Learn How to Decorate for Less

Accent Pillows

Pillows are the quickest way to update a room.

First thing, toss out those standard matching pillows that came with the couch and make a statement with bright, contrasting colored pillows in silks or cottons. A great way to pull a room together is by using pillows with patterns and colors that tie in all the tones of the room.

To add seasonal touches to a room, try rich chocolate browns or pumpkin for fall and winter, crisp white linen for spring and Mediterranean blue for summer.

You'll need: Round foam insert, ties, tassels or cords, scissors, heavy rubber bands, a measuring tape and a rotary cutter, like a pizza wheel.

With the fabric laid out and folded in half, use the rotary blade to cut it into a perfect circle. Then, turn the fabric upside down and place the foam insert in the center. Gather the fabric up and around the insert until it's surrounded. Next, take a heavy rubber band and band off in the middle as if putting hair in a pony tail. Adjust the pleating around the pillow and use scissors to trim. Finally, wrap decorative cording around the rubber band and tie into a bow.

Floor coverings

Rugs can either set the tone of a room or become a focal point, depending on the colors, pattern and shape. Try using area rugs to define smaller areas in a larger room, like separating a conversation area from the rest of the room.

Bath mats can also be used to make an inexpensive area rug.

You'll need: Several 2-by-3-foot bath mats, a measuring tape, sharp scissors, matching upholstery thread, upholstery needles, a thimble and painter's tape.

First, measure the floor space. Next, use painters tape to flatten down the bath mat to make a clear path for sewing. Sew the mats together by hand using the upholstery needles and strong upholstery thread.

Coasters

While coasters are essential to protect wood pieces, the choices available can leave you feeling like you need to settle for the least of the worst. The solution: design your own.

You'll need: Clear thin frame glass cut into 4-inch by 4-inch squares, two pieces for every coaster. Your local home improvement store can cut the glass to specification while you wait. You'll also need fall leaves -- real or artificial -- personal photographs or pressed flowers and stain glass foil tape.

First, lay out a glass square and arrange a couple of leaves, photographs or flowers. Cover a second glass square and hold tightly while using tape to seal all four edges by wrapping it around so that there is no space between the square. That's it.

Front Door and Porch

The front door and porch are your "first impressions" when anyone comes to visit. One of the easiest ways to make a good impression is with a wreath. Try wreaths with fall leaves for a harvest look, eucalyptus leaves for spring, red or white berries for winter and daisies for summer.

Besides dressing the front door, you can also dress up the area around the door with decorative flower pots. Consider yellow mums for fall, red poinsettias for winter, purple pansies for spring and pink impatiens for summer.

You can make an inexpensive urn to hold your flowers by picking up a plastic urn from a local home improvement store, and spray painting it with flat black spray paint. Once it's dry, paint on some burnt umber in a metal paint to create the antiqued rust look or a cast iron urn.

Lighting

Lighting affects how you look and how you feel. Softening the lighting instantly adds drama and intimacy to a room. Natural light is best for everyday use, direct light is best for specific tasks like reading or cooking and accent lighting can illuminate artwork or architectural elements.

You can also use unusual items, such as a wastebasket, and turn them into lighting fixtures.

You'll need: Three rattan wastebaskets with no metal base, three contractor lights, and an item to sphere through the bottom of the baskets to make a hole just big enough to pull a lighting cord through, such as a sharp knife

Turn the wastebasket upside down and pull the cord through the hole. Hang and plug in.

Drapes

Window treatments are the quickest way to add sophistication and softness to a room. It's possible to make gorgeous drapes that won't break the bank using burlap, velvet or any fabric you want.

You'll need: Bonding tape and fabric. Measure the amount of fabric you need by starting at the ceiling height and adding 6 inches for cuff and 6 inches for length. For an opulent look, double the amount of fabric to make double-paneled curtains.

With a very hot iron and ironing board, use the bonding tape in the exact place that you would normally be sewing a seam and attach the two panels. Finish sides and bottom in the same way.

Pin the cuff fabric along the top seam and attach. You will then need to fold the top of the cuff and attach it to the back of the drapery.