Combining New and Old Items

• Add a few select antique pieces to each of your rooms to combine new and old items. Don't crowd the room with antique pieces. Aim to add a touch of the past with the present, without your room looking like an antique store or flea market booth. Walk through your home and gather all your antique pieces in one location. Select one piece to go in each of your rooms. For example, place an antique picture frame on a coffee table or an antique chair in an entryway. Place remaining pieces in storage to exchange out later.
  
  

Decorative Mirrors

• Replace plain, boring glass mirrors with decorative mirrors. Many pre-built homes come with wall mirrors that have no edging or decorative features. You can dramatically change the mood and look of a room by adding a decorative border or completely replacing the mirrors. Hang fabric swags over the tops of mirrors to create a decorative border. String clear or white lights along the mirror edges to bring attention to the mirror.
  
  

Window Treatments

• Select window treatments that are appropriate for the room. Informal rooms, bedrooms and kitchens do well with lightly colored cotton or linen fabrics. Solid fabrics that pick up the colors already present in the room will enable the window treatments to be functional and decorative. Partial window treatments are good for picking up the room's colors and accenting the theme of the room. Use mini-blinds or valances for partial window treatments.
  
  For formal rooms, use heavier window treatments with sashes, valances, tie backs and decorative items. Use silk, suede or organza for formal rooms. Full-length curtains that reach to the floor do well in formal rooms.
  
  

Cabinet and Drawer Hardware

• Renew cabinet and drawer hardware to alter the mood and style of a particular room. Change the cabinet hardware to match your kitchen theme. Change the drawer hardware for dressers, drawers and bureaus in the bedroom to switch to a contemporary or different decorating style. Change cabinet handles and drawer pulls in the bathroom to match the other bathroom hardware and decorating style. Changing the cabinet and drawer hardware is a great way to save money and significantly alter the appearance and decorating style of your rooms.