Friday, 01/28/05

Whether you are getting your first apartment or updating your existing home, you can do it without spending a ton of money.

When it comes to decorating on a dime — or in this case, accessories for under $10 — there are lots of ways to make a house feel like a home.

''With my clients, I like to work with what they have. They might have old toys from when they were young or something from their grandparents, such as silverware that was handed down,'' says interior designer Jennifer Jones of Jennifer Jones Design Inc.

Jones recommends creating groupings of like objects, such as the silverware or wooden boxes, even vases.

''You could paint the boxes a satin black and with the vases you can add just one tulip or rose in each vase.''

For more inspiration, try these other ideas from Jones and five Nashville women known for their creative flair and resourcefulness: Linda Boykin-Williams, a Hollywood makeup artist; Mary Byrne Pigott, student majoring in graphics design; Nicole Mynatt, designer; Kathy Rivers, a public relations supervisor; and Connie McGhee, an art director.

• Take pages from old books that have wonderful etchings or engravings and frame them.

• Frame old calendar prints.

• Paint inexpensive frames or matting the color you want.

• Use cool fabric to make slipcovers or recover pillows for an instant lift.

• Take a plain lampshade and add trim or hot glue silk flowers on it.

• Update lighting fixtures with contemporary lighting for under $10 at Home Depot or Lowe's.

• For window treatments, use inexpensive drapery clips to hang fabric or printed sheets. For an Asian look, hang bamboo placemats.

• Instead of an expensive drapery rod, use a metal rod — the Home Depot staff will cut it for free. Or try something from nature, such as a tree limb for a shower curtain.

• Remove doors from a bathroom vanity and use wicker baskets to hold bathroom items.

• Remove plain kitchen cabinet hardware, wrap colorful polymer clay around it and bake to create decorative handles and knobs for your kitchen cabinets.

• For an organic look, use burlap to cover a table. (And when you get bored with that look, you can use the burlap to wrap gifts.)

• With plants, paint inexpensive terracotta pots whimsical colors or make them look aged by dry brushing them with greens or browns.

• Turn dated kitchen canisters into works of art using Modge-Podge (available at craft stores), colorful magazine or catalog pictures

• Create a fake mosaic with paint. Paint the whole area black (for grout), let dry and tape off your squares. Buy a stencil paint kit (with lots of colors) and go to work. When dry, coat with polyurethane.

• Paint your furniture for an updated look.