Use Curtains, Not Blinds
Blinds may be inexpensive, but they can also look cheap. White plastic blinds give a sterile, low-quality look to the room. Remember, window treatments are a type of decoration and they can set the whole tone for the room. Switching your blinds for curtains will help soften up a room's edges and add a pop of color.

Paint the Trim
Is painting an entire room too much work or too expensive? Just paint the trim instead. Painting only the trim will allow you to save on both paint and time.

Arrange Your Artwork
Artwork hung haphazardly around on the walls will make a room look disorderly. The same pictures will look much better grouped in a coherent design. To test your photo or art groupings, try arranging them on the floor until you find a composition that works.

Change the Light Fixtures
Old light fixtures can make the whole room look dated. These fixtures can also make the room look dreary since they may be inefficient. Change out all of the fixtures in the room for an instant transformation.

The Art of Area Rugs
A fast way to add some color to a bland room is to put down an area rug―it's even ok to layer rugs over carpet. Rugs provide you with a lot of different color and design choices, so pick a rug that works with the walls and the furniture that is already in the room.

Put Up Some Shelves
Pre-built wall shelves are fairly inexpensive, but shelves are also easy to build on your own. Purchase basic shelf hangers at a home improvement store; then buy a standard piece of lumber, coat it with a polyurethane finish (or paint it), and use the hangers to mount it on the wall. Put old books, pictures, or souvenirs on the shelf to instantly add some color and life to the room.

Consider the Focus
Some rooms look cluttered and unattractive just because they lack focus. Decide what the focal point of the room was meant to be when the house was constructed. If there is a fireplace, you can use it as your point of focus. Arrange the furniture so that it flows in the direction of the hearth. Add some charm to the top of the mantle with some artwork, vases, or a mirror.