Update a room quickly and inexpensively

Redecorating does not have to mean working yourself to exhaustion or breaking the bank. There are several simple, inexpensive ways to transform any room.

1. One of the best ways to give your room a new look is to rearrange the furniture. It is a good idea to draw the room and the furniture to scale before you start. Moving heavy furniture back and forth will wear you out in no time. Moving cutouts around on a piece of paper until you get the right fit is much easier. When you find an arrangement that works for you then move the furniture. Sometimes rearranging alone is enough to give a room and entirely different feel.

2. If rearranging is not enough to achieve the look you desire, but you are not ready to purchase all new furniture, try slipcovering existing pieces or purchasing one new piece. Ready-made slipcovers are available in many styles, colors, sizes and shapes, but you can also make slipcovers yourself from your favorite fabric. Replacing one piece of furniture with something new, or replacing one piece at a time is a great way to get a new look without straining the budget.

3. Revamp garage sale and thrift store finds. If you really need to replace a piece but can't purchase new furniture at the moment, restore a used piece. You might find a sofa with great lines to reupholster or a great chair to sand down, stain, and dress up with a re-covered seat.

4. Adding splashes of color will also change the look and feel of your room. Re-cover existing accent pillows, or purchase new ones, and add a coordinating throw or a new rug.

5. Changing window treatments is also a nice way to dress up a room and add color. There are many ready-to-hang styles of curtains and drapes available in all the latest colors, or you can get creative and make your own. Instead of fabric treatments, you may try blinds or shades to add some texture.

6. A new coat of paint or wallpaper can give your room an instant facelift, but it can be a lot of work and it can also get expensive. Instead of re-doing the whole room, create a focal wall. Choose the wall that attracts the most attention as you enter the room and paint it a rich color or apply luxurious wallpaper. If you would rather not wallpaper or paint at all, hanging a large piece of artwork is another good way to create a focal wall.

7. Add some plants to bring life to your room. If you are not exactly a green thumb, choose silk plants. Today's options are very realistic. Some of them look and feel so real that no one will guess they are silk.

8. Hanging a large mirror creates reflection, which makes your room feel brighter and larger. A beautiful mirror can be used in place of existing artwork. Choose a mirror that compliments the rest of your decor. If straight lines define your room, choose a square or rectangular mirror. If your room is filled with soft curves, use a round mirror.

9. Another way to brighten a room and give it more appeal is to add new lighting or change the existing lighting. A stylish new pendant light will brighten up a dark corner, and an updated overhead fixture will make your room look years younger.

10. Great accessories will enhance your new look. Search other areas of your home, and trade accessories from the room you are working on with things from other spaces. You can easily transform old items, and make them look new. Paint old picture frames in colors that coordinate with your new decor. Paint over the canvas of a tired piece of artwork that is sitting in your closet. Use an old bedspread or curtains to make new throw pillows. Throw in some candles and a few new trinkets to finish the look.