| As the spring and summer months approach, it's the | | | | places are treasure troves of décor |
| perfect time to freshen up rooms. The problem is | | | | accessories. Buy some cheap frames, paint them to |
| that nowadays most of us just haven't got the cash | | | | match and fill them with some exotic pictures clipped |
| to spend on our homes that we would like. Here are | | | | from magazines or travel brochures. Old curtains in |
| some ideas for creating that interior design magazine | | | | cotton or linen materials can be dyed in the washing |
| look without the expense. | | | | machine. Dye two pairs to match, use one pair for |
| * Clean, declutter and clean again! Clutter makes | | | | window dressing and the other to make matching |
| rooms look...cluttered! Remove all the bits and pieces | | | | pillows. |
| from tables and the tops of furniture and put them | | | | * If you don't have a dining table, cover a sturdy |
| into clearly labeled boxes to store out of the way | | | | wallpaper pasting table with a fresh cloth, the further |
| somewhere for two weeks. After the time is up | | | | it hangs down the better, add a beautiful vase of |
| anything still in the boxes is obviously not necessary. | | | | fresh flowers in the center of the table. Smarten up |
| This works very well with kids' toys and games. Just | | | | old dining chairs with fresh new seat covers and find |
| remember when the two weeks is up to get rid of | | | | some new table linen to match. |
| anything still in the boxes, give it away or hold a | | | | * Buy an old piece of wooden furniture and paint it |
| garage sale. | | | | white. Find an old wooden dresser for a few dollars |
| * It only takes a little bit more effort to paint a wall | | | | from an auction or thrift store; add a coat of white |
| than to wash it. Spring cleaning is great for working | | | | paint, some that you have left over from painting |
| off the winter blues, but a coat of paint will change | | | | the walls is fine. Then rub it down lightly to give it a |
| the whole room. White is usually the cheapest paint | | | | distressed look and apply a little furniture wax. Before |
| to buy, but if you don't want plain white buy the | | | | you know it you have a French armoire. |
| smallest quantity you can of a dark or bright color, | | | | There are a host of other ideas for affordable home |
| add it to the white then stir. Keep stirring until the | | | | décor. Just because your budget is tiny it |
| colored paint is completely mixed in. You can also use | | | | doesn't mean that you can't give a whole new look |
| tubes of acrylic artists' paints that can be bought | | | | to your home. Use your imagination and whatever |
| very cheaply, to add some color to regular white | | | | small amount of cash you have to good effect and |
| paint. | | | | you will soon have a home to be proud of. |
| * Visit your local flea market or thrift store. These | | | | |