Art can make or break the design of a room…but in a down economy, how can you get a high-end look on a reasonable budget??

Here are my TOP TEN ideas:

• Fabric: Chances are you have some leftover fabric lying around your house (and if not, head over to your local fabric store and rummage through the remnants). Pull the fabric around a wood fabric stretcher (available at Ikea) and staple the fabric to the back. Hang it on your wall, on a shelf, or anywhere else you need a splash of color and you’ve got yourself a great focal point!

• Plates: For an unexpected pop of color and pattern, hang a series of plates or dishware on your wall…there are endless inexpensive options at antique stores, or just find some inexpensive plastic ones (don’t forget to check out the Dollar Store). Add hooks to the back and create a custom look in minutes!

• Re-work your existing frames: By simply pairing a new paint job and pre-cut mats with a modern print or black and white photo, you can make any old frame look like a masterpiece!

• Free prints: Check out the online archives of the National Archives at the following link: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/. You can search for just about any topic and find all sorts of documents and historical photos to download and print…perfect for an unexpected art piece!

• Wallpaper remnants: Just like fabric stores, wallpaper stores also sell remnants at deeply discounted prices. Even something as simple as framing a square of a funky or modern wallpaper pattern can make a bold and lovely statement.

• Have a collection? Art doesn’t have to be two-dimensional. If you have some one-of-a-kind items or a collection of some sort, purchase some inexpensive floating shelves and create a focal point using your own items!

• DIY art: You don’t have to be Picasso to create your own work of art. If you keep things simple and geometric, even the most inexperienced artist can create something beautiful! Simply take a blank canvas, tape off stripes, squares, or other interesting shapes, and paint the background. Then use coordinating colors to paint the stripes and shapes. It’s simple, but fabulous!

• Photo Canvases: Transform your own family photos into high-end works of art by having them made into black and white canvas prints. Sites like kodakgallery.com will do this for about 100 dollars (okay, so not totally cheap, but still reasonable).

• Etsy! Etsy.com is a great site to find artists of all kinds all around the world. No matter what your personal style is, you can find something that’s just what you’re looking for!

• Go Vintage: Take an afternoon to scour your local flea markets or thrift stores (or just use your lunch break to check out Ebay) for vintage pieces. Whether it’s old posters, postcards, photos, or prints, sometimes there’s nothing more chic that placing a vintage art piece in a contemporary frame!

Author: Sabrina Soto

The authority on all things home, Sabrina Soto has spent a lifetime preparing for her current role as an HGTV host. You can catch Sabrina hosting and designing on shows such as "Get it Sold" and "White House Christmas", as well as appearing on the hit specials "HGTV's Green Home", "Bang For Your Buck", "House Hunters", "Showdown", and "Buying & Selling Secrets" and "Real Estate Intervention". She has also been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, People En Espanol and Latina Magazine.

Sabrina Soto has written 3 articles for us.