How often do we look round our homes and think, "I wish
I could spruce things up a bit ... if I only had the money"?
Well, brightening up a home certainly doesn't have to break
the bank. Follow my tips on how to give your home a lift
without having to spend a fortune;

1; Freshen up your rooms with scented candles. As well
as providing fragrant aromas, candles also add a magical
ambience to rooms.

2; Cut a 5cm square from a small sponge. Using a
tester paint pot, sponge a row of squares round the
centre of your room. Above this, sponge a second row,
to make a check pattern. A third row can be added if
desired, and different colours used for a more dramatic
effect. MUCH cheaper than wallpaper border.

3; Cover plain cushions with fabric remnants of either
brightly coloured fabric, fake fur, or elegant chenille or velvet.

4; Give shelves a pretty look using gingham fabric made
into a runner, edged with lace.

5; Buy four greetings cards designed by the same artist.
They could be romantic, abstract, modern etc. Frame them
in cheap clip frames, and display together.

6; Have a two or three tester sized, jewel bright, paint colours
mixed at your local DIY superstore. Zing up your accessories,
such as picture frames, plant pots, or paintwork.

7; Rearrange your books on the bookshelves. Organise
in size order, or put books with similar coloured spines
together. It looks much neater than a jumble of sizes and colours.

8; Buy a bunch of flowers and display them in the most
prominent part of the room. Not only will they look good, they
will make the place smell nice too.

9; Cover chipped and stained table tops with sticky backed
plastic. There are a host of colours and modern patterns
and textures to choose from.

10; Pick up an old fashioned mirror from a car boot, or garage
sale and decorate with glass paint. Paint a design straight on to
the mirror if you are artistic, or use a stamp or stencil if you are
not that confident.

11; Give your net curtains a new lease of life by dyeing
them to match your colour scheme. Cold water dyes are
easy to use, and have a good colour range.

12; Give your skirting boards, window sills and paintwork a
fresh lick of paint. You will be amazed how clean your room
will look with gleaming new paintwork.



About the Author

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Gail Miller is a UK artist and writer. View her vibrant,
contemporary artwork at her website, Gails Art Gallery
http://home.freeuk.net/gails-gallery
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