No time or money for a full home renovation? Here are 10 quick decorating tips to add a little excitement and style to your home. We use these tips all the time for home staging.

1. Add a Throw Rug: Even if you already have a carpeted room, you can add a brightly colored or uniquely patterned rug for a different look. Use them to define an area. Place them on an angle to add interest to the room.

2. Put Valances on the Window: A window valance is simply a small decorative curtain. It’s much shorter and it’s only function is to look pretty on a bare window or a window with blinds.

3. Keep Your Home Organized: Okay, that doesn’t really sound like a decorating tip, but the more organized and uncluttered your home is, the better it will look and the more comfortable it will feel. Identify the cause of re-occurring messes then you can take steps to solve the problem. For example: Problem – accumulating mail on the kitchen counter. Solution: Don’t lay the mail down after checking the mailbox, immediately toss the unwanted mail in the recycling bin, bills go in their designated basket, and “to be read later” mail goes in another basket. This not only keeps the pile from forming but prevents wasting time handling it several times.

4. Replace dated ceiling fixtures. It’s amazing what a difference lighting can make in a home. New light fixtures are inexpensive and go along way towards updating your look. Lamps too add a stylish touch and create pools of warm ambient light.

5. Add color: There are so many ways to add color to your home. Besides paint on the walls you can add color with throw pillows, framed posters, table runners, folding screens, try back lighting a screen for a beautiful decorative focal point in a corner. In the bathroom try hanging new towels in colors coordinating with a small piece of art and throw rugs.

6. Paint Your Cabinets: Not ready for new cabinets? Paint them and change the knobs for a style that coordinates with your new look.

7. Add candles, group vases or other objects on tables to create centerpieces for tables. Try combining decorative items like a vase of fresh flowers set in a plate with rocks or a container of sticks from the outside, with a grouping of different sized candles on a tray. Light them on special events or when you are entertaining. Burned candles don’t look very decorative, consider replacing them after use. I save my burned candles for summer patio parties or power outages.

My  client was consulting me about Staging to Live, but my answer is nearly the same when I’m Staging to Sell.

“I really like this area rug,” she said. “it’s an expensive rug that someone gave away when they moved out of my building. It’s a nice grey and black that opens up my current living room.”

Unfortunately, my client’s new urban apartment had a totally different feel. She was using bright colors to create an airy feel.

“The rug would be a little departure from the warm tones in your condo and out your window,” I advised. “I can work with almost anything you really love but it’s something to think about.”  

One thinkg I keep in mind when deciding on carpet is whether I want a busy design or a simple carpet with a border and some color.  The busier designs draw your attention to the floor  where a simpler design sometimes coordinates with the whole room without screaming for attention. 

“It might look nice in your home office,” I told the client, “unless you want to slide around the room in your chair.”

My client decided she would give the area rug away. “In some homes – like my current one – it’s perfect,” she said. “I’ll have fun choosing something new. In a way, I’m glad you encouraged me to let it go. It’s too easy to hang on to things we don’t need any more.”