If you are moving into a new home this summer, congratulations! If your new home is a brand new house, and if you are moving from a very organized, Zen-like home, you may not need to do any work at all. Lucky you!

However, more often than not, moving into a new home does require a lot of work. Not many people would describe the moving experience as fun. In fact, I read somewhere than moving homes rates as high of a fear for people in North America as the fear of public speaking and death.

The move to a new home can completely consume your time and energy: the planning, the packing, the moving, the cleaning... And there are always many unexpected challenges, too!

When you arrive in your new home, you're faced with even more challenges. It may seem a small thing to decide where to put the best china or everyday dishes, but after all the work moving out of the old home, the last thing you need is another big decision or another major project. Read more

• What to Do Before the Moving Truck Arrives: Great Tips for Before You Move Into Your New Home

Do you live in a little square apartment? Or have a plain, boxy room that is becoming a real decorating challenge?

A lack or architectural features and a feel of being in a box is an unfortunate fact of many modern homes. Entire neighborhoods have "cookie-cutter" homes with identical or similar floorplans, exteriors, and finishing treatments.

You do not have to settle for standard, boring and more of the same. There are many ways to add sparkle to boxy rooms, and here are some of our favorites. From recessed lighting to new baseboards and a contrasting trim - you will be on your way to a great living space in no time. Read more

• How To Revive a Boxy Room or a Small Square Apartment

Photo: (c) Glenna Morton

Looking at bare walls can be boring. Even the words look kind of similar - bare and boring - don't you think?

If your finances have been blown on a move, wedding, furniture, or other necessities, you have to get creative and make some of your own budget artwork.

If you already know what style of decorating you like, you're in luck. It will make it much easier to select subjects, colors, mats, and frames for your art. Read more

• Add Art to Your Home without Spend a Fortune

Photo: (c) Coral Nafie

Is your drapery treatment fine but the drapery hardware old and tired looking? Instead of changing out the whole window treatment when it's in good shape, freshen up the look by changing out the finials on the end of the rods.

Many homes have a simple round ball at the end of the drapery rod. This is a case where simple can be very boring. If you're changing your home to a Tuscan Style or French Country Style, just paying attention to your finials can bring a dramatic change to your room decor.

You can cover the rod with a tube of fabric or paint it in flat, dull black and cap it off with a black open wrought iron finial. Hang the stationary drapery panels from black wrought iron rings. Voila, an instant (and easy!) change. Read more

• How To Change the Look of Your Drapery Hardware with a New Finial