10 fast cheap and easy decorating ideas

1 Update lampshades with new ones in more contemporary shapes or simply fresh white shades.  

2 Paint is the classic makeover potion. Instead of repainting a whole room, just paint one wall in a focal colour or paint a contrasting rectangle over a sofa to use as a “gallery” space. You can also paint the insides of bookshelves in an unexpected colour or paint your ceiling a lighter version of the wall colour. Update your kitchen with paint or any other space in your home.  

3 Update your window dressings. IKEA and other home stores have reams of readymade draperies you can hem to the right size (or leave to puddle on the floor), or you can make your own from sheets or lengths of designer outlet fabric. Hang from an attractive new curtain rod, also available in stock sizes. 

 4 Pull a room together by choosing two contrast colours – black and white, say, or white and one bright colour – and use them as a repeating theme throughout, such as a row of yellow and white pillows on a sofa, or robin’s egg blue walls and all-white furnishings.  

5 A simple but effective tip: Edit your accessories. Too much of a good thing is too much. Try taking all your home decor accessories and putting them in a box, then putting them back one by one where they’ll have the most impact.  

6 Take down all your paintings and other art and move them around to different walls or different rooms. It’ll be like seeing them for the first time.  

7 A classic display scheme ever since Victorian times: Create a gallery wall of family photos and other small pictures in matching frames, arranged in a collage on a large wall such as a stairwell or hallway. The art of arrangement is always stylish. 

 8 Inexpensive frame mouldings from the box store can transform a plain wall or hallway into an instant paneled look. Paint the mouldings in a contrasting shade or white.  

9 Replace overhead lighting with thrift-store chandeliers. A dated-looking chandelier can be painted white. You can also add extra crystal drops, available at lighting stores.  

10 Peruse Craigslist, eBay or freecycle.org regularly for finds. It’s amazing what shows up at a bargain or even free – but like any good flea market shopper, be sure to check regularly, as good things go fast.Get full list of home furnishing stores at Askme.com