99 cheap decorating tricks

21 Give old and unused items a new lease on life either by giving them away, selling them or transforming them into something new.

22 Line the kitchen counter with repurposed glass bottles filled with water. This makes a beautiful display on its own or as ready-to-use vases.

23 Painting can do wonders when it comes to refreshing your home. If you can’t do the whole house, pick just one room.

24 An accent or feature wall is an easy starting point when decorating. Pick one blank wall, preferably in a fairly visible location like at the end of a hall, and paint it a stand-out shade.

25 Add shelving behind the toilet to create storage and display space.

26 Paint or sand and stain old furniture. You’ll be pleasantly surprised what a few new coats of paint and a little elbow grease can do!

27 Use ceramic paint to create unique designs on the tile of your kitchen backsplash.

28 Using a neutral colour palette to give your home a timeless feel and make it a sophisticated space.

29 Rather than one complete tablesetting, mix and match pieces from different sets that work well together.

30 Display scarves, tapestries or large pieces of beautiful fabric from wooden dowels to create an instant piece of art for a large space.

31 Play with contrasting materials to create a unique look, like setting a glass vase on a wooden table.

32 Make a great first impression by adding a fresh coat of paint, a new knocker or a shiny door knob to your front door.

33 If you don’t have money to spend on a sleek new media unit use an old, antique armoire.

34 Use old pillows and sheets to make new decorative cushions.

35 Old sheets or unused bolts of fabric can easily be made into window treatments or a new shower curtain.

36 Use a great wallpaper to punch up an old shelving unit by papering the inside back section.

37 Repurpose old furniture with simple DIY weekend projects. For example, turn an old table into an ottoman for extra seating.

38 If you don’t want to use wall decals or wallpaper to  accentuate a space, stencils are a wonderful way to add a little creativity and personality to a wall or door. Best of all, making your own stencil is a breeze. All you need is cardboard, paint and an exacto knife.

39 Get together with friends and neighbours and hold a swap meet where each person brings household items they no longer need or want and trade away. At the end, donate all the unwanted items to charity. This is a great to way clear clutter in your home and to collect potentially precious decor items to refresh your home.

40 Add an accent without having to commit to painting the entire room. Paint the trim, doorjambs, windowsills, baseboards and around fireplaces in a complementary but contrasting colour.