Fresh Start: Quick & Easy Upgrades

Keep bathroom items neat and accessible with cubbyhole shelves.

Home editor Page Marchese Norman created this clever (and, well, cozy) cover for an LCD TV. "It also added a little more color to the room," she says.

After 40 years of hard service, this table had lost a leg and acquired a myriad of scratches and nicks. But half of it had a second life ahead as a graceful console.

A simple technique lets you turn any expanse of pretty fabric into a welcoming coverlet. We used a vintage tablecloth. You'll need fabric for the top, batting the same size, and fabric for the bottom that is several inches larger all around.

A plain pair of wooden seats gets a bright new look from simple coils of rope. We used durable rock-climbing rope (available at sporting-goods stores; nylon rope from a hardware store is a strong, inexpensive alternative) in shades of orange and taupe to create dynamic -- and sturdy -- swirls of color.

Houdini wasn't the only one who could work magic using a length of chain. Read on for an easy way to conjure the stylish illusion of a space-saving suspended shelf with showstopping appeal.

Nothing looks as inviting in a cool white bathroom as plush terry-cloth towels. This shower curtain is made from bath sheets stitched with a simple seam. It couldn't be easier -- the towels are just the right size for a standard tub, and they don't need to be hemmed.

Give plain sofa pillows vibrant personalities with easy-to-make pillow bands. These are made with wool; when the weather warms, they can be swapped for a more summery material, such as a cheerful printed cotton.

Many handkerchiefs from 1900 through the 1960s were printed with lively designs. Framed simply, they're great decorations for a wall.

If all the bookshelves you find in stores are too tall, too wide, or too unwieldy, consider stacking sturdy wooden benches to make a streamlined shelf that's just right for your space.