Decoratin your room. Cheap and Easy.

Decorating can quickly become expensive if you buy your decor from pricey stores and boutiques. Many people can't afford the prices of such decor, but this doesn't mean you have to live in a home that looks like a hodgepodge of castoffs, either. Decorating is about creating an experience that is comfortable, attractive, interesting, unusual, dynamic and fun. You want your home or room to look hesive and intentional, like you had a plan or a design that you wanted to bring to reality. It isn't about how much or little it costs, It is about making it look and feel good.

Collect a group of clippings depicting rooms that interest you. Sort out your clippings into color groups and note consistent colors or themes that you return to. Select a wall color from your clippings and choose a paint color three to four shades lighter for your ceiling.

Empty your room. Tape off your trim and moldings and cover your floor with a drop cloth. Paint your ceiling so that the paint overlaps down onto the wall several inches. Allow the paint to dry. Paint the walls and cover the overlapping paint by cutting in with your wall paint with a straight edge at the comer between the walls and ceiling. Allow your paint to dry for 24 hours.

Tape off your trim. Paint your trim and doors a crisp white seml-gloss paint so that all of the paint in your room looks bright and fresh. Paint is considered to be the least expensive way to make a big decorating impact.

Tips to decorate yor room:

- Check the bulletin boardssat your apartment complex to find items for sale. Chances are some of your neighbors are moving out or upgrading their furnishings. You might be able to land some great deals simply by watching the bulletin boards and by talking to other residents of the complex

- Watch the classified ads, both online and in your local newspaper, for deals on furniture and household
items Incorporate each of those items into your current design.

- Choose items that create the illusion of space, like large mirrors or area rugs. Decorate the walls with attractive prints you pick up at yard sales, flea markets and other low cost venues.

These tips can help you create a wonderful living space and still have plenty of money left over to enjoy wonderful times with your friends and family. You do not have to spend a fortune to make your humble studio apartment look like a million bucks. All you need are some great ideas, some creativity and a sense of fun and style.