Simple Cheap Party Decorating Ideas

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Whether you want to give a space a minor face-lift or a major overhaul, tackling the project can be exciting...but also expensive and exhausting. Here, how to reap the rewards of a room well done — without feeling spent.

1. Find Advice — Free!

Get your mojo flowing with these five no-cost online aids:

hgtv.com/designers-portfolio Search by room and style through photos uploaded by designers around the country; sign in to save your favorites. For on-the-go ideas, download Good Housekeeping @Home iPhone app's searchable and savable Home Decor Gallery (also at goodhousekeeping.com/home-decor-gallery)
homestyler.com Virtually decorate spaces based on their actual dimensions with this room designer that uses 3-D images and real-life products
Olympic ColorClix Download the desktop app from olympic.com/colorclix, then click on any hue to find a match from 1,200-plus shades. "Paint" a room, and print a "stripe" card to take to any Lowe's
Findyourfurniture.com Produced by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, it's where to find that perfect piece. Search by furniture type, room, dimensions, and more

2. Gather Your Tools

In addition to a level (for frames) and a stepladder, here are some makeover must-haves from HGTV designer and Target home-style expert Sabrina Soto:

A 25-foot measuring tape lets you size up the room (don't forget windows, nooks, etc.) and furniture (the current sofa's proportions can help if you're replacing it)
Painter's tape protects molding from paint, but can also mark where to align tops of frames before you hammer or drill
A canvas drop cloth shields furniture and floors — and does double duty as a "slip" to let you push furniture over floors sans scratching
A cordless drill bores holes and can help you assemble (or disassemble) furniture

3. Bustproof Your Budget

Itemize the room's contents: Divide the list into "keeps," "maybes," and "discards." Are there furnishings you'd like to move elsewhere in your home, or ones from other rooms that could go here?

Make a shopping list Determine what you'll need, and the expected costs — realistically; then add at least 10 percent
Save receipts Note what's returnable, in case you realize something just doesn't work
Hire help on the cheap College kids — a fashion student keen on sewing drapes or an upstart interior designer — may offer their services at a bargain rate via a campus employment office
Opt out on upholstery protection It's not worth it, even if free with your new sofa. Many furniture fabrics are made stain-resistant; extra treatment isn't better

Small Changes = Big Impact

If you've only got...

$10: Upgrade your hardware
New knobs can give a dated dresser or entertainment center, or even tired kitchen cabinets, a designer look; sleek new switch plates brighten walls.

$20: Swap out a lampshade
Go from plain white to chic black, or ditch a pleated dust catcher for a modern drum shape. Even cheaper: Paint, cover, or trim the shade you have.

$30: Put brush to wall
For around $30 a can, fresh paint transforms a space. GHRI's budget pick, Olympic's VOC-free Interior Latex Satin (see website mention above), is under $23 a gallon.

$50: Toss on new pillows
A pair of inexpensive pillows can spruce up your bedroom or living room. Spend less by opting for covers you can slip over existing cushions. Or, add a throw.

$100: Roll out a rug
Whether it's a patterned wool that plays up the wall color or a rough-hewn jute that has a casual vibe, putting down a new area rug is an instant upgrade.

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