Spring has just arrived, and brings with it spring decorating fever. We're all looking for ways to enhance our lives with little to no effect on our savings account. In times of financial conservatism, it's necessary to take creative steps to really make a difference without loosening your purse strings.

1/ De-clutter- Get rid of the invisible stuff that takes up space without bringing any value, those Cosmo magazines from 1997, the books we meant to read but never quite found the time, that decorative set of nativity candles your great aunt brought over from Italy. Donate it to goodwill, or store it in a box in the cellar, or recycle it. Whatever you do, unless it's worth a pile of money, if you don't use it or love it, remove it! You want your space to be full things you adore, not just things.

2/ Take a good look around and see if you can rearrange your furniture to create a new look and feel. Sometimes all a room needs is a little shuffling around. Reverse the position of every piece of furniture, and see how that makes you feel. Turn the room 180 degrees, or switch up your furniture from room to room. Whether it's a bedroom, living room or basement, your room should be inviting, not tiring.

3/ Fix a budget for your DIY re-do. You'll be amazed how far you can get on a small budget. A nice pillow and throw for the couch, or a new area rug don't cost much, if you shop around. And there are many reasonably priced alternatives to traditional wall art available. You don't need to hang a real Picasso in order to get the same effect.

4/ Take a good look at the walls- Start with a fresh coat of paint. Pick a neutral but lively colour that complements your current furniture and dcor, but will also contrast well with many different colours, in order to maintain your design flexibility. To add sparkle without the shine of gloss paint, choose a semi-gloss of eggshell. These paint qualities will allow for the most versatility if your were considering applying anything to the painted surface besides a hanging piece of art.

5/ Accent your walls with pieces that are pleasing to the eye and the soul, as well as your budget. If you have a large budget, you might want to purchase some traditional art pieces, or commission an artist to create a work specifically for your space. There are a few companies out there that create one-of-a-kind wall papers, Rollout is one Canadian company that makes some beautiful wallpaper, but covering a large area can be quite costly. And wallpaper is timely to put up, and to put down. New to the market is an old product in a modern format that can be applied and removed within minutes. Wall tattoos, called wall decals by those born before 1980, seem to be all the rage these days. You'll find many companies selling low-price clip art designs in adhesive vinyl on the internet. Like my mother always told me, you get what you pay for. There are, luckily, a few companies out there that are able to turn vinyl into modern art, thanks to the skills of their talented designers, and still keep their prices in the double digits. Surface Collective (www.surfacecollective.com) is one of them. This hip young company designs and manufactures their extensive line of wall tattoos in the heart of Gastown in downtown Vancouver. Prices start at $40, so you can switch them up regularly.

Finally, whatever you do, remember that the dcor of your house reflect the personality of its residents. So make it your own, and you'll make it your home.