Inside HGTV star Sabrina Soto's Relaxed and Colorful Family Home: 'You Don't Have to Use a Coaster in This House'

The host and design expert reveals how she refreshes her interiors on a budget

01 of 07

Sabrina Soto's 'Casual-Modern' California Home

F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesyFINAL_Sabrina Soto at Home.jpeg F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesyFINAL_Sabrina Soto at Home.jpeg
Tessa Neustadt

When HGTV host and design expert Sabrina Soto moved into the "California casual-modern," home that she shares with partner Steve, 45, and daughter Olivia, 1, she wasn’t immediately sold on the four-bedroom, four-bath abode. “We loved the lot, and I hated the house,” says Soto, 40, who recently released a line of removable wallpaper for Chasing Paper. “I was pregnant and overwhelmed because I knew how much I wanted to change.” But a few little updates went a long way in transforming the space into a colorful family oasis. And the house is still evolving. “Every room gets refreshed every few months or so, but it’s just one or two things here and there,” she says in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. “Most designers have really beautiful spaces, but sometimes it’s not inviting, and that’s the opposite of how I wanted this house to be.”

02 of 07

Colorful Kick-Back Spot

F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-204.jpg F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-204.jpg
Tessa Neustadt

The crisp, white backdrop grounds Soto’s living room, while colorful accents and a geometric rug add flair. “I just love accessories and mixing and matching patterns,” she says.

03 of 07

Old Meets New

F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-116.jpg F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-116.jpg
Tessa Neustadt

Instead of buying a new dining table, Soto added a glass top to the table she already owned to give it a fresh look. “I’m the biggest bargain hunter,” she admits. “I always try to repurpose things.”

04 of 07

Laid-Back Luxury

F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-080.jpg F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-080.jpg

Although the formal living space takes on a more mature vibe, it still captures Soto’s casual living style. “You don’t have to use a coaster in this house,” she says.

05 of 07

Bold Bathroom

645773 645773

Wallpaper from her Chasing Paper line gives her bathroom a bold upgrade that's completely temporary if she gets tired of the style in a few months. “It’s like a big sticker,” she says. “It’s so easy to put up and when you take it down the wall remains the exact same way.”

06 of 07

Easy Updates

Sabrina_soto-wallpaper Sabrina_soto-wallpaper
Tessa Neustadt

Her Chasing Paper collection is also on display in her design studio, but the walls aren’t the only spots where this removable wonder can work. “You can use it in bookcases, inside drawers, or going up your stairs,” Soto says, who cleverly covered her laptop with the Confetti print from her line. “You could also make it a big piece of art by framing it.”

07 of 07

Serene Scene

F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-037.jpg F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox47636#courtesysabrinasoto _peoplemag-037.jpg
Tessa Neustadt

Soto used leftover renovation materials to give her bedroom side tables a chic new look. “They were really banged up,” she says. “I had a little slab of marble left over, so I cut it to the exact dimensions of my nightstands and now they have a marble top!”

For more on Soto’s home and how she refreshes it on the cheap, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Related Articles