Top Ten Tips for a One-day "DIY" Redesign. . .
The Redesign Secrets of the Pros!

1. Say "cheese". Take the time to shoot some before and after pictures of your room before your redesign. Stand in all corners of the room and on the stairs (if available) to get all angles. You'll be amazed at what a little creativity can do to transform your space.

2. Clear the clutter. In order to really appreciate your belongings, you need to be able to see them. With a discerning eye, take a look at the room in question. Can you get rid of the pile of old catalogs, magazines and newspapers? Can you retire the afghan you've never liked, but was a gift? Can you pare down your collections?

3. Start with a blank canvas. Clear your space of all clutter and accessories to help you get an accurate view of your room. This helps you find the focal point of your room (a great view, a fireplace, etc.). It can also reveal if your furniture arrangement needs to be adjusted.

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4. Arrange it. Make sure your furniture arrangement accounts for the room's use: Do you entertain in the space? If so, how many? Do you watch TV in the space, or read, or both? Do you have children, and if so, what age? Make sure to offer easy tabletop access for each seat -- a place to rest a book, put down a drink, etc.

5. Go shopping. Visit each room with a critical eye. Does the floor lamp in your den actually look better in your living room? Pull out that antique chandelier from the attic and hang it for instant drama. Try extra dining room chairs as side chairs in the living room. Don't be afraid to "repurpose"!

6. Bring in the outdoors. Plants are one of the most inexpensive and under utilized decorating accessories. Whether you choose live plants or silks, take into account the scale of your room and the "hole" you're trying to fill. Do you need a tall ficus or a round, low fern? Another bonus is that live plants purify our air and lift our spirits.

7. Shed some light. A common decorating oversight is the lack of proper lighting. The average homeowner rarely invests in enough lighting. Make sure you have ample task lighting -- overhead lighting is rarely adequate for reading. Arrange your lamps according to necessity: a floor lamp in a dark corner can create the feel of a larger room. An up-light behind a plant creates drama and interest. A table lamp provides reading light and a warm glow.

8. Express yourself. Art is a great way to express your style and taste. A good rule of thumb is to hang items lower than you think you should. Don't be afraid to try wall groupings. There are endless possibilities for creating groupings, and even entire books dedicated to the subject. Pull out your paper grocery bags or other scrap paper and cut them to the exact sizes of the pieces you wish to hang. Lay the "paper arrangement" out on the floor near the wall it's to be hung on. Once you have a good feel for the arrangement (keeping in mind balance, scale and symmetry/asymmetry), hang your paper mock-ups on the wall using easily removable sticky tack or tape. This allows you to move the mock-ups around until you have the configuration that works best. You can even mount your hangers and hardware over the paper dummies, ripping them off before you hang the actual piece.

9. Personalize. Accessories are what make a room unique. They reflect the homeowner's specific tastes and interests. And they tend to be highly personal. Keep like items together and display in odd numbers. If you adore symmetry, be sure to throw a curve ball in the mix by trying something at a unique angle or staggering heights. Even if you love a busy backdrop, be sure to leave plenty of "white space" for the eye to rest. Too many objects d'art can result in nothing standing out. Before you put back all your accessories and collectibles, take time to sort and group like items. Group by color, style, size, height, material. Grouping things crates more impact and interest than having individual pieces scattered around.

10. Get creative. Don't be afraid to try something new with your room design. Mix things up. Leave plenty of white space to balance out the details. And remember, a new look is only a day away!