Redo a Room (on No Budget!)

Expert tips for dramatic transformations.

Fixes for common decorating problems that can really transform your family room, from HGTV's FreeStyle host Aaron Foster:

Photographs everywhere. Mat them and use similar frames. Consolidate in one or two spots, say, atop the TV cabinet and a table, or on a wall.

Furniture pushed against walls. This gives you less space, not more, says Foster. Floating the couch and chairs and facing them together makes a room more inviting. Many people have one or two more pieces of furniture than they need. Remove a few to see if they're missed.

Cluttered mantels. This space should showcase what's important to you -- but not everything at once. Hang art or a painting over the fireplace, and place just three or four pieces on the mantel that highlight it.

From Reader's Digest - February 2006

 

• • Get Organized
• • Budgeting
• • Decorating
• • Get Out of Debt
• Spring Cleaning

• Design Away Grime
• Easy-care decorating options abound, meaning you could spend less time cleaning.
• 
• How to Decorate With Photographs
• Give your walls a personalized and professional touch with these pointers.
• 
• The Ultimate Clean-Home Calendar
• Here's the scoop on what to clean and how often.
• 
• Removing Stuck Nails
• Here are tips for pulling tough, stubborn nails out of wood.
• 
• Flowers to Cheer the House
• You don’t need to be a master gardener or florist to enjoy flowers at home.
• 
• Low-Voltage Track Lights
• Affordable low-voltage track lights.
•