If this is too costly, modify it by only using decorative tiles in the four corners and fill in the rest with plain tiles. There are many other places tile can be used to liven up a home, Mack said. One unique idea is as a bed headboard. Other suggestions include the kick plate under kitchen cabinets, as a chair rail around a room and on any architectural elements like an arch over a doorway. If your favorite armchair has seen better days, consider giving it a makeover before throwing it out.
Slipcovers help renew dated fabric by covering up the old material with a new pattern.
Some stores, such as Sears and Target, sell ready-made slipcovers, which typically consist of a sheet of fabric to cover the furniture surface and an elastic skirt to hold the fabric in place along the bottom. The trouble with this type, says Deborah Denison, owner of the Slipcover Sewing Room, is that most of these covers are ill-fitting. A custom-made slipcover, like the ones Denison's company creates, fits a piece of furniture precisely. Of course, that kind of special treatment comes with a much heftier price tag. Certainly, Denison said.