You've been bitten by the decorating bug, and you're ready to redecorate the major living areas in your home. You don't have a lot of money to spare, so you're going to have to cut costs where you can. Not to worry. With some thought and careful shopping, you can create beautiful rooms on a small budget.

When shopping, you want to put the bulk of your budget toward any large furniture pieces you need. Don't cut corners when it comes to these. Sure, you may save some money now, but you will have to shell out more later when the furniture breaks and you have to replace it. When possible, buy multifunctional furniture. Instead of a sectional, buy a sofa bed that you can use for extra guests. Should you need some smaller furniture pieces, consider buying them used and redoing them.

Once you have the furniture all set, study your living areas carefully and look for inexpensive fixes. Instead of replacing your carpet, consider redoing the hardwood floors underneath. If you need to hire a professional for the job but can't afford it, consider painting the floors until you can save enough money to have them refinished. Instead of papering your walls, paint them to look like linen using a faux finish. Instead of replacing your cabinets, have them refaced or paint them yourself. Add some new hardware, and they will be good as new.

One of the easiest fixes involves the use of paint and trim. Both are relatively inexpensive, and you can use them to transform almost anything from drab white walls to plain side tables. Add drama to your living room walls by wrapping a chair rail around the middle and painting the upper half beige and the bottom half chocolate brown. Dress up your plain side tables with some molding and light blue paint, and set them against the freshly painted brown walls for a pop of color.

Along with paint and trim, fabric is another inexpensive fix. Don't have any art? Stretch a piece of interesting fabric across a canvas, staple it into place and hang it up for instant artwork. Need new pillows? Make some out of some fabric and batting, or sew slipcovers for the ones you already have. Drapes ragged at the bottom? Cut off the damaged ends and sew on new bands of fabric. When shopping for fabric for your rooms, start at the remnant table. Chances are you will find exactly what you need for all of your sewing projects at a fraction of the cost. Combine various patterns, styles and textures for a unique look.

When it comes to accessories, think outside of the box and look for bargains. Don't be afraid to use the unexpected. Go ahead and bring in that old garden gate and hang it on the wall. Take advantage of sales, clearance aisles and bargain bins. Shop at flea markets and thrift stores, and remember, you can redo almost anything you find. See a chandelier you like that's tarnished? Go over it with some tarnish remover or give it a quick dash of spray paint. Add some new shades, and voila, you've got a new light at a low cost.

Decorating on a shoestring budget is not hard. It just takes some clever thinking and some fine-tuned shopping. Good luck and have fun.

First Published February 17, 2012, 2:06 p.m.