From Everyday to Elegant: Decorating on a Budget

To achieve a polished look in your home without needing to pay an interior designer, look to all of the free or low-cost design resources that abound. Check out the interior design books at the library, peruse design magazines at bookstores, and take home tours to see designs put together in a finished home. If you don't know of any local house tours or don't want to spend the money, walk through a real estate open house or two for some inspiration. To help choose color schemes, the local art museum may even point you towards an unexpected color palette. And of course, in this era of reality TV there are plenty of design shows to watch. Some of which will help you envision what direction you may not want to take!