With the on-going COVID-19 crisis and the many “shelter in place” orders, you may find that you have some extra time on your hands. While it would be easy enough to while away the hours binge-watching all those shows you never had time for, or learning how to bake bread, or brushing up on the other language classes you had to take in school, this might also be a great time to update your space.

Chances are, while you were spending time at work, out with friends, at the gym, or one of the many other places that filled your time, there were things getting “filed away” or just moved around from place to place in your actual living space. Think about picking a room and giving it new life while you are stuck indoors, safely social-distancing.

With just a few steps and some planning, you can create a whole new look in an outdated or underused space.

1. Pick Your Space

It might be a good idea to start small and see how it goes. For example, if you have a small bedroom, office or “extra” room that isn’t used all the time and tends to gather “extra” stuff, set your sights on how you can make that space fresh and new. Think about what it could be rather than what it is. Once you have a space picked out, use your imagination. Consider the walls, window coverings, trim, accents, wall décor and furniture.

2. Toss Things You Don’t Need or Don’t Use

The first step will be to get rid of what you don’t need. Clean out drawers, set aside items to donate (and throw away things that shouldn’t be donated), file away anything important in file folders so they can easily be found later, and wipe down any surfaces that may not have seen the light of day for a while.

3. Take Inventory

Make a list of what’s left so you can decide which items could create unique focal points in your new space. Maybe you have some cool candle holders in the attic, or some pictures that haven’t been framed yet. Think about things that may not actually be meant to be trinkets, but are visually interesting and add to the vibe you’re going for.

4. Start with Walls and Work Your Way In

Determine how you want your space to feel, and what kind of colors and textures you want on the walls. Wood is a great accent for just about any look, whether you’re going full farmhouse or urban chic. There are a lot of great ways to use Great American Spaces wood wall planks to bring the warmth and beauty of the outdoors inside. In small spaces, it looks great between shelving or as an accent wall, trim boards can be used to frame doors or windows, and with all the colors available, you are sure to find a shade and style that complements your vision. Lighter boards can help create a bright, airy look and darker browns and grays can make any space feel cozier. It’s also very easy to install.

5. Pull it Together

Once you have updated your walls, trim and accents, all you have to do is bring it all together. Organize your furniture to best show off your new space. Hang photos or wall art. If you want a pop of color, pull in some throw pillows or bright cloth for curtains or a DIY valance.

6. Show it Off

Since you can’t invite all of your friends and family over to have a grand unveiling of your new space, you should certainly post pics on social media, or invite everyone into a video conference so you can show off your handiwork.

Once you have transformed one room, you’ll get a feel for how far you want to go. If you have more time or depending on how long shelter in place rules continue, you could give your whole space a makeover in a matter of a few weeks.

If you are interested in other projects that you could tackle with Great American Spaces based on the amount of time you have available, here are a few ideas.

A Day

• Build floating shelves
• Build frames for pictures, mirrors or fabric art that can be hung
• Create wall art with a few planks and hooks, iron art, or pieces that can be affixed to the wood or a backdrop for a dartboard
• Build shadow boxes
• Add a small accent wall space in a nook or between shelves
• Add wood trim around windows or doors

A Weekend

• Create a full accent wall (use different colors and angles to create unique wall patterns)
• Wrap the front of a bar
• Build a rustic barn door
• Build a custom headboard
• Apply to a covered porch ceiling

Days

• Cover a full wall or a whole room
• Create a fireplace surround
• Update the garage with wood plank walls
• Create a unique man cave or game room space
• Up the vintage appeal in a she-shed

For more information and inspiration, visit greatamericanspaces.com. There you will find all of the details about the different Collections and see how others have used the products to transform their spaces with the warmth and beauty of real wood.