How to Change a Room Style {for cheap!}

Hello friends.   We have been in Okinawa for 6 months now and living in our rental house for 5.   I really enjoyed using our household items that made the trip but knew that I would be tweaking the style for our new home.   Here is how we had it set up. 

It was a great start for making this rental our home and perfect for Spring.  Just like my hair, I never stay with one style for long!  Since we have moved here, all I’ve been thinking and seeing is the ocean colors right outside of our house. Besides adding blue, I also wanted the living area to feel more casual.   A few simple changes were made to achieve the look I was going for.  Best of all, I spent $40 for this makeover.

The biggest impact was changing the textiles.  I had snagged a few yards of mediterranean blue fabric at a local shop for about $15 when we first arrived.   Using a simple envelope pillow cover pattern, I transformed 6 pillows with it. (Two are in our master bedroom.)  You can find an easy tutorial for pillow covers  here.  I also bought two new pillow covers for $20 at Nitori, a chain store in Japan similar to IKEA. 

“The biggest impact was changing the textiles.”

“Shopping the house” for items that fit in my new color scheme saved me a lot of money (and time!). I repurposed a table cloth as a throw on one of our club chairs.

On my piano is an Obi, the sash that goes around a Kimono.  A really neat find in Okinawa and used in a nontraditional way. 

Changing the room layout in your space can also make a big impact in creating a new style.  Since we have been only here for a few months, I’m totally happy with our furniture arrangement but I did move the TV.  Before, everything was  symmetrical lending to a more formal feeling.  By moving the TV off center, the room instantly felt more casual.  

 “By moving the TV off center, the room instantly felt more casual.”  

Another $5 was put into the room to give my palm a proper planter. 🙂 It needed it!

Coral, rocks, and shells from our beach made a great pot filler.

The gold bowl and other accessories on the coffee table needed to be toned down a bit.  I reused faux succulents from my St Patty’s door hanging and made arrangements in two blue Japanese tea cups.  

Little bits of mediterranean blue are also making it’s way into the kitchen (and other rooms). The open concept bottom floor has a nice, cohesive feel now.

The last styling I changed is our side table.  It has a sculptural look with candle pillar holders which makes a lovely focal point when you first walk into the room.


Our living room has an entire wall of sliding doors.  It’s really fantastic. Our pup, Misha, loves it too.

Decorating tips:  Once you have a new style inspiration in mind, “shop the house” for items with colors and textures that can work in the space.  Add new or repurposed textiles.  Change the furniture layout and table top styling to achieve your desired look.