A thousand bucks, or even $500, can go a long way toward transforming a room - and your attitude toward your home. Whether they're contemporary lamp shades or new doors, upgrades make a difference. Here are a few suggestions from interior designers:
Reframe art work. ''Do five to 10 pieces," says Ken Dietz, principal designer, Dietz & Associates, Jamaica Plain, Mass. ''Get coordinating frames and create a gallery wall."
Change the bathroom vanity. Consider a vessel sink. "It can be a dramatic change without too much trouble," says Edwina Drummond Boose, owner of Edwina Drummond Interiors, Waltham, Mass. "I saw one ... recently for $75. It was glass with silver leaf. It was absolutely stunning."
Buy a new chandelier for the dining room. Avoid the typical iron with beads. Instead try a chandelier with parchment shades that can be customized.
Funk up the headboard. "You can get an ultrasuede headboard," says Drummond Boose. ''You can put mosquito netting over it. You can get a slipcover. There are wonderful options now."
Get a new backsplash for the space between your countertop and upper kitchen cabinets. Back- splashes can be made of glass, stainless steel, even leather. "Many people's backsplashes are old-fashioned looking," said Drummond Boose. "Why not pewter or bronze or copper?"