Don’t have the money to completely redo your living room or bedroom? No need to despair. There are some simple single items that will completely change the way a room feels and looks.

1. Paint the walls. Choose a contrasting color to whatever was there before. Stay away from whites and creams (the typical “safe” color for rentals) and instead go with something that provides character.

2. Get a large rug and place it under the table, near the bed or in front of the sofa to change the look of the floors and the texture of the room.

3. Hang art on the walls. Either a grouping of small framed print or a large painting, depending on the look you’re going for.

4. Change the curtains. From airy sheers to elegant voluptous drapes, your choice will change not only the atmosphere but also influence the theme of the room (elegant, country, eclectic).

5. Change the blinds. Go for wood or cloth if you prefer not to have curtains but still want privacy and darkness.

6. Add some greenery. Large potted plants are best for balconies and living rooms, while a collection of small potted herbs will probably add character to the kitchen.

7. Modify the lighting. Add some table lamps or a dimmer for mood lighting. Or use colored bulbs to alter the way a room looks and feels: red for parties and intimate dinners, blue to help you relax.

8. Hang a mirror in the room. Placed strategically, it can increase light, reflect the greenery from outside, and make a room appear larger.

9. Add a single piece of furniture. Make it extra tall so it draws the eyes up or choose something that is colorful, has some added decoration or features or includes a mirror.

10. Rearrange the furniture. It creates a completely different look even if you don’t add anything new to the room.

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Moving into a new Home

Whether you have a room that is too large (so you feel lost in it) or too dark (one small window or no window at all), here are some decorator secrets to turn the place into a cozy, inviting area you won’t want to leave:

THINK TEXTURE. The more fabric you have, the more inviting a room will feel. From rugs to plush curtains to lots of throw pillows, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make the room “softer.” Starting with a completely empty room? Choose furniture with padding: fluffy sofas, cushioned chairs.

THINK COLOR. Dark colors make a room feel smaller, which is what you want if you have lots of space and little to put into it. You don’t have to go completely dark either. You can leave the walls untouched but choose darker pillows for the sofa, thick curtains or wood (rather than metal or glass) furniture.

THINK ACCESSORIES. A small table lamp with soft lighting can soften the feel of a room and make it seem more inviting, especially if you place the lamp on the side table and then get cozy under a blanket (remember to keep one over the back of the sofa). Candles are another great touch: they provide a feeling of warmth and make the room feel more inviting.

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Moving into a Dorm

Before you start decorating your dorm room, talk to your roommate. You will need to establish boundaries and understand what you can and cannot do. Once that’s clear, here are a few things you can do without spending much:

Hang a laundry line over your bed and use it to clip photos, drawings or magazine clippings. Not only will it double as a “flying picture frame” but it will also brighten the room without much of an expense. The plus? Once you’re tired of the pictures, you can simply replace them for new ones.

Buy a magnetic board (they’re available for under $10 at office supply stores) and use it as an impromptu datebook, picture frame or poetic inspiration (magnetic poetry is still around and can be not only fun but also educational!). If you can’t find a magnetic board, try a cork one, where you can attach things using simple metal tacks.

Use a string of mini-lights to create a softer atmosphere in the room. Hang them over the bedpost, around your desk or over the window, depending on what effect you’re going for. Stick to white lights to avoid a Christmasy feel.

Nothing says “college” like posters on the wall. Find out if your school has policies regarding posting things (should you use tape or tacks?) and then get to work decorating the stale walls.

Adopt a pet plant. If you’re never around, a cactus may be your best option: easy to take care and fun to look at.

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Cheap Home Makeover

Think you can’t afford to redecorate? The truth is that you can do much with just a few dollars if you know what to buy.

The first step in changing the look of a room is to move furniture around. Rearrange the position of just a few major pieces and the whole feeling of the area will change. For more impact, move the rugs too: place them diagonally rather than straight, or move them to the center of the room rather than letting them linger under the sofa.

Next, replace one major element with something of a completely different color. You don’t need to spend any money on this at all. For example, you could try switching the bedroom curtains with the living room ones, thus transforming the windows in two rooms. Or place a throw or blanket over the sofa to change the look.

Buy an old calendar and a few frames at the Dollar Store and create an art corner. Rather than hanging pictures all over the place, create a grouping over the sofa or the side table. Choose a good arrangement (create a square or a diagonal line) for even more impact.

Buy flowers. Nothing makes a room brighter than fresh flowers. Get a large vase at the Dollar store or use a jar. Stick to the cheaper, wild flowers, rather than spending money on roses.

Get some candles. Tea lights offer the most impact for the least money, since you can create groupings of three or four in different corners. You can also replace one of the light bulbs with a colored one. Red insinuates passion or a club-like atmosphere, but it can also be very soothing if you use it in the right room and at the right time.

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More windows than curtains? In a rush to hide your rooms from the neighbors? Until you are ready to go shopping for new curtains, here are a few ideas to keep wandering eyes away:

Close the shutters. If you have them, use them, especially at night. If the room is meant to be kept private (such as in the case of the bathroom or bedroom), keep the shutters closed even during the day and use candles or a soft light.

Place a large potted plant on the window sill. It will obscure most of the view and provide you with enough privacy for a day room, such as the kitchen.

Buy removable window clings. They are sold at most Dollar Stores and usually available in either rolls or as large holiday decorations. To use them, simply spray the glass with water and place the cling on top. When you’re ready to remove it, do the same and it should come right off. Choose dark or busy patterns for the most protection.

Use a sheet or throw as a temporary curtain. This works especially well if you already have curtain rods in place and just lack the proper material to hang from them. If you are planning a move you should pack your curtains with your other moving boxes.

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If you’re moving to a new house that is larger than your previous residence, you may suddenly find yourself with less than enough furniture to fill all rooms. If budget is a consideration and you can’t simply go out to buy whatever is missing, there are some decorating tricks that can help you make a room feel “fuller” and more inviting.

Space out the furniture. While you may be tempted to place the armchairs and the sofa next to each other, that would probably leave a lot of empty space in other corners of the room. Instead, use a coffee table to complement the sofa but place the armchair in a different area, combining it with a side table, a large potted plant or a dividing screen to create an additional sitting area.

Use rugs. They create a feeling of unity among the furniture placed on it or nearby.

Add a few touches to increase the apparent size of the furniture. For example, a vase with flowers placed on a table can make the furniture seem taller, and a painting on the wall can make the walls feel less “naked.”

Paint the room more than one color. Choose a soft tone for three of the walls and a darker one for the fourth one. If you choose colors that complement each other, this will create a soft focal point, giving the feeling that the walls are drawn to each other.

Above all, don’t overcompensate the lack of furniture by placing lots of knickknacks on each corner. Rather than making the room seem fuller, that will only make it seem more crowded.

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As you’re preparing to move and packing things away, there are a few things you should be putting on the side to make the whole process easier.

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AN INFLATABLE MATTRESS. The last thing you want to do your first night at the new house is to spend a couple of hours putting your bed together.

Sleeping on the floor may sound like an easy option, until you wake up the next day with a sore neck and a room full of moving boxes to unpack. An air mattress is easy to transport (you can bring it along in the trunk or even as a carry-on bag) and will provide a comfortable place to relax that first day.

TAKE OUT MENUS. If you’re moving fairly nearby and you can walk around the neighborhood in advance of your moving day, pick up a few menus

from local places that offer delivery. You will probably be too tired to cook on your first night, so this would certainly make things easier. If you don’t have the chance to stop by the area early on, search online for local restaurants and print out their menus and phone numbers.

A PORTABLE TV OR STEREO. On the odd chance that you’ll be there before the truck arrives, or if your TV is a 50-inch monster that needs a dozen cable connections in order to work, taking along an alternative source of entertainment would certainly help you relax after a long, difficult day.

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If you’ve been playing with the idea of converting your basement into a living area, there are some things you should keep in mind.

• Most areas have some kind of regulation regarding remodeling and changing the structure of a property. This means that you may need a permit before you start, so make sure you find out in advance what the rules are for your city or county.

• The ideal basement should have a ceiling that is at least 7 foot high. Anything lower and you’ll have a hard time covering pipes and tubing when you start rebuilding.

• Before you invest any time and money into converting your basement, make sure there are no water leaks and no chance that the place would flood. If those are possibilities, you may not want to invest money on a structural change (and you may have a hard time getting a permit to do it anyway).

• What purpose you want the basement to fulfill has a huge impact on how easy it will be to convert it. If you are just looking for a small corner area to turn into a workout room, you probably won’t need as much work as if you want a full recreation room for the whole family.

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Ready to remodel? Hiring a contractor can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know what to look for. If that’s the case, here are some tips on how to make the right decision.

Ask for a recommendation. If you know somebody who hired a contractor recently, find out how satisfied they were with his performance.

If you can’t find anybody through personal recommendation, it’s ok to check the phone book or do an online search, but make sure that you look for reviews and contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there are unresolved complaints against the company.

As a general rule, contractors who have been in business for a long time are a better choice, as they will have connections with suppliers (and can get you better prices) and will know how to solve pretty much any issue that comes up during construction.

Don’t choose the cheapest option out there. Saving a few hundred dollars can be a mistake if it turns out the contractor uses cheap materials or has no experience with a particular type of remodeling.

Make sure the contract has no hidden fees or clauses. Cleanup and debris removal, for example, should be included in the quoted price. Brand names of supplies to be used and number of items to be bought (or where) should also be specified.

Find out if the contractor has all the necessary insurance and licenses to allow him to get building permits and obtain other paperwork as needed. Keep in mind that a beginner may be charging you less because he’s not able to get everything you need and is counting on you doing it for him.

Be wary of contractors who require a large deposit before they start the job. A small payment is ok to cover start-up expenses, but requesting too much money may lead to the company slacking on the job later on because they have already secured the money.

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If you share your home with a four-legged member, you are probably aware of the challenges involved in making sure everybody’s happy. If that’s the case, here are some tips on keeping the house in top condition but still making it a haven for your small friends.

Reconsider your floors. If you have a dog that sheds a lot, rugs will be a nightmare to clean. The same is true if you’re just housebreaking a new puppy. On the other hand, wood floors can get ruined pretty easily if you have a dog that runs around all day, causing scratches and marks. Laminate is a great alternative for the front or back room that allows outdoor access –If you have dogs, this will make it easy to clean mud prints several times a day.

To keep furniture in top condition, invest in a good cover or have a throw handy so you can cover sofas and chairs during the day, when your dog is likely to sleep on them. And avoid fleece or other materials that are more likely to attract fur.

To protect your pet, remove any objects at low level that can be dangerous. This includes everything from small items that can be swallowed and can cause chocking to cigarette packs (nicotine is poisonous), household chemicals and even plastic bags. Be careful with plants as well, as many are poisonous to animals.

Block any holes or hideaways that can lead to small pets (like ferrets or rabbits) getting stuck. Be aware of cracks or holes in the furniture as well –A small pet can get into the side of a reclining sofa and be injured when the sofa is opened.

If you have a pet that likes to chew (rabbits are the perfect example), make sure there are no live cables around when he’s out of the cage. Even puppies can get into trouble from chewing on wallpaper (and glue) or certain types of plastic, which can be too hard on their throats or stomach if swallowed.

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