If you're not sure how to go about selecting a paint color, read Decorating Color Schemes.

• If you have a 'lonely wall' in a room, do what I did when I lived in a Craftsman style home - I purchased a simple fireplace mantel (not the fireplace, just the mantel!), painted it white and placed it on a narrow wall that was painted Hunter Green.

  I decorated the mantel, put a dried floral arrangement on the floor under the mantel, and overall made it fit beautifully into my living room. Most guests didn't even realize it was a faux fireplace!

• The next cheap decorating idea is this: cut the legs off of a table (flea market or garage sale find, or just plain cheap find!) that has the shape you want, and use it as a coffee table.

  Or, use two small end tables in front of the sofa. There is no magic height requirement as long as it works for you and your lifestyle.


• Here is a great cheap decorating idea: paint furniture to give it a fresh look. If you find mismatched wood chairs at a garage sale, paint them the same color to give continuity to your dining area.

  If your desk in the home office has seen better days - paint it! Consider painting a piece a color that you are using as an accent color to give it more 'pop' in the room.

• Small accessories can benefit from a coat of paint as well. Lamp bases, mirror frames, picture frames, bar stools...all of these can be given new life and a new direction with paint. Don't forget about metallic paint and other 'texture' type paints to keep things interesting!
• Switch out your old lampshades for new ones with a slightly different finish and shape. Just be sure to measure carefully to get the appropriate size as well as the correct halo for the base.

  Go one step further and put interesting decals on the outside, or even just on the inside, of the lampshade.


• On a similar note, create a 'new' lamp by purchasing just the base and re-use your existing lamp shade. Stores like Target, KMart, etc. all sell lamp bases separately, and are quite budget friendly.
• Slip covers can be a budget-friendly and beautiful way to create a whole new decor in a room. And, slipcovers are definitely NOT what they used to be...they are available in just about any size, style and fabric.

  Here are the best ideas and resources for selecting the best Slipcovers

• Here is a great cheap decorating idea. Give new excitement and interest to a room by adding decorative pillows in accent colors. Bring in a couple of small rugs to the room in those same accent colors and you will surely be pleased with the results
• Use simple lace or sheer panels, valances or tiers as window treatments. Install mini blinds for privacy. Your windows will look finished, well-decorated and you'll have the privacy you want.

  If you want to leave the windows free of fabric, hang your curtains from simple iron decorative rods. They are cost effective and look great.

• If you have a living room decorating project on the list, be sure to read about Affordable Living Room Furniture before you make any purchases!
• If you have a room with wall to wall carpeting that looks, well, boring...spice it up, and break it up, with area rugs. If the room is large enough you might use up to three area rugs of different sizes. Remember to look for rugs with interesting textures and colors!

Here's another quick and easy cheap decorating idea for you. Actually, this doesn't cost anything and can change the look of several areas of your home.

Re-arrange the furniture in at least two rooms of your home and swap out some of the pieces. For example, switch the lamps, swap out the end tables (use one for a nightstand).

If you have a nook or small eating area that doesn't get used, remove the table/chairs and replace with a small reading area, including an upholstered chair, end table and lamp.

As you are re-arranging, look for ways to use your furnishings that are different than what you have done in the past, or from the expected use of the piece.

There is no such thing as a bad or silly idea - give it a try and see how it works.

Do the same with pictures, mirrors, etc., all the way down to the small accessories and nic-nacs. I have switched out window treatments, too, using a cafe curtain as a longer length valance for a fresh window treatment. You can create an entirely new look!

FYI...here is a cheap decorating idea that is unique. I had a client once who literally changed the function of her rooms periodically. She would swap the living room and dining room furniture, for example, and so her living room became her dining room and vice versa.

This idea won't work for every home's layout, but give it some thought. Do you have a Great Room? How could you rearrange the function of that space? Don't put any limits on your ideas...who knows what you might come up with!

If you would like to have everything you need to decorate your home in one simple and easy to follow guide, you need 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!'. I wrote 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' using the same decorating outline I follow with my clients. Small project or entire home...you'll find the practical and helpful steps to create your unique decor look. Click here for more details!