The Micro Makeover: Small Changes, One Space at a Time

The most inviting homes don't have to come together all at once. Often, they evolve over time, as rooms are lived in, needs change and you begin to notice the spaces that could be doing a little more.

Maybe it's the empty end of a hallway you've never known what to do with. A sunny corner that could become somewhere to read. An unused part of the kitchen that has room for a banquette. Or a bedroom that could use more than a new coat of paint.

That's the idea behind the micro makeover. Rather than taking on an entire renovation, you focus on one contained project and make it count.

And small doesn't have to mean inexpensive, temporary or purely decorative. You might invest in custom upholstery, beautiful wallpaper, new furniture, millwork or lighting. The difference is simply that you're concentrating your attention on one part of your home at a time.

Look Again at the Spaces You Walk Past

Hallways, landings, and other transitional spaces are easy to overlook because we don't technically live in them. But that doesn't mean they can't contribute something to the home.

The end of a hallway could hold a beautiful chest or console with artwork above it. A landing might have enough room for a chair and lamp. Wallpaper can turn a small passage into something much more interesting.

These aren't necessarily spaces that need to become more functional. Sometimes giving an overlooked part of your home a little attention is reason enough.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Designer: Denise Roy

Make Something of an Awkward Corner

Most homes have an area that has never quite found its purpose. Before automatically filling it with another piece of furniture, think about what might actually be useful there.

A sunny corner could become a reading spot with a comfortable chair, small table and lamp. A little unused wall in the kitchen might have enough room for a bistro table and two chairs. An underused area could become a compact workspace without requiring an entire home office.

A few feet of space can sometimes give you something your home didn't have before.

Photographer: Sylvie Li

Designer: Laurence Pons Lavigne and Mélanie Cherrier

Give a Room Another Purpose

Not every room has to do only one thing.

If there's enough space in a bedroom, a reading area can create somewhere to sit that isn't the bed. A kitchen banquette can provide casual seating as well as somewhere to eat. A living room might have an unused area that could accommodate a desk, games table or small bar.

This isn't about squeezing more into every available corner. It's about noticing when the space is already there and deciding whether it could make the room work better for the way you actually live.

Photographer: André Rider

Designer: Camille Daher

Take On One Small Room

Sometimes the micro makeover is an entire room, just a small one.

An entry, powder room or mudroom gives you a defined area to work with, making it possible to create a noticeable change without taking on a major renovation.

This might be the place for wallpaper you've loved but wouldn't necessarily use across a large living space. You might change the lighting, introduce colour, add storage or invest in a beautiful piece of furniture.

Because the project is contained, you can give the details plenty of attention.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Designer: Gillian Gillies

Create Something You've Always Wanted

Not every home comes with a dedicated reading room, bar, library or office. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't have one.

A home bar might begin with a beautiful cabinet and a piece of artwork. A library doesn't require an entire room if you have a wall that could accommodate shelving. A coffee spot might be nothing more than a small table and two chairs positioned somewhere you actually want to sit in the morning.

Sometimes the best micro makeover starts not with What's wrong with this space? but with What would I love to have here?

Designer: Nancy Lemay

Photographer: Brooke Stephenson

Let Your Home Evolve

There can be pressure to finish a home quickly, particularly after moving or renovating. But there is something to be said for living in it first.

You discover which chair everyone gravitates towards. Which corner gets the best afternoon light. Where you naturally drop things when you walk through the door. Which rooms need more storage and which spaces aren't being used at all.

Those things are difficult to know from a floor plan.

Allowing your home to evolve gives you the chance to make changes because they make sense for you, rather than because you feel everything needs to be finished at once.

Photographer: Donna Griffith

Designer: Barbara Purdy

A micro makeover isn't about constantly updating your home or following every new design trend. It's simply permission to start smaller.

One corner. One wall. One little room. One idea you've wanted to make happen.

And sometimes that's more than enough to make you see your home differently.