New ways to decorate with old ornaments

Change the look of any room with easy tips to spruce up your old ornaments.

Unify a hodgepodge assortment by coating the ornaments with matte white spray paint, which lends the luxurious look of porcelain. Choose simple shapes for the most wow factor. To do: String the ornaments up on a clothesline outdoors (while it's not being used for your perfect little black dress), prime them, then apply the paint in light, even coats on all sides. Let dry for 24 hours.

Tree from Lowe's.

Find inspiration in your cabinets: Tie long lengths of ribbon to cookie cutters and display them above a window seat or in a doorway — or deck out a charming homespun Christmas tree if you have more than a baker's dozen.

Cookie Cutters from Sur la Table, amazon.com, and Broadway Panhandler.

Dress up basic clear glass-ball ornaments by filling each with a delicate feather (available at craft shops). For a chandelier-like impact, suspend a cluster from a small hook you install in the ceiling. Or pile them in a large glass bowl as a striking centerpiece.

Glass ornaments from Michaels and Target. Feathers from Sunshine Discount Crafts, Jamali Garden, and Michaels.

Save a batch of mismatched ornaments by sorting through them and selecting a single theme -- the color red, or wooden ornaments, as we used here. Display them as a cohesive collection on a mantel garland or elsewhere.