Home improvement ideas?

[puakinikini]

So, our house needs a face lift, but we can't afford cosmetic surgery!

Last night I was up until 2am moving stuff and taping so my DH could paint today - he has someone helping him while I am at work (but I did not trust that he would tape - he is a free spirit). We are painting the living room and kitchen in neutral tans - was white and burnt orange (definitely not chosen by me). My dad bought us a home depot card for the paint for Christmas.

Now I need some inexpensive ideas for how to spruce up the house. I found some nice pots at a garage sale and repotted some plants. I may go buy a few more. I also bought a entry table and mirror on craigslist for $40 - total steal. But I need inexpensive ideas on how to make your house look nice.

I also want to add that I have a ton of those very annoying pot shelves in the living room and kitchen and need some ideas for those.

What have you done with your decor that makes a difference?

Thanks in advance!

[Cynthiabutterfly]

I lived in apartments so long, I spent alot of time trying to come up with non-permanent but cheap ways to make the walls less white.

Curtains are great- I used dowels (less than $2 at the hardware store) to hang them, and found some curtains on clearance at Target. I also made my own, with $1/yd fabric or the top sheet from a bed-in-a bag.

I also make my own wall artwork- frames from the $ store or garage sales, then I added magazine clippings, gift wrap, shelf paper, or photo collages. Then I collected different size frames and spray painted them the same color, or took pictures that had similar color schemes, and grouped them.

I also used a can of spray paint to make garage sale and thrift store lamps, shelves, etc. the same color. I spent a few dollars to get a stain/varnish to turn a freebie from someone's curb into a decent table for my patio.

I used shelf paper (the peel and stick kind) to add a fun element to lamp shades, shelves, closet doors, and plastic drawers in the kids rooms.

[buddysmom]

Changing the knobs or drawer pulls on things can make a big difference.
I've bought & framed greeting cards for wall art
Find fabric you like and recover throw pillows
I dont think I know what you mean by a ton of those very annoying pot shelves.

[nateNnatsmommy]

Yea, what are those?

I dont think I know what you mean by a ton of those very annoying pot shelves.

[katieyj]

I took some of my Mom's old scarves and put them in picture frames to hang. They're not something you can go buy and they remind me of my Mom.

[puakinikini]

Changing the knobs or drawer pulls on things can make a big difference.
I've bought & framed greeting cards for wall art
Find fabric you like and recover throw pillows
I dont think I know what you mean by a ton of those very annoying pot shelves.

Oh, they are in Arizona-thing or maybe a southwest thing. They are like built in shelves where the wall comes out creating a 1 foot shelf. If I find my camera I will take a picture, but they are in the living room, kitchen, and our bedroom. They are for decorative items, but they are high up so they are difficult to dust. Right now I have some candles, some vases, and a wooden bowl in the living room. I need to find some cheap decorative things to throw up there so it is not blank. The kitchen is particularly bad because we have them surrounding the whole kitchen and right now I have nothing up there.