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Wall art collections can add lots of personality to a room. Related framed art or photos and other souvenirs and collectibles can look fantastic when displayed together, but how do you get them arranged on a wall, especially those items that aren’t designed to be hung. And what if you decide to change up the display later? Do you really want to patch all those holes, and then have to prime and paint the repairs?

If you spend any time at all shopping in consignment stores or browsing tag sales, you know that it’s pretty easy to find vintage dressers at great prices. While you may not need another dresser in your bedroom, a low profile dresser with drawers has lots of potential to add style and function to your home.

The great thing about these dressers, in addition to their low price, is their versatility. Since they are made of wood, they are easy to sand and paint, whether your style sensibilities cry out for the purity of shabby chic white or a glossy shade of jade green to go with Asian fusion style. So rather than pass by yet another ubiquitous vintage dresser, consider these fun and practical ideas.

Sometimes you look around a room and you know it’s time for a change. What once worked is no longer working and the room now looks tired and boring. But in the current economic climate, who has money for new furniture or the time and energy to install expensive upgrades like new hardwood flooring?  If the answer to these questions is, “Not me,” take heart because you can get a great new look in any room without breaking your back or bank account. Explore the exciting and affordable world of accessorizing, a.k.a. the lazy and inexpensive way to room renovation. Here are three examples:

A Warm and Welcoming Entry Space

If your entry or foyer is less than welcoming, try adding a console table with a stylish lamp, a tray for outgoing and incoming mail and a tasteful grouping of family photos. A wall mirror or sun metal wall decor above the table and a pair of wall candle sconces makes the entry more inviting than ever. If your foyer is not big enough for a table, a wall shelf can give you a similar look in a smaller footprint.

Modern Country: Comfort Meets Modern Aesthetic

It used to be the country decor was all about geese wearing blue bonnets and lots of cutesy clutter. But country has become more streamlined and modern country decors seem to be borrowing design principles from modern interior design portfolios. Modern country style now has a lot in common with contemporary design and the blending of the two styles creates a stylish but homey look. Here’s what’s fresh, new, exciting and modern about today’s country.

Focal Points are Strong

It used to be that country decors had so much going on in a room that it was difficult to determine what the focal point was or if one even existed. In today’s more streamlined country style, focal points are unmistakable. For example, a pair of tall antique iron candle stands may frame a landscape painting above a velvet chaise; to maintain strong visual presence, other decorations in the room are pared down so they don’t compete with the focal point. Walls are painted in clean, neutral colors like travertine brown or foggy gray. These don’t compete with furnishings, wall art, collections or accessories.

In areas of the country where the weather turns cold during the winter months, there’s usually a desire to add a touch of warmth to home decorating styles to help ward off the outdoor chill. Although the sight of warm colors and decorating styles that are commonplace in warmer areas of the country can’t really turn up the temperature in a home, the mere sight of these things seems to at least warm the soul. If you’re ready to warm up your home with some wonderful decorating styles before the cold winds of winter come whipping around the corner, here are some ideas that you can use as inspiration.