Easy Renovations for Every Part of Your Home

Make a good first impression by making your entry welcoming. Remove clutter, add soft lighting, and hang framed prints or a mirror for visual interest. And if there's space, add a small table where you can display fresh flowers.

Arrange the living room to suit its true purposes. In many homes, the living room is used for conversation and watching TV, so focus on making it a comfortable space for those activities. Put toys, computers, mail, coats, backpacks and hobby crafts somewhere else.

Keep the kitchen clean, efficient and uncluttered: install drawer and cupboard organizers, and store appliances and utensils that aren't often used in a closet, drawer or pantry. Keeping counters and the stovetop clear will make your kitchen look sleek and more spacious.

The bed is the focal point here, but your bedroom is more than just a place to sleep. It's also your haven from workday stress. Make it comfortable, luxurious and inviting with matching bedcoverings and pillows.

If you don't have space for a dedicated guest room, organize the room into multipurpose zones, making each space efficient and welcoming. You don't want your guests to trip over golf clubs or the family printer on their way to the bed.

Just because this room is all business doesn't mean it can't be warm and inviting. Bright wall paint, good lighting and handy storage baskets make the laundry room a pleasant place to be.

Organization is the key to making your home office look and work great. A filing cabinet keeps important documents within reach but out of site while bookshelves provide visual interest and much-needed storage space.

Keeping your garage clean and organized is easier than you think. No matter what your budget, there are wall-storage options to help you keep tools and sports equipment handy, protected, and out of the way.

The area outside your door is more than just a path to the backyard. Add planters of flowers that will brighten your patio and provide cuttings for indoor bouquets, or start a kitchen garden with pots of herbs like basil and rosemary to make the patio a homey and useful space.

Whether your yard features a play space, an outdoor dining area or a vegetable garden, shade trees and green plants make any backyard an oasis. Give your planting beds gently curving borders rather than sharp edges or corners for a more pleasing look.

Sharon O'Brien is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon.