in your living room or family room. 
• Place scented candles or diffusers throughout your home. 
• Turn on the fireplace, and decorate the surrounding area with wall accents, photos or plants.

Turn these into activities that you can enjoy with your partner, kids or even your roommate. Order pizza, grab your favorite beverages and spend quality time together as you make these little — but meaningful — enhancements.

Hire the right pros to bring back that lovin’ feeling.

Falling back in love with your home has never been more important than now. Choose a few of the items off this list, and get started today.

If something gets too big to tackle on your own, Thumbtack offers quick and easy access to home improvement professionals near you. From house painters to interior decorators, find trusted pros who can help you remember why you fell in love with your home in the first place.