Here are some home improvement tips in these times of recession.  Each costs less than $100.

Home improvement tip#1: Placement of lighting. Four $25 lamps, placed strategically around the room, will cast light from the sides, rather than above, and create a more cozy, homey feel vs. overhead lighting, which comes installed in most new homes, but does not necessarily set the mood for relaxation.

Home improvement tip#2: Repainting is a powerful way to make a room feel fresh and new. Using this season’s hot colors can give a room a contemporary, trendy look, even if you don’t update any of your furniture. Home improvement stores can offer free classes on decorative, faux painting techniques.

Home improvement tip#3: How about murals? Murals are a great compromise between the commitment of wallpapering an entire room, and a traditional repaint job. There are images to match virtually any décor…from an underwater scene for a kid’s room to the view from the verandah of a Tuscan Villa for your kitchen.

Home improvement tip#4: Your bathroom doesn’t need to look like a thrift store. Many hours at home are spent in the kitchen, but the next-most-used room is the bath. Create a more cohesive and modern look by buying new towels, mats, countertop items and shower curtain that compliment each other in color and style, but not necessarily in pattern or design.

Home improvement tip#5: Greenery. Green plants give a homey feel. Low-maintenance live varieties like a philodendron or pothos are great. If you just can’t keep plants alive, consider artificial, which can be extremely life-like. Tall palms next to chairs and windows bring the outdoors in. Smaller plants serve as perfect accents for tables, shelves and windowsills.

Simple decorating changes that will help enhance what you already have. For many economy-stressed homeowners big-ticket renovations are far in the future. With less than $100 it’s possible to make a total new look for your home.