Looking to spruce up a living area without remodeling? Recreating your space doesn't always mean a total redo. Try a knew ambience with three simple methods that can enliven your perceptions.

Paint/Wood Stain: When painting, avoid pastels and go for the brighter or deeper colors, but not to extremes. Stay away from red/browns, gray, light green, pale blue and pink. Stained doors and wall trim may be scratched. They can be made to look clean by wiping with a stain that is close to or a shade darker than the original.

Lighting: For lighting effects - low voltage under cabinet lights, sconce lights, track lamps and/or recessed light fixtures placed to highlight areas like a fire place mantle, a painting or perhaps a group of family photos. A row of low voltage light fixtures attached to a board, facing upward creates a nice wall glow from behind a sofa.

Accents: Consider installing ceiling trim (where none exists). Refacing a fireplace with colorful 4x4 or 2x2 inch ceramic tiles. Travertine tiles used as a wainscot along one wall (up to 48 inches in height) with a chair rail, ledge trim or continuous pattern deco tile.

Note:  An elegant wainscot can be made by cutting hollow core panel doors into equal sections and attaching the sections vertically, side by side (...possibly separated by 1x4 or 1x6 spacers) across any wall. Trim the top, protruding edge with a chairail or appropriate ledge trim that will look natural. Also, think about combinations like a wainscot with wall tiles, paint or wall paper above.  Your imagination is better than reality.