ShareThisA continuing compendium of tips and tricks from Home & Garden Television:Creativity is key when it comes to decorating on a dime. Here are savvy ways to add style without maxing out your budget.PaintGo ahead and put some color on those walls for a fresh and inexpensive new look.Do It YourselfConsider what you'll save by taking on some relatively simple projects: Painting, tiling, installing a new floor, sewing curtain panels or throw pillows -- whatever you feel up to trying.BarterCall on a group of relatives, friends and neighbors who -- in exchange for lunch and the promise that you'll do the same for them -- can supply the muscle to rip down old wall paneling, roll out paint or assemble a roomful of flat-packed furniture.Shop Secondhand StoresThrift stores, consignment shops, church rummage sales, online auction sites, estate sales and even salvage yards offer a bounty of discount decorating booty.Look for Less-Than-Perfect MerchandiseYou may be able to snag super-deals on slightly damaged items, floor models and seconds (i.e., towels from a dye lot that was slightly off) -- so be sure to check stores' "as is" areas or to ask the manager about fire-sale items.Save With Stock ItemsOrder that sofa in a neutral, ready-to-ship fabric and use the money you save to splurge on colorful throw pillows.Wait Patiently for Sales and DiscountsWhile you shop, ask if items will be discounted anytime soon. Store and department managers are usually the best sources for this insider info and may even offer you the discounted price before it goes into effect.Add Unexpected AccessoriesA bowl filled with crisp green apples lends a bright pop of color to just about any surface, and a stack of vintage hardbacks adds height, dimension and character to an occasional table.Reuse Items You Already HaveYou don't have to buy new pieces to turn your tired domicile into a hip space. Instead, turn a fresh eye to what you already have and think about how it might be camouflaged, repurposed or re-imagined.Courtesy of Leah Hennen(For thousands of other ideas visit www.hgtv.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
101 pretty good ideas from Home & Garden Television
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