Looking for inexpensive, easy ways to spruce up your home?  There are many ways to make your home look as if you’ve done a major renovation without spending major money.

• Paint.  A new coat of paint can run as cheap as $20 or even less if you’re just painting an accent wall.  It’s also probably the biggest change you can make in a room.  The difference between a yellow room and a blue room is huge; everything from the temperature to the mood changes, and all for the price of one gallon of paint.

Photo: The Daily Green

• Lighting.  A couple accent lamps can be picked up cheaply and make a world of difference on the ambiance within a room.  Set a few lamps with low wattage bulbs around the room and you’ll instantly have a cozier, more romantic feel.  Or, if you’re feeling brave, become a do it yourself-er for a weekend and install some sconces to add instant sophistication.

Photo: House Beautiful

• Accent Pillows. Bright, colorful pillows make a big statement on a neutral sofa.  Either custom made with inexpensive fabric or found for a bargain at a discount store, accent pillows are a great way to perk up a room.  You can splurge on an investment sofa and give it a new life every year or every season with inexpensive accent pillows.

Photo: Real Simple

• Artwork.  If you think it looks fabulous on your walls, then so will everyone else.  Hang up your children’s artwork or create some “modern” pieces of your own.  Frame the works as if they were a Monet and you’ll have an instant wall upgrade.

Photo: Real Simple

A few cheap, cosmetic touches can make a huge impact on a room.  Color, art, light, and fabric are inexpensive ways to make a tired room into one that is a breath of fresh air to your home.

The kitchen table is often one of the most used pieces in our entire home.  It is truly the definition of a multi-tasking piece.  From science projects to bills to catching up with friends to actually eating, the kitchen table takes us from morning to night.  Because we spend so much time with this one piece of furniture,  it is essential to choose a table that meets both our needs and our style.  With practically unlimited choices in aesthetics and size, how does one begin the process of selecting the right kitchen table for their own home?

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Measure the size of your kitchen or breakfast nook.  You will want at least on each side of the table where there will be chairs.  Anything less makes it difficult to push the chair out.  Ideally, you will have more in the range of 3 feet, but this is not possible in all spaces.  A small round table fits nicely if you have a large, open kitchen and plan to break the space up with the table towards the middle.  A rectangle is nice when you are trying to separate a living area from the kitchen.

Photo: House to Home

How many people will typically dine at your kitchen table?  A small round table is a nice look, but is only practical for very small families.  If you have more than four people dining on a regular basis, then you should consider a rectangular table.  Do you need ample room for serving dishes in the middle of the table?  This will be an important consideration when choosing a table width.  Remember you can always get a table with additional leaves if large groups occur, but are a rarity.

Consider what kind of activities will be taking place at the kitchen table on a regular basis.  If you have children that will often do their homework, crafts, and playing at the table, then you will want to pick a table with an extremely durable top.  There are tables with marble, tile, and polyurethane coated woods that will stand up to all sorts of marks and spills.  If you have a contemporary style, you could even go for a plastic or metal style.  Whatever material you choose, you just have to remember that you do not want to buy a table that you have to tiptoe around.

Photo: Veranda

Lastly, you will want to decide on a style.  There are endless options available on the market today.  Depending on the style of your kitchen, you could do anything from a rustic, farmhouse table, to a french country pedestal table, to a contemporary, clean lined plastic table.

Photo: Hickory Chair

As one of the most versatile pieces and biggest investments that you will make in your home, it is worth sitting down and giving thought to the considerations that go into choosing the right kitchen table.  You’ll end up with an attractive and functional table that takes you from morning to night and from reading the paper to sneaking a late night snack.

Clear, trendy, and contemporary, lucite furniture is a wonderful way to add a touch of the unexpected to your home.

Photo: Veranda

Lucite can be found in a wide variety of applications in the home.  Lamps, tables, and seating are all readily available in lucite.

Photo: House Beautiful

Lucite stools accented with deep turquoise fabric are a fresh addition to a more classic pedestal dining table.

Photo: Keno Brothers

Photo: Traditional Home

A traditional bed and vanity are given a youthful twist by adding a lucite bench seat.

Photo: Geoffrey Bradfield

The contemporary lines of this geometric coffee table complement the curvilinear lines of the furniture and the neutral tones of the room.

Photo: Architectural Digest

The following are some clever tips and tricks for updating your bedroom.

Create a small sitting area in an empty corner of your room.  A comfy chair will become a beloved spot for you to relax with a good book or a cup of tea, to sit while getting dressed, or to simply reflect at the end of a long day.  If your room is large enough, try incorporating two chairs and a small table; otherwise a small slipper chair will work perfectly.

If you are short on space, mount your bedside lamp from the wall.  You will have more space for your nightstand essentials and if you use a swing arm sconce, you will have the ideal bedtime reading light.

Add visual interest to the room with a piece of furniture placed at an angle.  Try your bed or dresser entering the room from one corner.

A bold comforter or quilt can become the centerpiece of the room.  Everything else can be neutral in a room when there is a graphic, statement comforter to take the center stage.  Choose a print that will carry you year round or vary it according to the seasons.  Add luxurious linens and soft pillows that will make getting into bed a treat.

If a plain wall is asking for something exciting and you don’t have any artwork available, try a beautiful quilt or large piece of fabric.  With a strong graphic print that contrasts with the bedroom wall, there is no need for a more expensive piece of art or headboard.  Coordinate with the bedding for a sophisticated look.