Times are tough. Many of us have to really cut back on our spending this year! Does that mean we'll have to give up on the idea of a remodel or any interior decorating ideas? Is it possible to change the look of our homes with little to no money? Well ... no and yes. No matter what shape your home or finances are in, there are lots of things you can do to transform and energize every room.

You must carefully weigh your lifestyle, your wants and your available time with your budget, however. If your budget is near zero, it actually makes it a little easier, meaning your options are fewer. Its a good thing. For instance, if you have been thinking about doing something with your living room and are stressed out because you can't really afford a those interior decorating ideas or makeover plans before friends and relatives come for Christmas, consider perusing a few thrift stores and estate sales this weekend. Find some inexpensive accent pieces (wild prints, colorful art prints, an unusual lamp) and bring your new finds home.

Go to a big box retailer and look in the paint department. Many times there are gallons of returned paint for sale for ten dollars or less. These were the wrong color or semi gloss instead of satin or whatever and the customer simply returned them. Here's where you step slightly out of your comfort zone and take the plunge (for $5 or so)! Try and find something that compliments your new find from that estate sale. You're going to paint one wall of your living room with that paint.

Remember the "60-30-10 Rule" when you're implementing your remodeling or interior decorating ideas. This means 60% primary color (usually light or neutrals) 30% secondary color and 10% accent. If the room is okay paint-wise, you'll use that for the primary color. Your $5 paint should work for your secondary and your "new finds" make up the 10%. Simply zapping a wall with a shot of wild color and adding a few accents will make a world of difference! Rearrange the furniture. Might as well, as you had to move it or take most of it to another room to paint anyway.

Take a look at the furniture. Could swapping some with something from the family room or a bedroom change things? Would a slipcover work for you? Renting a rug cleaner with a furniture attachment could absolutely work wonders, and if you've removed everything to paint, why not? By the way, you don't have to bring EVERYTHING back in to the room, you know. The professional decorators will tell you that "less is more" in interior decorating.

Your bedroom is similar. It may not get the traffic the living room and family room get, but its your most private place, and therefore the most important. The good news is that you can buy a bedspread or comforter, match or compliment that with the curtains or drapes and you're almost done! Headboard, foot, dresser and night stands can all simply be painted. Also, if you rearrange so that you can eek out a private corner, with a table, lamp and small comfortable chair (taken from the living room or family room, perhaps), you can create a room that will truly be your sanctuary.

Curtains are the creative mind's dream. The big boxes have dozens of styles and designs for cheap. Fabric stores are always closing out fabrics and even thrift stores have drapes and curtains. Ironing a hem along the top and bottom edge of a length of raw fabric and snapping in shower curtain hooks (nice ones) will transform the bedroom. On a double curtain rod overlaying a print that compliments (in your mind) your bedspread over a dark solid fabric will give the window an upscale look and afford you an elegant privacy.

For more budget loving ideas you can do in a weekend, go to RemodelQuickTips.com and click on DECORATING TIPS in the navigation column. All the ideas and tips there are free and created for the DIY homeowner ... like you!