From Everyday to Elegant: Decorating on a Budget

Some older houses have imperfections that may impair your aesthetic vision, like cracks in the ceiling or other items that need repair. Many of these imperfections can be overcome by learning some simple tricks.

• For a problem ceiling, use a ceiling stucco paint to hide the cracks and bumps.
• When tackling a wall that is not flat, build it outwards with two-by-four planks of wood part way up the wall (enough to cover the bulge) then put sheet rock over the planks. Cover up the sheet rock with bead board and top it off with a nice piece of wood to create a shelf. Or for a cheap short cut, cover imperfect walls with fabric.
• For an uneven floor, purchase very small ceramic tiles that can conform to the bumps without breaking.

Any home handyman (or handywoman!) can tackle many of these problems without spending much time or money.