apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

While we think that a home's design evolves over an extended period of time, Speed Decorating: A Pro Stager's Tips and Trade Secrets for a Fabulous Home in a Week or Less (Taunton, 2009) by Jill Vegas offers the kind of tips that help quickly make spaces more welcoming &mdash whether you're getting ready to sell, getting ready for a party, or just want to make your spaces better.

• 2 Details count: Aesthetically pleasing displays and vignettes give a home an edited sense of style.

• 3 Add color: "Adding color can be the fastest way to breathe new life into a room." Here, Vegas uses sapphire-blue chairs, a matching vase and a coordinating throw. We agree, matching accent colors is the first step towards a home looking cohesive and lived-in.

• 4 The entrance says everything: Vegas advocates for clutter-free surfaces, brilliant light, a nice-looking floor, clean walls and a fabulous front door. Notice that most of her entryway and landing strip tips involving cleaning. Vegas says cleaning is always the first step.

• 5 Updating can be inexpensive and creative: Did Vegas throw out this "wonky sofa"? No, she covered it with an ikat and jewel-toned pillows.

• 6 Make your bathroom memorable: So your bathroom has silver-colored fixtures, a white wall, white subway tile and a white waffle-weave shower curtain? You and everybody else. Vegas put a vintage map, botanical prints and piled towels on to a chair to make this bathroom unique.

• 7 Walls don't have to be boring: If you have (and prefer) white walls, go bold with accessories. We have two turquoise foo dogs that guard books on top of a white bookcase. The bright color pops in front of a white wall.

• 8 Spoil your bedroom: When we moved in to our apartment in April, we had no furniture. We bought a bed frame and mattress first, even though few others would see it. We're pleased that Vegas agrees with our strategy: In this room, Italian linens are layered over a bed from Sweden. Gray velvet curtains keep it dark. The lamp is a Flos. Treat yourself!

• 9 Max out storage: Be creative, Vegas says. She uses an étagère here in place of a hutch. She also advocates for plate racks in cupboards and adding extra shelves to cabinets.

• 10 Dining chairs don't have to match: Here, Vegas uses a bench and two chairs. We love this idea and think it would help add interest to a dining room.

For tons more tips, check out Vegas' book. We think each section would be a good guide for a weekend project. If you're really dedicated, or have a week to work on your house, we think you could use tips for each room and take your home to that next level of comfy-ness and stylishnes.

(Images: Lindsey Roberts)