DIY-challenged? Three easy tricks for floor to ceiling

If you're among the millions of American homeowners who've decided sprucing up the home you have is more cost-effective than moving into something newer or bigger, you may be looking for some easy ways to improve your living space. If you're not a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, you could consider calling in the pros - but that would fly in the face of your efforts at frugality.

Transforming a room from floor-to-ceiling isn't as hard as it may sound, even if you're DIY-challenged. The job can be simple if you start from the ground and work your way up with these easy DIY tasks:

Floors with flair

Look down. What's on the floor under your feet? Are you happy with what you see? If you're living with stained carpet, shabby vinyl or hardwood that has seen better days, it's time to make a change. If you were a DIY diva, you could refinish those hardwoods, lay some new carpet or rip out that vinyl with your bare hands. But if you're a DIY newbie, you can change the look of your floor with a lot less effort and skill.

Cover up crummy carpet with colorful area rugs and strategically arranged furnishings. Mask that vinyl that is so "last-decade" with easy-to-install, self-stick carpet tiles or vinyl tiles. Refinishing a hardwood floor may be beyond your skills, but virtually everyone can wield a paint brush and roller. Simply paint tired wood floors in a neutral color - brown, tan, khaki or even white - to create a fresh-looking foundation for your room decor.

Walls that "wow"

Painting is one of the easiest ways to freshen up a room, and painting walls really requires no special skills. Pick a new color you love - or simply freshen up the existing color. Hit the paint store and ask the staff there for some tips on how to make the job go smoothly.

Wallpaper is another great way to revive a room's look, but it's traditionally considered a job requiring some sophisticated DIY skills. Until now, that is. Mural-maker MuralsYourWay.com now carries a line of wallpaper murals that is virtually DIY foolproof. SmartStick repositionable wall murals are backed with a patented adhesive that allows you to easily place the wallpaper on any flat surface (walls, windows, even doors), pull it down, reposition it, even move it to a different wall. The material does not rip or wrinkle and can even stand up to a trip through the washer and dryer. MuralsYourWay.com carries thousands of murals that can all be printed on SmartStick and customized to fit your wall exactly

Wall murals and wall paper are great ways to dress up a room, and now it's easier than ever to use this favorite technique of top designers.

Ceilings that snap

When was the last time you looked up at your ceiling -- for any reason other than to change a light bulb? It's an area of room decor that often gets overlooked, but smart interior designers know ceilings have a big impact on how a room looks and feels.

For your purposes, a little color experimentation can probably go a long way. Fortunately, many paint stores and home improvement warehouses now offer free brochures and paint chips that suggest subtle pairings of appealing wall colors with unexpected ceiling hues. Or, if you prefer to play it safe, simply repaint the ceiling white - it's one of the fastest, easiest ways to make a room feel bright and new.

You don't need the DIY-skills of a home improvement show pro to upgrade your home and freshen your decor. You can get the job done with a few simple tricks and a weekend of elbow grease.