Have you ever wanted to make your home look like a million bucks? Luckily a few tips and tricks exist to make your own humble adobe the envy of your whole neighborhood.

You know the saying: You never have a second chance to make a first impression. The outside of your home is the first thing guests see…it speaks volumes about what’s inside–and about its owner.

A quart of glossy paint in a bold, cheerful color for the front door, new hardware (or a little elbow grease applied to clean and polish the existing knocker, lockset, porch light, house numbers, and mailbox), a fresh coir or seagrass mat, and a trio of seasonal potted plants on the landing will dramatically brighten and refresh your home’s entry and make visitors feel welcome.

Admit it: You have too much stuff. One of the most important things you can do to improve your home is to clear out, clean up, and get rid of clutter. Sound daunting? Take it one room at a time

Don’t forget, too, that a cluttered look can also come from too much furniture. Take a hard look at what you have and ask yourself what you can live without.

Another rule of thumb: If you don’t use it regularly, lose it. While you’re doing this sometimes-painful pruning, remind yourself that every square foot you free up is prime real estate.

If your couches are clinging to your walls, you’re not alone–it’s a typical decorating mistake. Float furniture away from walls, reposition it into cozy conversational groups, and place pieces so that the traffic flow in the room is obvious–in most cases, this means keeping the perimeters clear.

If you’re nervous about doing something that can seem a bit radical, try it out a bit at a time. Maybe just change the rug on the floor. You can always put it back, but chances are you will not want to.

You’d never consider donning the same clothes for days on end, would you? So why force your home to endure the same tired decor year after year?

We all get used to our surroundings, but they can become stale and stagnant. If a chair has been in the same spot for five years, move it!

We all want privacy in our homes. However, your living space will glow by simply letting light shine in lost spaces.

Consider removing any heavy drapery or even a simple window treatment – to let light brighten up your fabulously furnished home.

Great lighting design will make your home look warm and welcoming. Many of our homes are improperly lit–either we have too few fixtures, or our lighting is too dim or too harsh (or all of the above).

To remedy the problem and make your home more inviting, increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures (aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet). Then install dimmers so you can vary light levels according to your mood and the time of day. This is a relatively simple project for a do-it-yourselfer, or you can hire an electrician for a couple of hours to do several at once.

*Direct Sunlight for extended periods of time will cause fading. Please be sure to move your furniture often.