1. Always work with a plan.
2. Get rid of clutter; it opens up the area and gives you more room to work with.
3. Rearrange before
you purchase.
4. In small spaces, use furniture that serve two purposes, when possible.
5. Breathe new life into old furniture by changing the colour, or by substituting colourful and unusual knobs and handles for the old ones.
6. Ask your local hardware, home or gardening store for help in choosing the right products for your project.
7. Hide unsightly stains and marks on upholstered furniture with funky new slipcovers.
8. Flowers from the garden in a simple vase are a classic decorative choice; they brighten a room and add life.
9. Play with your colour palette for accents.
10. New and colourful bed linens, curtains or a splash of paint on drab walls can perk up a room for little money.
11. Remember, paint colour often dries a darker shade on the walls than it appears in the can or colour swatch.
12. Put your children's mind and muscles to work - they provide cheap and enthusiastic labour.
Here's a clever penny-pinching idea for a new look bedroom. Hang an old gear mould on a headboard, bolt it to the wall and slide your mattress frame in. Make the nightstand from a stack of jazzed-up old suitcases, boxes or crates.
