Keeping things organized during the holiday season may prove to be a big challenge. With presents to wrap, cards to send and packing to be done before visiting friends and family, you may find yourself under a pile of papers even before Christmas gets even close.

· Make a list of everybody who’s getting either a card or a present. Write down the name, address and type of present to be given. Those that need to be sent should be bought and prepared first. If you are planning on buying cardboard boxes for the presents, do so well in advance, so you have a chance to get the packages to the post office before the holiday rush starts.

· Label cardboard boxes that contain holiday decorations. Do this before you start taking anything out. This way you’ll know where everything goes when it’s time to put it back.

· Create a wrapping center. Designate a corner of your desk, a drawer or a box to put all the wrapping paper, tape and gift tags.

· Dig on your old boxes before buying anything new to decorate the house, the tree or the porch. Chances are you don’t remember what’s in there.

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Some small changes or additions can turn a plain house into the stuff of dreams. Whether you’re going for romantic cottage or charming country styles, sometimes it’s the little touches that can make all the difference.

Picket fences scream cottage, even if you live in the middle of the city. Stick to white if you want something obvious or mix pastels and bold colors for a major impact.

Turn your porch into an outdoor room. Use vintage furniture (from benches and chairs to a hatch) as much as possible to add character. Choose weather-resistant materials and don’t be afraid to buy things at garage sales or discount centers –After all, these items will stay outside and probably end up damaged after a while. Add touches of color and charm by using pillows, eye-catching accessories and lots of potted plants.

Hang stuff from the walls. Old pots and pans, dried flowers and vintage collectibles (such as mirrors, watering cans or other small items) all scream cottage charm.

Take the doors off the shelves. This works particularly well in the kitchen. Get rid of a few cabinet doors and use the open space to display cookbooks, vintage cooking utensils or well stacked china.

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Ultimately, what your kid’s room will look like depends on personal taste (yours and eventually your child’s), although there are some basics to keep in mind when designing and decorating one:

Choose colors, furniture and décor that will grow with the child. If you go overboard with the cutesy designs, things will have to be changed as the kid becomes a toddler or a pre-teen. A way around this is to paint the room itself a neutral tone and then use bedding, curtains and rugs to provide personality and details.

Pick materials that are durable. Washable fabrics are a must, as are darker colors (whites and beiges will get dirty too quickly). Low-maintenance that are machine washable and will withstand wear and tear will make your life a lot easier.

Get plenty of storage at kids’ eye level. Trunks, large drawers and bins are great to help kids get organized. At the end of the day, if you don’t feel like picking up things, they can just be thrown into containers to be sorted out later. If you want the kids to do the organizing themselves, don’t choose furniture with high drawers or pegs they can’t reach or open.

Provide plenty of insulation. If you have hardwood floors, cover them with thick rugs or rubber mats, to prevent injuries when kids fall or play on the floor.

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Unless money is not an issue, there are some home improvements that just don’t pay to be made.

Don’t turn a bedroom into anything else if you plan on selling your house soon. A home office or a workout room may look good, but your home will be listed as having one less bedroom, lowering the selling price.

Don’t get a concrete patio. Deal with the grass or have a section covered in stone or a wood deck. Concrete increases temperature, reflects sunlight and will usually crack in hot climates. Also, it doesn’t look that appealing and you’re stuck with no garden, even if you change your mind.

Avoid bold finishes around the house. If you want bold, choose a striking wall color or bright curtains or rugs, which can be changed easily. Avoid carpeting, counters and other finishes that are too bold or too different. They may look great now, but chances are you’ll get tired of them at some point and then it will cost you a small fortune to replace them.

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If you can’t afford to completely redo a room, there are still things you can do change its look and feel. Most of these changes will cost you under $50 and some will cost you nothing at all.

• Paint the room. Choose a contrasting color to the one you had before, so it’s truly noticeable. If you can’t afford to buy paint for the whole room, paint one wall in a vibrant color and make that wall the center of the room.
• Change the curtains. A lively, flowery curtain will give the room a completely different feel than heavy drapery would. Play with options or choose whatever is on sale.
• Cover the floor with a rug. Simple rugs can be found at discount stores for as little as $20-30. Don’t worry about covering the whole floor either. Just place it in the center of the room or in the area you want to accentuate.
• Move the furniture. Simply changing things around will make the room feel different. You can also switch pieces of furniture with something from other room or use a side table as a nighttable or vice versa.
• Hang art on the walls. You won’t be able to afford a one-of-a-kind painting for $50 but places like IKEA sell posters ready-to-frame that look like the real thing.

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