Concentrate your efforts
An all-too-common mistake most people make in decorating their walls is to sprinkle things around just to fill empty space. Instead, imagine a rectangle on the main focal wall in the room you wish to dress up. Fill that rectangle with a grouping of themed art to make more of an impact at less of a price. We suggest multiples.

Make a big splash
Only have the funds to pick out one great piece of art? No problem. Pick one oversized print you really love. Hanging one oversized print on a wall can make a sizeable impact -- which makes both your budget and the space you're decorating seem larger!

Purchase pre-framed pieces
Selecting pre-framed pieces for your walls can help you save considerably on both time and funds. Many sites such as art.com let you order a pre-framed piece of wall décor, framed by in-house design experts, giving your space a sophisticated, finished look at a fraction of the cost.

Play with arrangements
Like ingredients in a recipe, artwork and objects can be grouped in different combinations to produce completely unique effects. Start by identifying one main focal piece and then arrange the other objects around it, incorporating inexpensive accent pieces or objects you already own to further stretch your budget.

Get creative
You don't necessarily need a large, blank wall available to update your space. Liven up those boring old bookcases, mantels, fireplace screens and stairwells by using them to showcase your wall art. Displaying art in unexpected places can make a totally unique statement.

Decorating on a budget? Skilled labor and materials add up fast. You don't want your project to become a financial burden. Each step should meet your re quirements and reflect your tastes. Rule of thumb? It's best to get structural needs figured out and accounted for first.
If you are calling in a contractor, three bids are recommended, and request references. And, if feasible, visit a project the contractor has recently completed.
Trips to home centers, show rooms, and furniture stores will help you establish a realistic figure. If the amount involved isn't large and you'll be able to pay it off in a month or two, the simplest way to handle it may be to put it on a credit card.
Remember, though, credit cards often have the highest interest rates. Talk to the employees at your bank, and use the Internet to explore every avenue from home-equity loans to refinancing. Check with the assessor's office, too, to determine the selling prices of homes in your neighborhood.
Kitchen and bath upgrades can return as much as 70 to 90 percent of their cost at resale. However, experts caution that it's not wise to invest so much that you significantly raise the value of your home above others in the area. Later, should you decide to sell, it could prove difficult to recoup the money.
If you're handy, lessen expenses by performing a portion of the labor yourself. Discuss this with the contractor, and make sure it's noted in your contract. Ripping up an old floor and hauling away debris are possible money-saving tasks. But use common sense, please: Dangerous materials, such as those involving asbestos or paint containing lead, should be left to the experts.
With all of today's options, high-end materials are not the only answer. Keep an open mind, and when the price is too steep, find a substitute within budget. Can't afford handmade Italian tiles? Ceramic tiles that mimic their warmth and color are an affordable alternative.

Hi

Decorating on a budget? Skilled labor and materials add up fast. You don't want your project to become a financial burden. Each step should meet your re­quirements and reflect your tastes. Rule of thumb? It's best to get structural needs figured out and accounted for first.

If you are calling in a contractor, three bids are­ recommended, and request references. And, if feasible, visit a project the contractor has recently completed.

Trips to home centers, show­rooms, and furniture stores will help you establish a realistic figure. If the amount involved isn't large and you'll be able to pay it off in a month or two, the simplest way to handle it may be to put it on a credit card.

Remember, though, credit cards often have the highest interest rates. Talk to the employees at your bank, and use the Internet to explore every avenue from home-equity loans to refinancing. Check with the assessor's office, too, to determine the selling prices of homes in your neighborhood.

Kitchen and bath upgrades can return as much as 70 to 90 percent of their cost at resale. However, experts caution that it's not wise to invest so much that you significantly raise the value of your home above others in the area. Later, should you decide to sell, it could prove difficult to recoup the money.

If you're handy, lessen expenses by performing a portion of the labor yourself. Discuss this with the contractor, and make sure it's noted in your contract. Ripping up an old floor and hauling away debris are possible money-saving tasks. But use common sense, please: Dangerous materials, such as those involving asbestos or paint containing lead, should be left to the experts.

With all of today's options, high-end materials are not the only answer. Keep an open mind, and when the price is too steep, find a substitute within budget. Can't afford handmade Italian tiles? Ceramic tiles that mimic their warmth and color are an affordable alternative.

Thanks