A little ingenuity can go along way in making your home attractive with minimal cost. Here are 7 ways to get started and tap your own imagination:

1. Mirror Mirror. Rather than hang a very large mirror, stand it up against the wall. Turn it horizontally and vertically to get a good look for your space.

2. Sheet Savvy. Buy a pretty and colorful discount bed sheet to use as a tablecloth. Gather the four corners and make a “poof” to tie with pretty ribbon.

3. Planter Plenty. Buy an attractive planter with a pedestal base and top it with a piece of glass for a quick side table.

4. Towel Trio. Hang a new colorful set of towels in your bathroom and put a decorative tie around it using a piece of luxurious cording with tassels. The cording is inexpensive when purchased at sewing stores.

5. Pretty Plates. Take all those pretty mismatched plates you have in your kitchen cabinets and hang them on the wall. They don’t have to all be the same size or pattern, but similar colors create a pleasing look.

6. Basket Case. Turn a sturdy large wicker basket upside down, cover with a piece of round glass, and you have an end table for next to the sofa. Store reference books underneath it.

7. Garbage Can Grandeur. Turn a new large plastic garbage can upside down and cover it with a pretty tablecloth that “puddles” on the floor to use as a bedside table. Store Christmas gifts or birthday presents that you don’t want your kids to find underneath it.

By looking around your home at what you already have, or buying things on sale at home stores and on the internet, you can “fluff-up” your home and make it more attractive in no time!

c2005 Kathryn Bechen.

Visit http://www.KathrynBechenDesigns.com for more ideas on decorating your home on a "centsible" budget. Kathryn is the author of the book, "Cottage & Garden Style Resource Guide for Southern California & the Internet," and she was recently interviewed about Non-Toxic decorating by San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyle magazine.

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