It is possible to transform a room in half a day. Really. Just think of a room as a set - a space for acting out your life. Dressing a set is nowhere near as daunting as making over a room. Small changes can make a big impact. Choose one of the following seven strategies. Just don't try to do too much. There's always tomorrow

• De-Clutter
  Clutter draws the eye and shrinks a room. Arm yourself with some sturdy rubbish bags and be ruthless. Take newspapers and magazines to be recycled. Cull your bookshelves and CDs. Some books, like some music are meant to be kept, only the best deserve your shelf room. Unwanted gifts have to go. Charity shops will love you for it
• Create your own mood board
  Discover your own taste. Start collecting anything that catches your eye - a scrap of fabric, photos, postcards, pictures from magazines. Get a pin board and stick it all up there. Keep adding to it. This way you can find your own unique style, eliminating the layers that other people have impressed upon you. Art deco. Minimalist. Or country cottage. Just don't mix them up - too much
• In the frame
  Pretty pictures hung badly look ugly. The most common mistake is to hang them too high and spread them too thinly round a room. A single wall covered with pictures has far more impact. Use the right sort of picture hooks: 'X' Picture Accessories sell foolproof white nylon plastic ones (89p for 3). Avoid annoyingly fragile brass pins - they snap if not hit straight on with a hammer. You can't beat professional framing but it is expensive. Still, a frame is better than no frame at all. Especially for poster art. Pop to Muji or Habitat and pick up budget frames that you can fill yourself. Tate: online sell some great posters from £7.00 and paint-it-yourself kits from £25 which include everything you need to create your own art work. Another good source for original art is your local art college - snap up a bargain from the next Picasso at the end of term shows
• Mirror, mirror on your wall
  They make any room seem bigger, improve proportions and sparkle nicely. To maximise the reflective qualities place a mirror between two windows. Two or three large mirrors used either horizontally or vertically widen and add interest to long narrow hallways. Create the 'Hollywood Effect' in your bathroom with the biggest mirror you can fit in there. Instant glamour. Getting it on the wall is another thing. Most of us can't face the wielding a drill so just lean it against the wall or prop on a sturdy chair to add a touch of careless artistry

• Take cover
  Fake fur, lush velvet and antique linen, renovate weary furniture. Keep an eye out for sales in your local fabric store. Measure the sofa then add a good metre and a half for a flowing, generous effect. Eiderdowns and bedspreads make great furniture throws, they're nice to snuggle into as well. Scour the bedding department of your local department store. Go for textured fabrics that add a touchy feely quality to a room and make sure they're washable
• Brighten up
  There is such a thing as too much white. Bring some colour on to at least one wall. Look at your mood board and see what colours dominate. Whatever colour you go for, invest in good quality paint. The wonderfully muted, slightly 'dirty' shades from Farrow and Ball (£24.99 for 2.5 litres) are still the finest. If you must have white go for one of their more subtle 'alternative whites': contrast Tallow with London Stone for a classy smooth cappuccino feel or Pointing and Arsenic for grassy cleanness. Painting looks easier than it is and you will get bored. But don't despair. A roller is the quickest and easiest way to cover a wall - save a brush for the awkward bits. Always assume paint will get knocked over so stand it on a paper plate or some tin foil. Cover the floor with newspaper. Store any leftover paint in a clearly labelled jar - it's handy for touching up
• Make ornaments work for you
  Ethnic art can be used to striking effect and won't break the bank. A stone head, or dark carved figure against a pale wall looks stunning. Show objects to their advantage - don't crowd them together. Look around for charity importers of African and Oriental arts, or leave some room in your suitcase when you're on holiday. There are some great bargains to be had in foreign markets. Stick to souvenirs made from natural materials and you won't go wrong. A hand-carved teak wooden bowl is a great holder for small change and keys. A string of amber beads, casually hanging from a window adds interest and colour. A large glass bowl of shells, or pebbles picked up on your travels, is a tactile reminder of places visited

Half a day later and you're done. Now dedicate the rest of the day to sitting and back and feeling satisfied. Enjoy.