Decorating your home can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work, and cost a lot of money. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and wrote this guide to help you make your home a place to be proud of - on a budget! All you need is paper, a pencil and a tape measure and your ready to get started!

Step One: Decide on the style of your Room

This doesn;t have to be complicated. You just need to decide what you would like to see, what you would be happy with. Here are some ideas:

Is there a hobby you really enjoy... fishing? sailing? Is there something or some theme you really love... cats? quilts? the tropics? Do you have a possession you love... a painting? African statue?

Each of the above can be used as inspiration. Walk around your home and think about these questions. Once you settle on an idea, move on to the next step.

Step Two: Get Specific Ideas

If you chose an item to design your room around, ask yourself the following:

What are the predominant colors in the item? What are the secondary colors? What does the item remind you of? (for example if I were to use a tropical painting I would think of the ocean, palm trees, warm weather etc.)

If you plan on using a theme, think about these questions:

What comes to mind when I think of the item? What colors or items would relate to this theme? Do any textures come to mind? (using the above example I would write down palm trees, dolphins, blues, greens, yellow, water and sand)

Once you have all of your ideas down on paper, move on to the next step.

Step Three: What the Room Needs to do and Budgeting

Now comes one of the most important steps. Ask yourself what the room needs to do. Is it a dining room that needs to sit 8-10 people? Is it a bedroom that needs to be relaxing? This is the time to take into consideration any allergies or disabilities your family may have. This will save you from buying something that will make you or them sick or hurt.

At this point you will need to have a budget in mind. Although the more money you can spend the more you can buy, remember that shopping on eBay can be very economical and good for any budget. Make a not of what you are willing to spend.

Step Four: Measuring and Making Lists

Though this may not be much fun, it has to be done. Get out your measuring tape and measure the room: length and width; height of the walls, windows and doors (for paint); and pieces of furniture you are going to keep.

Next get out the list you made earlier. Take another piece of paper and start two columns: "Things I Need" and "Things I Want". Under the first column put things like furniture, paint, flooring, window treatments, pictures, lighting, etc. Under the second column put things you'd like to have. (for example a statue, a live banana tree, or an aquarium)

Step Five: Rummaging and Shopping

Now you can get out and have some fun. I have broken this step into two parts. The first is rummaging - go through your house and see if you already have something you can use in the room. Look in closets, the attic, basement, shelves etc. The more you find the less you have to buy. Just don't use an item in order to save money if it really won't go in the room. Cross any item you find off your list.

Now you can sit down at your computer with the lists you made. EBay is great for finding just what you are looking for - garage sales and flea markets are more hit and miss.Having the list handy is absolutly necessary to find items that actually fit in the room.

When you find an object that you think would be perfect there are a few things to consider: Is it the right colors? Will it fit? Do I really love it? Can I afford it? If you have any questions be sure to ask the seller before you buy. And make sure to figure the shipping price and any other fees into your calculations. Once you have these questions answered, buy it or bid on it, cross it off your list, and subtract it from your budget. Then go searching for the next item. It's that simple.

Once you get all your pieces, paint the walls, draw up a plan and arrange the furniture, hang and place your items and voila - a beautiful room compliments of eBay!

A Few Additional Tips

When you are buying items it is a good idea to get the items you need first, wait for them to be delivered, and place them in the room before you buy anything else. That way you will not end up with a four foot tall banana tree that does not fit or look good in your room after you get the furniture in!

Make sure you like the paint color you choose by taking home 3 or 4 swatches (to make one big one), tape them together, and live with them in different places and in different light.

If you would like any more help, please contact me about decorating consultations or read my other guides. Thanks and good luck!