Your approach to updating your home will partly depend on whether you own or rent it. If you rent you must read your contract carefully. There will be a list of Do’s and Don’ts. And you may find that with a friendly chat to your landlord you can agree to make some changes within certain parameters. He or she may even supply you with the paint, as long as you do the work – and that way you both win. The landlord gets a freshen-up for his house and you get a more pleasant environment to live in.

There are many simple ideas you can use to liven up your room or house without breaking the bank. The first costs nothing.

De-clutter
Be ruthless. Remove all the stuff that is cluttering your vision. Organise it. Put it out of sight. Send it to the tip. Advertise it on TradeMe. Or, if it has some value and you can’t bring yourself to dump it, give it to a friend who will love it - or take it to the local thrift store so that someone else can treasure it.

Work with what you have
This is another idea which costs nothing and it may just be a matter of rearranging the furniture and accessories. Try ‘floating’ pieces away from the walls and setting them in a friendly, conversational way. Or in the case of a bedroom, you may discover that if you put the bed against a different wall you get a better view or a more practical use of the space.

Make collections of your treasures
A third idea which costs nothing. Some decorative items, if placed on their own in a room, can look small and insignificant. So group them together and make a real feature of them. A friend of mine recently moved house and there were lots of decisions to be made regarding the placement of furniture and accessories. We had fun putting together, on an old family tea-wagon, treasures (some very old and some much newer), which are mementoes of family members who are dear to her. Some of those individual items are very small, but because they are now grouped together on the two layers of the tea-wagon, none of them looks lost and lonely. And she can enjoy them every day as she climbs the stairs.

Paint
Paint is relatively cheap. Perhaps you could paint just one wall in a colour which complements the existing colour. A feature wall could add pizzazz to a room. Bright or bold colours add drama. Or you could choose colours which are in the fabrics already in your room. This will help to link together the various components of your décor and give balance to your room.

Repaint cabinets
You will give your kitchen a whole new look if you repaint old cupboard fronts. And another idea is to replace old handles. Up-to-date hardware will make a huge difference, and will certainly be much cheaper (and easier) than a complete makeover.

Wallpaper
Everywhere you look at present there are articles about the resurgence of wallpaper, and photos showing its effectiveness. In fact it is becoming a major fashion statement in interior design. You don’t need to wallpaper a whole room – a feature wall of wallpaper which tones with your overall scheme can add texture, interest or drama. Imagine the wall behind your bed wallpapered to complement the colours and textures in the room. And wallpapering is not difficult to do – just follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Hunt for bargains
Buy products second hand. Go to garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets and TradeMe. You can acquire an amazing range of pre-loved items, from large pieces of furniture to the tiniest of accessories. And keep an open mind about the suitability of furniture that’s for sale. It might not be your idea of perfect in its current state, but with a few coats of paint in a well chosen colour it may be exactly what your room needs to give it a lift.

Add a mirror
A large mirror, strategically placed, will expand the feeling of space, which is especially useful in a small room, and will reflect light, which has huge advantages in a room with little natural light. Mirrors are so beautiful they can be a perfect alternative to wall art. Or use a bevelled rectangular mirror beneath a dinner table centrepiece. When you add your candles and flower arrangement you will have a lovely effect reflected in the mirror.

Framed photos
Framed photos, grouped together, either on a wall or on a side table, can make a cheerful statement. And if those photos are of loved ones, or of shared happy times (like holidays) they will certainly give you (and your room) a lift. Inexpensive frames can be embellished with shells, sequins, buttons or whatever your heart desires, or you could give them a faux paint finish. Postcards or magazine photos grouped together could also become an interesting decorative feature.

Create wall art
A piece of original art might be a purchase too expensive to consider at this time. So create your own piece of modern art. Choose colours you love to live with. Be bold, if that’s what your room needs, or timid if that is more your style. Look for canvasses when they are on special and buy test pots of paint. Let your imagination go wild and enjoy the experience. Who knows, you may discover a hidden talent!