By Ed Finkel

'Extreme Room Makeover' judges give tips on sprucing up your space on a budget.

Are you looking to give your house an extreme makeover? Or just to make some subtler changes that will make your old rooms feel fresh and new again?

A few judges from last year's "Extreme Room Makeover" contest put on by the Chicago Community Land Trust shared their affordable tips on everything from reupholstering furniture, to painting patterns, to adding accessories.

There are countless directions a homeowner could go, even on a budget, so here are just a handful of ideas:

• Start by tidying up. Eunissa Ramirez of Designs by Eunissa suggests reading the book, "the life-changing magic of tidying up,by marie kondo[EJF1] . "Starting off with a clean space will help in deciding what is actually needed and what can fit in the room," she says. "Does it have too much furniture in it? Are there items that could be donated, disposed of, or recycled?" Adds Ed Shepard, design associate with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, "That costs no money, to edit our lives, simplify our lives, take away things that are not adding to the comfort and beauty of our home. Look at your house with new eyes and extract-only have what you need."

• Paint. "This is truly the easiest way to transform your space," Ramirez says. "You can get fancy designs by using stencils, or hire an art student to add a fun design on a focal wall."

• Do-it-yourself projects. Shepard mentions reupholstering single-seat chairs with fabric and a staple gun. Or you can repaint pieces of furniture to give them new life, he says. Old cabinetry can be redecorated with new knobs from the local hardware store.

• Mix old furniture with new. Buying a whole dining room or living room set will set you back, not to mention that this "will ultimately lend an impersonal feel to your home," says Kim Vargo, interior design blogger with her husband, Scott, at www.yellowbrickhome.com. "If you find the perfect dining room table at your favorite retail store, consider searching online classifieds, flea markets and thrift stores for vintage chairs."

• Mix high and low end. "A luxurious set of sheets paired with throw pillows from your local HomeGoods or a well made couch surrounded with affordable poufs will keep change in your pocket," Vargo says

• Consider adding accessories. Just a few throw pillows, framed mirrors or pictures, or a trio of favorite collectibles on a shelf or table can spruce up a room, Ramirez says. You can recover old pillows with minimal sewing, using discount fabrics from any fabric store, a craft store like Michael's, or a super-store like Walmart, she says.

• Buy only what grabs you. "Don't feel the need to fill every corner of your room right away," Vargo says. "Resist the urge to outfit every room in your home from head to toe. Laying over time will not only create a more intentional home, but a more characteristically 'you' home as well."

• Don't be ashamed of your budget. "Let's say your child is leaving for college and you want to repurpose that room for yourself," Shepard says. "You have to identify that budget. ... If I have $100 to fix my child's room, what can I do?"

• Consider spending an hour with a design professional. They can give you specific ideas for your home, Shepard says. "They can say, 'You can change these chairs. You can paint this.' You can cut down on making mistakes and get directions." And, you can get a ballpark figure, he says.