Small Design Changes, Big Impact

Five Easy Ways to Freshen Up Your Home for Less
(ARA) - True, we're all living more cost-consciously these days. The good news is that it doesn't take much to turn your current decor into something completely fresh and different. There are plenty of easy, cost-effective ways to change your surroundings for the better.

"Sometimes the smallest changes can make a big difference in the look of your home. I always suggest visiting a nearby professional custom framer and updating an existing piece of art with new matboards," says Barbara Schmidt, a nationally recognized interior style consultant.

Schmidt offers four tips for freshening up any room in your home using inexpensive items, as well as preexisting pieces.

* "Choose one new color for your room and pull it into slipcovers, rugs and tablecloths to create newness and cohesiveness," Schmidt suggests. "Try spray-painting a lampshade as an inexpensive way to tie it all together."

* Dress up a wall by adding a tight grouping of your favorite pictures. "Pull your chosen color into the matting and frames, but vary the width and style of the frames to add variety," she says.

* "You'd be surprised at how easy it is to make pillow covers on your own," says Schmidt. "Or you can opt to buy them pre-made at fabric stores for a lot less than you'll find at a big-box retailer."

* "Choose one wall in a room, and repaint it to change the color scheme," says Schmidt. "Painting is one of the most inexpensive things you can do, and I guarantee the entire room will look brand new."