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In these tougher economic times, one of the biggest homemaking challenges can be how to re-decorate on a tighter budget. By “packaging” bits and pieces of design elements into smaller projects, you can achieve a totally new look with a lower price tag. The key is to do fewer items in a more cohesive way. The best effect can be achieved starting with what you treasure; grouping them in the proper proportions with colors and textures that result in a unified and harmonious design.

Re-purpose a corner

Corners are often overlooked and under-used, but can be the perfect place to carve out a spot for favorite things. Let your mind wander to some of the activities that you dream of doing, but rarely have the time for doing. Too often, little things that bring joy are scattered all over the house. By grouping these things together, you may find a vibrant new focal point for a room. Create a pleasant place for a puzzle center or book nook with a comfy chair for reviewing a novel. Organize a scrapbook hutch or cookbook clipping desk – or try a family heritage display showcasing souvenirs of special family times and memories. It will make you smile just passing by.

“Quilt” a new scheme for your room

Just as there are multiple patterns and an array of fabrics from which to choose for a quilt, there are many ways to construct a room. Draw the upholstery selections and colors from a special piece of art or area rug and combine different patterns on different pillows and upholstery pieces for comparative interest. Choose fabrics that harmonize with one another in hue and enhance each other in pattern. For example: a large floral motif will look vibrant next to a subdued damask and a stripe will shine next to a splashy impressionist print. Create a “room quilt” by using different fabrics on the same item of furniture. If you love to sew, make 4-6 pillows that stitch up into one great look for the room. Have fun spreading panache and pattern. Remember that it’s what inspires you and not the latest look that is most important.

Inspire with wall word art or your family tree

Pair up a phrase on the wall with shelves stocked with accessories that illustrate the expression. Remind yourself of a special trip by displaying the items that you brought back. Take a favorite pastime or collection and give it a place of honor. Inspire yourself with a bit of personal poetry and sign your name on the wall! It can be a caring reminder of the family and friends who surround us; take it to a new level by combining alphabet letters and photographs in various frames, artfully arranged. Architectural items and stained glass mounted with them on the walls can be great companions for the words.

See things in a new light

Changing the lighting in a room is one of the quickest ways to change the mood. Be sure to use it to your advantage. Don’t under-light active or work spaces, it can make you tire more easily; at the same time, be sure to have some dimming control where the mood is to be more restful. When arranging lamps, try to position them so the light falls on or enhances a picture or accessory – even a mirror.

Keep the “color temperature” of the light in mind; light hues can fall towards the reds (warm) or the blues (cool). Paint tones on the walls reflect light. A warm color on a high ceiling can lower the visual space in a room to make it feel cozy, whereas a cooler color recedes and “lifts” the ceiling. Even the new energy-efficient compact fluorescents come in different color tones. Mixing light color temperatures often has an unsettling effect.

To set a clear new style without changing furnishings, consider purchasing a set of lamps for the whole room at the same time – budget money for this to achieve a complete effect. If the furnishings in your room seem to look dated, over-ride that old look by updating the style of your lighting. When selecting new lamps, choose them so they have something in common that will unify them. Set your style by selecting a theme (e.g. “safari” or “romantic”) or by similar color and texture. Be sure to vary the sizes. It is rarely a good idea to use a whole set of the same model.

Landscape on the inside

Take another look at those flat surfaces like tabletops and window ledges and create a little “landscape” with unusual items. Think of windows as pictures, lamps as substitutes for trees, plants for bushes, and ceramics for rocks and gardens. Perhaps a favorite figurine needs a place to live, or a special flower that needs an oasis to surround it. Planning little vignettes can be as effective as hanging pictures. It cultivates the imagination, refreshing and energizing you every time you look at it.

Let furnishings do “double duty”

Lean an oversized tall mirror on a blank wall that needs a window. Set a large tray on a big ottoman to double as a cocktail table. Find an interesting bench to set opposite a pair of chairs at a dining table. Place two smaller scaled upholstered chairs nearby in a living space that can be pulled up at the head and foot ends of a dining table for a more relaxed dining look. Making furnishings serve multiple purposes saves money – and space.

Add some architecture

Adding crown moldings at ceiling height gives the room a new elegance and finish. To update an older staircase railing, install some fanciful wrought iron spindles between the older wood ones. Enhance a bare fireplace by adding wood moldings or panels above the mantle. Add great new tile and cabinets around a simple fireplace to give it new attitude. If you don’t have a fireplace, create the effect by putting something reflective behind glowing candles; try a large burnished copper plate or mirror behind stocky candles.

Create new rooms in your old space

Although kitchens often add up to the most intensive and most expensive rooms in the house, you can have a “new” kitchen without replacing all the cabinetry. Update with complimentary cabinetry that accents or enhances rather than matches existing woodwork; pair new cabinetry with older, less stylish cabinets. Separate the functions in one large space by adding taller multi-purpose islands in larger rooms. Add privacy by adding fabric or woven panels on a hardware track between the areas.

Add some sparkle and shine

When was the last time you thought about plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware as house jewelry? Add sparkle and shine by changing out existing cabinetry hardware at the fraction of the cost of re-decorating; think of it as simple accessorizing. Look around at the variety of knobs and pulls. When mixing styles and finishes, remember to keep one metal the dominant color and the other metal an accent.

These are just a few ideas; ways to bring character and interest into your home without taking out a second mortgage. They will make perfect haven with an expanded value that will add to your comfort, and your pocketbook.