lil' bits of this-n-that: Forget The Cleaning Let's Decorate!

With Spring upon us, so is the in-depth cleaning. I can't wait to open the windows and get some fresh air circulating through the house. More than cleaning, I want to re-decorate. I want to move furniture. I want to paint something. To save myself money and time, I use some of the following tips. Everyday items can inspire attention-grabbing details in a home.

Recycle old sofa cushions - keep a couple of the pillows; cover in attractive but durable outdoor fabric, use as floor pillows.
Add a non-matching chair to traditional arrangement to keep it looking fresh.
Don't worry about buying a whole set of anything. Mismatched is in tune with today's eclectic decorating.
A stack of hard bound books or a stack of vintage luggage makes a perfectly serviceable end table.
Cover an old lamp shade with fabric, beads, wire or edge with ribbon. Use your imagination.
Think of your sofa as your favorite shirt, in other words, cover it in a color you love to wear instead of a neutral that disappears.
Use bold fabric patterns in small doses. A little on a footstool or accent pillows is enough.
For large chairs, choose a small print.
Instead of regular knobs on a chest or cupboard, try these ideas instead:

wooden spool/cord tied inside/ribbon tied outside

Use regular knobs for other purposes:

use handles for tiebacks/door knobs make great coat hooks/hang pictures on dresser knobs

Instead of spending money and time wall papering a whole room, put up a border as a chair rail, around the window or where the ceiling meets the wall.
Frame a bunch of family photos or pages from an illustrated book.
It is Spring so why not hang bouquet of flowers or single rose on wall.
Paint glass doors leading to an attractive patio, yard or deck a deep, dark color to lead the eye to what's behind.