Budget-friendly tips for updating old decor

I've got a fever and the only cure is new decor.

Unfortunately, any extra money I get seems to be going into my gas tank so any changes must be done frugally.

One of my favorite things to do is turn trash into treasure. I love having unique items in my home, and making them is half the fun!

My current project is my master bathroom. I have not changed a thing in there for at least five years and it's getting quite boring. The purchase of an old Coca-Cola crate at a garage sale last Saturday sparked a decorating bug in me that I just can't squelch.

This particular crate still had parts of the wooden dividers that once separated bottles still in it. Standing upright on its side, they act like mini shelves. It looks perfect on my bathroom counter, holding small frames and little jars of stuff.

Next on my list of changes was my giant, unframed mirror above my double sinks. I have always hated it. My intention for quite some time has been to buy wood and frame it off myself, but that hasn't happened yet. So, as I was standing back, admiring my Coke-crate shelves, the scarves hanging on a hook behind me caught my eye. Hmmm... those would be lovely framing off my mirror! So, I draped my old fringy scarves around the edges of my mirror (for the record, before you start thinking Sanford and Son, my decorating style leans more to an eclectic bohemian look). After a good wipe down and a few strategically-placed candles, my bath is like a new room! All for the low, low price of a wooden crate.

One of the cheapest ways to change the look of a room is changing the paint color. However, if you are not one to just take a chance on a gallon of paint, there is a Web site called mydeco.com that allows you to upload a picture of your room and then virtually decorate it. Change the paint, wallpaper and flooring or try new furniture in your room before you buy it. It's a safe way to test different looks without ever spending a dime.

So, if you've got a fever and a cowbell won't match your decor, pick up some decorating magazines, get inspired and I'll see you at the sales!

Kitty Pesetsky is a graphic artist for the AFN. Her Trends and Bargains column appears monthly.