If you’re on a beanbag chair budget with Mies van der Rohe dreams, you can still achieve a high design living space by focusing your time and money on just four design basics: Paint, trim, window treatments and rugs. Each of these elements can define the style and the feel of a room — establishing or altering its look. Plus, each one is relatively inexpensive to rework with a stroke of a brush, a pound of a hammer or a snip of the scissors. A room can instantly morph by following these four easy design principles as outlined by eBay Design Director Shawn Henderson:

1. Paint
Paint is the cheapest and easiest way to change the look of a room. While light colors can make a space feel larger, deep shades can make it seem cozier. Consider darker shades for a room that gets a lot of sunlight during the day, or a family room where you want a greater feeling of intimacy. Very bold colors, while fun, may be hard to live with so try to create a pleasing palate. Whichever color you choose, use the same tone (light, deep, muted) throughout the house for a more harmonious feel. Whichever colors you choose, try to stick with tones that are in the same family. For example, if your living room is beige, use a pale yellow, a pale blue or a powdery pink in adjoining rooms.

2. Trim
Trim is the most economical way to add architectural interest to a room without construction — and there are a slew of options. Crown moldings may be placed up against the ceiling. A picture railing can run three quarters of the way up the wall. A dainty chair rail might encircle the middle of a room. Baseboards — always a safe choice — can anchor the floor. Pair two or more types of trim for texture and interest — crown molding and a picture rail or baseboards, a chair rail and crown molding for example. The size and shape of the trim also defines the style of the room. The higher your ceiling, the wider the molding can be. The more detail or the number of “steps” carved into the trim, the more traditional it will appear. Squarer molding with less or no “steps” gives a more modern edge. Paint also plays an important role with trim. A new trend in interior design is pairing trim that complements the wall color. For example, designers might accent a wine colored wall with an espresso-hued picture railing and baseboards. To add further drama, white trim adds pop to a colored wall and wood trim in a cherry or dark brown stain stands out on a white wall.

3. Window treatments
Window treatments are a great investment when designing or redecorating a room because they add both character and function. Window treatments block light, create privacy and add interest and softness to a room. The options are endless — blinds, shutters, roll-down shades, roman shades, fabric panels. Your choice depends on the mood you want to create. Long curtains add more sophistication. Short ones are more casual. Shutters and wooden blinds are clean and simple. Mixing textures such as fabric cascades over wooden blinds can look particularly stylish. One cost cutting solution is to purchase fabric (canvas, linen, silk) and hire a tailor to sew custom drapes. If you prefer ready-made drapes, try sewing two individual panels together yourself to create one large panel on each side of the window. This trick of the trade creates a richer, more robust drapery. 

4. Rugs
Rugs can make a room look larger whether placed over wood flooring or carpeting. As a rule of thumb, the larger the rug, the better. To open up the room leave a four-inch border around the rug. It helps keep the feel of the flooring beneath. A great, cost effective alternative to more expensive rugs are sea grass or sisal rugs — of which eBay has an amazing selection. The neutral color of these natural fibers blends with any palette or style whether traditional or contemporary. As an added bonus, these rugs are durable and will continue looking great for years to come. (Check out eBay's rug selections for some great options.)

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