When you come home from work, the last thing you want to see is your living room looking as frazzled and drained out as you. You resolve to make this weekend a “makeover day” for your home, but you don’t know where to start! You don’t even have the money to hire a professional for the job. Fear not, all is not lost. You can easily accomplish these tips over a few days and bring a lifeless, dull room back to life.

Cleaning – Chances are good that you have stacks of old magazines, books, and newspapers lying around in corners, inside closets, everywhere. Plus lots more of shoes, clothes, and toys, especially if you have children. These all damage the character of your room, and instead make it look like a untidy junkyard rather than a warm, comfortable place to rest and relax. Vacuum or clean the upholstery, curtains, rugs, and the floors. Remove all your decorative collectibles and give each piece a thorough cleaning, and polish up the tables and surfaces.

Rearrange – First thing to do here is to pull away all those pieces of furniture sticking to the walls. It does not matter how big or small your room is; get them out and rearrange them in small groups near the middle of the room, or place your furnishings at interesting angles in front of your focal point to create an intimate conversation area. Do you have a narrow room? Try placing the sofa on the diagonal to make the room appear wider.

The focal point – Don’t have one in your room? Try painting one side of your room a different, but complementary color, that complements the rest of your room and furnishings. This will be the room’s focal point. Try placing your favorite piece of furniture against the new wall to complete the look. You can also decorate the wall with interesting art work or a large ornately framed mirror, or something unique and interesting. When you use a mirror, though, make sure that it’s reflecting a pleasant view. If your room already has a nice focal point, you can just repaint your entire room instead, to create a fresh, new atmosphere.

Add some greens – Green plants and bright flowers can immediately transform any room from dreary to delightful. Use plants of varying heights and species for interest Keep your plants in good health and well-trimmed. A dying plant always adds negative vibes to any ambience. If your room doesn’t have enough bright sunlight, you can opt for silk greenery instead.

Get new lamps – Unless you want to make your room look like something left over from the civil war, remove those outdated lamps from your room and replace them with new, unique ones. Look for unique, interesting lamps that will make a bold statement, and you’ll be sure to find a few that reflects your personality and individuality, as well as matching the theme of your room. Look for lighting with three-way switches; this offers you a variety of lighting options to set the mood in your room.

There you go! With a little bit of imagination and creativity, you can breathe new life into your frazzled room. All it takes is your creativity, imagination, and some elbow grease. Your efforts will ultimately result in a fresher, more interesting, and more vibrant home. Renew your passion for decorating your home, one room at a time!