Your home is your haven - that wonderful place where you can kick off your shoes and truly relax. Or is it?  Is your kitchen looking blah, or is that den not as inviting as it used to be? Is your bedroom not as cozy as you'd like? Do you feel that your home is in need of a fresh coat of wow?

Whether you have a large, luxurious home, or a more modest cabin, whether you love warm country décor, or prefer sleek modern lines - there are many ways to update your home with ease. Best of all, decorating inspiration needn't break the bank. None of the more than two dozen ideas in this article will set you back more than a hundred bucks. Many of the ideas cost less than twenty dollars, and some are absolutely FREE! Simply refer to our budget guide, below, to keep your decorating budget under control.

Try one of the 25 ideas, or try a bunch. Whatever you do, have fun with your new decorating projects, and always let your personality shine through. That way you'll come away with a new room that is an extension of you - a space you'll just love to be in.

BUDGET GUIDE

1. Paint the walls ($$ to $$$$) - This seemingly obvious option can make an amazing impact on any room. A boring white room can become glorious with the help of a new coat of vibrant paint. If you're nervous about painting the whole room, try just a touch of color by painting one accent wall or a nook. Even those small touches will add great impact to your space. You can also 'test drive' your new wall color by painting a large sheet of cardboard with the new paint color, and hanging it on the wall for a few days.
2. Slipcover an old sofa or chair ($$ to $$$$) - Don't throw that relic out! If it's structurally sound, many pieces of old furniture can be beautifully updated with homemade slipcovers. Patterns for these are available at any fabric store. Choose upholstery-grade fabric that will stand up to wear and tear.
3. Look down...rugs!  ($$ to $$$$) - A new rug can add sparkle to any room. With a wide array of styles, the hues in a rug can bring together the color scheme of your entire room.
4. Cheap art ($ if homemade; $$$ if purchased) - Another way to brighten and add personality to a room; inexpensive art can be made or purchased. A piece of bright fabric can be cleverly framed or hung on it's own. Buy a roll of black and white film and take photos to turn into beautiful art prints, framed in stylish black picture frames. If you're not the artistic type, you can find art at discount stores. Old advertisements from magazines can also be framed, and add great character to a wall.
5. Add Asian (Free if homemade; $ if purchased) - A hot trend that isn't about to go away, adding even tiny touches of Asian inspiration to your room will instantly update it. Adding Asian lettering can make a big style change. For example, I took a plain pine frame with three slots for photos and filled it with hand-drawn Chinese characters for words I liked. It's not as hard as you might think! Look online for 'Chinese Alphabet' and you can copy the lettering easily and inexpensively.
6. Dual personality pieces (Free if previously owned) - When is a birdbath not a birdbath? When you add a slab of glass on top and make it a table! An old shuttered window can be re-made into a fun mirror. You see the point - most anything can have dual uses. Look beyond the original purpose of a piece, and your decorating will become creative and unique.
7. Mirrors ($$) - Mirrors add light and space to any room. Try ones with wrought iron detailing or take an old mirror and redo it with a fresh coat of paint on the frame to match your new décor.
8. New picture frames ($) - Like the mirrors, you don't need to buy brand new picture frames to update them. Simply repaint them to match your new colors, or check at garage sales or yard sales for nice frames that will only set you back a few dollars.
9. Lighting ($$$) - An overly dark room can be downright depressing. Add a few new light fixtures or lamps and you create warmth and elegance.
10. Rearrange what you've got (FREE) - A tip to fit all budgets! Simply rearranging the furniture you already have can make a dramatic difference. Create a drawing of your room, with measurements as accurate as possible. Then create templates of your furniture, and use these to try different groupings of pieces before you actually have to break a sweat.
11. Candles ($) - Ooh la la! A little candlelight makes any space warmer and more intimate. Cluster a variety of candles of the same shade, but different sizes for a clean and modern look. Just remember to never leave candles burning unattended.
12. Fresh flowers ($ or FREE if you have a garden) - They look and smell great, and add a splash of color to any room. Flowers don't need a pricey crystal vase to look beautiful. Funky vases can be found at dollar stores, or use an old Mason jar or tin cans.
13. Scents ($) - Updating your space means adding appeal for all your senses. Simple, natural scents add warmth to any room. Easy ways to create delicious aroma? Easy! A few drops of vanilla simmered in a little water on the stove will do the trick. Add a few cloves and cinnamon sticks for a vanilla spice combination. Or, add the peel of an orange or lemon for a citrus scent that is clean and fresh.
14. Re-do wooden furniture ($$) - As long as it's not a valuable antique, wooden furniture often looks better with a fresh coat of paint. Borrow books from the library on interesting new paint techniques to try on your chairs, tables, dressers and more.
15. Fun storage options ($ to $$$$) - Piles of magazines here, bunches of bills there, and books overflowing everywhere! Get organized in a stylish way by purchasing new matching baskets. Lined up all in a row they look great. Or take old baskets and spray paint them to match your décor. Again, paint to the rescue!
16. Plants ($) - Plants make a room more homey - instantly. Plus, plants are cheap! You can go to your favorite home improvement center and stock up on baby plants, which you can grow lovingly, or, for an even cheaper option, ask friends for cuttings of their great big healthy plants.
17. Refinish cabinets ($$$$) - Kitchen cabinets looking old and dated? Refinishing those cabinets will add an instant new look to your kitchen! A coat of paint and new hardware will make those cabinets look gorgeous. To find a combination you like, look through home decorating magazines.
18. Add molding ($$$) - Crown molding is an inexpensive option to make your space look classier. Traditionally, your molding should be painted white or off-white. The fun thing about decorating, though, is that you get to choose! For added impact, choose a paler shade of paint than your wall color, or try a bold statement with a dark wood stain!
19. Try new hardware ($ to $$$) - Old drawer pulls or kitchen cabinet knobs can make a room look dated. You'll be surprised by how much that little change will beautify.
20. Window treatments ($$) - Fun new window treatments might be just the thing to add a bold color to your room if you don't want bright paint on the walls.
21. De-clutter (FREE) - One of the simplest methods of creating a fresher new décor is to get rid of all that junk! We might think that all our knick knacks and collections are charming, but if they're taking over your space, it might be time to de-clutter. Simply store items away in cardboard boxes, and you'll be surprised by how much space you actually have!
22. New linens in the bedroom  ($$$$) - A beautiful new set of bed linens can jazz up a boring bedroom. If you can sew, you can choose exactly the fabrics you like, and really make this project your own.
23. Texturize  (Free to $$) - Just like gourmet chefs know to combine textures in their creations, interior decorators know that texture matters in a room. Combine soft and luxurious fabrics like silk or velvet with wicker or bamboo, etc. Smooth versus rough - like a beautiful glass bowl filled with a selection of stones is simple yet elegant, and adds contrasting texture that is very appealing.
24. Add a water element  (Free to $$$$) - The sound of water trickling is one of the most soothing sounds to human ears. Many people know this and add a water element to their rooms. How do you do this inexpensively? Try making a simple fountain of your own, or purchase an inexpensive one at a home improvement center.
25. Nature's bounty (FREE) - Living near the lake gives you all sorts of freebies to use in your decorating. Flowers, stones, fallen twigs, bark and leaves can all be used in creative ways to add finishing touches to your new décor. Plus, it's FREE, our favorite price of all!
    

By Christina Spence