Make your home functional and useful for your own personal family lifestyle. Here are some simple ideas:

• Create a new focal point in a dull room by bringing your china cabinet into the living room, for instance. Also accessories the shelves with decorative plants, pictures, books, vases, candles, etc. You'll need to remove the doors first so these things can be seen and appreciated.
 
• Work your artwork in and around the furniture for a surprising twist. There lots of books with tons of ideas. You' should fond out there many illustrations that show you ideas on hanging artwork low on the wall, tucked in between a lamp and sofa or chair.
 
• For the most spacious feeling in a room, the ceiling should be white; but you might want a cozy look. Hence consider painting the ceiling an accent color or mounting faux beams. You can create surprise by hanging potted plants (artificial ones) from high beams in a vaulted ceiling room.
 
• An inverted "V" arrangement facing the focal point will give you a change of pace from the more standard arrangement configurations.

• Look for other stable pieces of furniture to place in front of your sofa other than the standard coffee table. You should try ottomans, a large chest, a chess set on a display, stacked futons.
 
• Look throughout your home for unique pieces of furniture that aren't getting the attention they deserve. Then, bring them into the living room or family room where they will be functional and more appreciated.
 
• If you need a quick inexpensive curtain rod, try a garden stake and slip rings over it to draw the curtain.
 
• If you really want to be creative and unique, try using odd things for rods: old golf clubs, PVC pipe that has been decorated, a broom stick, tennis rackets that have been jazzed up.