We have all been there. Unimpressed with lackluster furniture, you secretly wish you could just dump all of your furniture and start anew. Grateful for the hand-me-down dresser or the dining table that was purchased at an almost unfairly cheap price, a glance at your almost non-existent budget to see what you can do leaves a feeling of dread. Resorting to the thought that you are stuck with the same old furniture? Think again. Here are some tips and tricks to spruce up your current layout.

Think of a theme that would be best represented in your home, and for smaller accessories make a trip to your local Ross or Marshall's, or even make the trip to Renton and check out IKEA. Also, try garage or estate sales in the area - they can provide unique additions to your home or at least help you figure out where you want to start.

For most families, time is spent in the living and dining areas. A bold colored blanket draped across a plain couch can do wonders, especially paired with vibrant throw pillows. If the couch itself is an issue, take specific measurements and check out www.surefit.net for a washable slipcover starting at $85, these are especially ideal for those at home with pets or children. A table runner and chair padding can not only be decorative, but also festive. With simple patterns and price effective fabric, these will prove to not only be easy to make, but will bring a personal addition to your home.

A fresh coat of paint or varnish can do wonders for an old dresser or nightstands that have seen better days. Do not be afraid to get creative with patterns or bold colors, and check out some ideas on www.HGTV.com for ideas on stripping and refinishing wood. Lastly, for the kitchen, use Grandma's old vintage plates as décor or place little souvenirs from worldwide locations on your windowsill. Use old wine bottles as flower vases, and glue magnets onto old tins for unique refrigerator adornments.

Completely lost on where to start? Scour the internet for specifics - the numbers of blogs out there highlighting how to make your own faux leather chair padding are numerous, and often times you can directly contact the blog's writer for assistance.