Eleven cheap mini-makeovers for your home

Serena Cowdy shows you how to transform your home on a tight budget.

Several people I know have scaled back their home makeover plans recently. As the recession takes its toll, dreams of attic renovations and flash new kitchens are being put firmly on the backburner.

Fortunately, there are several quick and easy steps you can take to give your home a rather more frugal facelift.

Whether you're trying to sell your property - or you just want to make it a nicer place to live in - these tips should point you in the right direction.

1. First impressions

If you don't have the time, money, or inclination to repaint the whole house, focus on sprucing up your front door instead.

In our efforts to make every room look perfect, many of us forget about the outside of our properties. But your front door is actually one of the first things visitors will see, and a clean, smart entrance will make an instant impact on potential buyers.

Of course, it's what you'll see every time you're fumbling for your keys, too; a nice bright colour can raise your mood before you've even stepped over the threshold.

You don't need very much paint to coat a front door (and it's going to be lashed by the elements 24/7) so if you can only afford a little top-quality paint, I'd recommend you use it here.

2. Make wallpaper a feature

Well-chosen wallpaper can really add 'va-va-voom' to a tired-looking room. And if you're canny with where you use it, it can be a cheap decorating choice, too. For example, why not paper a single wall, and make a feature out of it?

This cost-cutting can have a positive visual effect, too, because you can draw the focus away from the grottier aspects of the room. You could wallpaper around a feature fireplace, inside a dull alcove or behind the head of your double bed.

3. Mix it up

You could also give your home a new look for absolutely nothing - just by re-organising your furniture. Waking up to a new view can make a surprisingly big difference to how you feel.

Moving large objects can even change the apparent shape and size of a room. Position a sofa diagonally across a narrow sitting room, for example, and that room will look instantly wider.

If you can't be bothered to reposition all the furniture, try re-hanging your pictures instead. Swap your paintings around and you'll see them all (quite literally) in a new light.

4. Find new ways to display

If you have a hotch-potch of half-finished shampoos, sticky moisturisers and leaking cleansers, decant them all into matching glass bottles.

The lotions themselves may be cheap, but they'll look much more glamorous in their new homes and will make a pretty bathroom display. As the name suggests, the Coloured Glass Bottles website has a pretty big range to choose from.

5. In splendid isolation

Fresh flowers instantly make any room more cheerful and welcoming. If you can't afford a new bouquet every week, just buy one or two stems and make a feature of them.

For £1, you could buy a peony, rose, sunflower or other large bloom. Display it in a clear glass vase or bottle in a well-lit area, so all the attention is drawn to its detail, colour and scent.

Make it the focus of the room and it'll be much better value than a £2 bunch of tatty flowers that wilt after a couple of days.

6. Mirror, mirror

Another way to transform a room quickly and cheaply is to add a large mirror. Place it opposite the window to maximise the light it reflects, and the room will seem both brighter and bigger.

You don't need to splash the cash on an elaborate frame or unusual shape - in this case, it really is size that matters. IKEA's range of big, affordable mirrors is a good place to start.

7. Blinding!

If you've got your heart set on a particular curtain fabric, think about getting it made into blinds instead. That way you can be frugal as well as stylish - because blinds use a lot less fabric that curtains do.

Swapping heavy curtains for Roman blinds will also make a room look lighter and roomier.

8. You can handle it

If you can't afford a new fitted kitchen, think smaller and replace the handles and knobs, instead. If you're feeling a bit more ambitious, you could even change the door fronts on the units.

Lark & Larks sells a wide range of affordable handles, knobs, hinges and doors. If you're willing to pay a little more, have a look at the door handles and knobs on offer at Chloe Alberry.

New fittings can transform a tired piece of stand-alone furniture, too. For example, a fresh coat of paint and some stylish new handles can turn a shabby dresser into a real conversation piece.

9. Dyeing for a revamp

Give old fabrics a cheap new lease of life by dyeing them. Everything from bed sets and cushion covers to throws and curtains can be transformed, and it's also an easy way to disguise marks and stains on pale materials.

DYLON fabric dyes cover practically every part of the spectrum. Have a look at this page of the website to find your perfect colour, then revamp one or more rooms by dyeing the main soft furnishings and adding matching accessories.

10. Dish of the day

Lots of us have weird collections of crockery that we started as students. You can now buy bright, simple crockery for next to nothing, so ditch those chipped plates and stained mugs and give your dining room a new lease of life.

At IKEA, for example, you can currently pick up simple pieces of white china for as little as 35p!

11. Virtually there!

Finally, have a look at the MyDeco website. It has a clever 3D tool which allows you to see what new furniture would look like in your very own home, and there are lots of 'How To' DIY guides to follow.

You can also make a moodboard of your colour preferences, thoughts and design ideas. And you can shop for homeware by price, so you can find the items that fit your budget.

All this from the comfort of your own sofa!

More: How to improve your home on a budget | Furnish your home for £1,000