1 First impressions are everything. Spruce up your front door – things like a fresh coat of paint, a new knocker or even a shiny knob work wonders. Make sure your doorbell works, too.
2 Refresh your walls with vibrant colors. Pick a room and designate it the “summer room.” Repaint with a luscious, incredible hue.
3 Trade heavy fabrics for light and airy ones. Take down your old drapes and replace them with an open weave such as chiffon or organza.
4 Bring in the beach. Buy some synthetic coral from your local aquarium or fish store. It lasts longer than real coral, is more eco-friendly, comes in amazing colors and costs a lot less.
5 Spruce up kitchen cabinets. Apply a fresh coat of paint or stain or simply remove the doors for a European-style kitchen.
6 Fix up an old ceiling fan. Have new blades installed or just clean out and repaint the old ones.
7 Declutter for a quick makeover. Larger, clutter-free spaces create the impression of a bigger house.
8 Let the sun shine in. Strategic placement of a mirror can add an enormous amount of natural light. If possible, hang a large mirror in the living room directly where the sun beams in.
9 Clean out the garage for a drive-in theater and more. Home theaters, gyms, game rooms and computer rooms are the latest trend, but with every room in your house spoken for, the next-best place to turn for extra space is the garage. Paint the walls, put in a big screen, set up a sound system and add seating.
10 Follow the three R’s: refurbish, repaint, recycle. Being eco-friendly takes simple smarts and small steps. By reusing items such as old furniture, frames and artwork, you can make your own contribution to saving our planet while saving money.
Courtesy of Frank Fontana on hgtv.com
