With 2016 almost behind us, many homeowners are beginning to plan their home renovation projects for the new year. Whether you’re taking on a small DIY project, redecorating or planning a larger renovation, these design tips will help you create an end result that will exceed your expectations.

1. Incorporate your favourite pieces as the centerpiece of your design

There’s no better way to personalize your home’s design than to make the pieces you love the visual centerpiece. Family antiques and collectibles, a childhood memento, wall art, collectibles or souvenirs from your travels are great examples of items that you can incorporate into your design.

According to designers Bunny Williams and John Rosselli, it’s especially important to incorporate these personal pieces in your home’s utilitarian rooms like your bathroom or kitchen.

2. Use textures to enhance colour

Neutral colours have been a top colour trend for several years. Using textures throughout your room is a great way to enhance those neutrals, making your room feel richer and warmer. You can add texture with throw pillows, rugs and curtains, but also with stone veneer accent walls, backsplashes or fireplaces.

3. Lighten up kitchens with floor to ceiling cabinets

It’s great to add the extra cupboard space in your kitchen with floor to ceiling cabinets, but the problem is that this design can seem dark, especially with dark wood cupboards. Rather than painting the cupboards a lighter colour (which can be expensive and time consuming), designer Caitlin Moran suggests that you paint your ceiling instead. “Paint the ceiling a slightly paler version of the walls,” Moran tells House Beautiful magazine. “The room [will] seem brighter, even with just a few windows.”

4. Make your bathroom feel bigger

Although it isn’t the most private option, a transparent glass shower door is the best way to add the illusion of square footage to your bathroom. To make this look work, designer Alla Akimova suggests continuing the floor tiles directly into the stall so the flow of the space (and illusion) isn’t interrupted.

Another way to enhance your bathroom is to add texture to your backsplash with Fusion Stone. The waterproof stone veneer will add low-maintenance texture to your bathroom.

5. Extend your backsplash

Designers Angie Hranowsky and Matthew Quinn both recommend extending your kitchen or bathroom backsplash as far as your budget will allow – even up to the ceiling and around windows. The idea is to push your backsplash beyond it’s conventional, functional role and instead make it a design feature that adds texture and creates an illusion of a larger space.

6. Go rustic

Dining room benches create a rustic look that pair nicely in a room with a fireplace or wood stove. This trend is popular as reclaimed wood pieces are being used more and more in interior design. If you have a reclaimed wood table or mantle piece, then a wood bench can extend your rustic theme. Plus, it’s very practical for family parties when finding extra seating is a problem.

7. Avoid curtains in your sunroom

In the case of a sunroom, the purpose of the room – to let in light – should be honoured in your design decisions. Designer Jan Showers recommends ditching window coverings in your sunroom altogether. “Sunrooms should have a feeling of openness and be bathed in light. That’s why I typically recommend not obscuring the views with curtains,” she says.

8. Use grid pictures

If you have a lot of family pictures that you’d like to display, then creating a grid on a large wall is a great way to fill the wall space while keeping family memories front and centre. This is an especially useful solution for people with large sofas against a wall. Sometimes finding the right sized artwork can be difficult. Why not create your own wall art with your favourite people as the subjects? “I like to hang multiple images in a tight grid, just shy of the length of the sofa, with equal margins at the top of the sofa and bottom of the ceiling molding,” designer Tom Stringer suggests.

9. Make environmental choices

Green building materials are a popular choice for homeowners looking to reduce their environmental impact or save money through enhanced energy efficiency. Whether you’re looking at paint, light fixtures or wall coverings, look for environmentally friendly materials.

10. Don’t be afraid to DIY

Do-it-yourself projects save you money in the long run, but they can also be fun and are a great way to expand your skillset and your confidence. Many design projects can be done on your own. Fusion Stone has easy DIY kits for your home projects that come with detailed instructions and step-by-step video guides. Most design projects are perfect for the DIYer – and, if you’re not sure how, you’re bound to find lots of advice and instructions on the Internet.