Major Room Makeovers on a Teeny, Tiny Budget

Think outside the trunk. I turned this $100 metal trunk from a thrift shop into a table. I didn't have to do anything to it!

Look for a sign. The graphics, shapes, and textures of industrial pieces like this old sign make amazing art and add a little masculine, throw-up-your-feet feel.

Don't forget the extras. Keep 'em quirky and inexpensive. See that roulette wheel I found at a yard sale? It's a great conversation piece. I'm all about fun animal accents too — hence the ceramic owl and the pair of black Foo dogs. You can never go wrong with a Foo dog. Trust me.

Consider Lucite. Because they're clear as can be, Lucite tables are a great way to add functionality without cluttering your space.

Try a sleek-looking couch. I found the single-cushion sofa I'm sitting on here for $160 at a thrift shop. The fabric was the worst shade of rust damask when I bought it — but the shape was spectacular. I covered it in velvet and it looks like new. I'm obsessed!

Have fun with patterns. When I found these curvy, modern takes on classic wing chairs on eBay, they looked like the photo on the right. So I had them redone in plaid (I'm mad for plaid), and they fit in perfectly.

Check the back. The 18th-century lithographs you can see above were another huge find. They were in an old dusty box but had beautiful frames. Sure enough, when I flipped them over, there was a label from a famous London framer. Gotta love a good garage sale!

Can you recover it? There are some reupholstery projects you can do yourself. Slip seats (chairs you can pop the seat out of) are easy; all you need is a staple gun and fabric. But hire a professional for elaborate pieces like couches and club chairs. Get three quotes, and if it's still too pricey, have just the back or cushion re-covered for an eclectic look.

Bedroom formula: two lamps + two side tables + upholstered headboard + monogram

Keep it balanced. As you can see from these pages, I'm a big fan of symmetry. When things are a little askew, the room feels tilted to me. Flanking a bed with side tables and gorgeous lamps — or bookending a chest with two chairs — is a formula anyone can use, and it always works. If you can't find a pair of something, try two items that are similar in scale.

Match your nightstands. I searched for famous furniture designer Milo Baughman on eBay and scored this pair of nightstands in my bedroom for $135 apiece. They retail for three times that! I have the eBay app on my phone so I can always keep track of my bids.

"I found these Picasso lithographs for $35 and have hung them in a place of honor ever since!" — Lara

Go for funky lamps. I top them with white paper shades for a clean look that shows off the base. Always, always check the wiring on old lamps, and if it feels crunchy, get it rewired. A lamp isn't a bargain if it burns your house down.

Wallpaper one wall. It's not a big investment or commitment, and it's an easy way to snap up a room. Another option is wall decals — they're super-fun... and cheap. I love paisley designs, but do whatever feels right for your space.

Personalize your bedding. An embroidered monogram on the bedspread ties the look together in a chic, personal way. You can also add it to pillows.

Detail the headboard. I added chrome tacks to my daughter's headboard to jazz it up. They come in adhesive strips, so you don't have to nail them in individually. The lines are perfect, and most cost just $1 per yard!

Hate the color? Paint it! I put some spring back in the step of this $40 chest by painting it a glossy Kelly green. Then I had a mirror cut (which doesn't cost much!) to hide the top, since there's just no painting over Formica.

Use dining chairs anywhere. These chairs ($80 for two!) had brown fabric and legs when I set eyes on them at a flea market. I re-covered them in blue velvet, painted the legs white, and used them to flank the dresser. Pairs are great for that.

As long as it looks pricey...who cares if it's not? These '60s vases look like they'd cost a fortune. Also, the octagonal mirror was naked pine when I bought it at a thrift store. Now it looks expensive with a coat of shiny black paint.

Get real art. Yes, you can afford original paintings and drawings. Proof: I bought the still life here for $75! The only rule about art is that you have to love it. (And if your new love is signed, Google the artist to see what the work typically goes for before you buy it.)

"It's too matchy-matchy if all the shapes in the room are the same. Mix things up!" — Lara

Create more space with a mirror. It's a cheap way to open up a room. Just be careful about the scale — there's nothing worse than a small mirror hanging over a large table.

See past the problems. This amazing Lucite chair was a thrift-shop find. When I bought it, the cushion's foam was exposed and crumbling. All it took was $10 of fabric and $20 in new foam to make it fabulous in a vintage-y way.

Pick one jumping-off point. So many decorators use rugs as the starting element in a room, but I usually begin with a fabric I love or colors pulled from an artwork. Most of the shades in this room — purples, pinks, blues — also appear in the framed print, that I found in a consignment shop. It was buried under a stack of gross pictures, but it made me smile. And you know what? It still does!

Find a zillion other thrifting and decorating tips in Lara's book, I Brake for Yard Sales, out April 1.

PLUS: Enter to win a copy of Lara's book at redbookmag.com/freebies.