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HOME MAKEOVER PROJECTS THAT SAY "WOW" FOR LESS THAN $500

You say your home is in need of a makeover, but you don't want to take out a loan? Well join the club.
According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, homeowner remodeling spending has seen slow growth in 2006. Meanwhile, home equity loans have become more expensive. Many homeowners have seen the monthly payments on those loans double over the past two years – a more dramatic rise than the price of gasoline.

So how do you give your home some character and personality without going into debt?
"Remodeling projects can cost tens of thousands dollars, says Pat Simpson, home improvement expert and host of HGTV's Before & After, Fix It Up! and Room to Improve. "But you can do a little shopping at your favorite home center and give your house a makeover without spending a fortune."

Your Own Cedar Closet

The average price of a master-bedroom closet renovation is $3,500. But you can create a beautiful cedar closet using do-it-yourself, easy-to-install cedar panels or planks for $150 to $360 for a standard-size closet.

CedarSafe Natural Closet Liner planks and panels are made of 100 percent Aromatic Eastern Redcedar and line the walls of the closet. Both liners work well with standard or custom racking, shelving, storage drawers and cabinetry. A cedar closet not only looks and smells great, it repels and resists moths, roaches, silverfish and mildew and it's safer than mothballs.

A New Look for Your Kitchen Without the Sawdust

According to Remodeling magazine, the average midrange kitchen remodeling project is nearly $44,000. If you'd like to give your kitchen a new look, Simpson says consider replacing the hardware on the doors and drawers. It's inexpensive and easy.

Lighting will easily enhance a kitchen's appearance too. Remove the florescent fixtures and hang pendant lights over islands or eating counters.

A Bathroom That Pops!

A mid-range bathroom remodeling project can cost $10,000. Simpson has a better idea:
Install a new tile floor. In many cases, tile can be laid right over an existing floor. In addition, tile wainscoting and tile shower surrounds can really make a bathroom "pop." Also, try removing that stale, unattractive mirror that has no personality. Framed mirrors greatly add to the appearance. If you have counter space, a nice lamp works well, too.