You'd like to spruce up your home but you don't want to or can't spend too much.  Believe it or not you can do it.  With a little creativity, ingenuity, and a bit of planning you can create a unique style in any room within your home.

Before you begin your odyssey into interior design you must first look at your current theme or style.  What is it you like about it?  What do you not like about it?  Is there a certain culture or style that you'd like to reflect in your home or in a single room?

Got it?  Good!  Let's get started.

Pick a room to start with on your venture.  What's the first thing you want to change?  How about a paint job?  Er, but paint is expensive.  Right?  Not necessarily.  Check out your local paint or hardware store and ask the assistant if they have any "screw-up" paint.  This is paint that has been mixed for a desired color but something happened and the customer decided she or he didn't want it.  The store will then sell it to you at a reduced cost.  You probably won't have enough for an entire room but there should be sufficient for trim work and base boards.  If you can get two similar shades you can do accent walls that look great and bring depth to a room.

With the paint out of the way, how about some different furniture?  Perhaps a coffee table or some end tables would spruce things up?  Or perhaps you'd like a different dining room table and chairs?  That could be costly.  However, if you know where to look you can often find great prices on second-hand furniture.  Try thrift stores, garage sales, or even Craig's List.  Buyer beware, though, when you purchase from an individual.  Be sure to look for wonky legs, deep scratches or gouges, and other damage that can't be painted or sanded away.  While you're shopping look for other accent items, such as lamps, stands, vases, and even curtains.  You'd be surprised at the treasures you can find.

How about some sort of art?  If you live near a local art college you can often find pieces created by students for a low price.  Again, garage sales and thrift stores will have some items that might fit your style.  At the very worst you can purchase some frames, repaint them if you like, and add your own art or photographs.

For the more crafty individuals you can turn to nature for decorating ideas.  Pine cones, small fallen branches, and even loose bird feathers can be transformed into folk art that brightens up any room.  If you're handy with needle and thread you can even make your own curtains, drapes, duvets, and more from spare material, old sheets, or fabric that craft stores are trying to get rid of quickly.

So, you see, with a little imagination, a bit of work, and minimal cash you can transform any room in your home and even make it look as if a professional came in and flipped it for you.