Trading looks (not spaces) for less with TLC's Smith

For the past six years, Laurie Smith has been freshening up homes across America with her signature funky midcentury-mod-meets-sophisticated-Southern style on TLC's hit show "Trading Spaces."

Smith recently turned the camera on her own home renovation for her book, "Discovering Home With Laurie Smith: Find Your Personal Style" (Meredith Books, $19.95). The 192-page paperback chronicles the transformations, and encourages readers to play with design. Here are a few of her favorite tips for designing on a dime.

• Start with the layout. You may be able to make big changes without spending a penny. Empty out the entire room, find a focal point and then play with the furniture around that spot.

• Evaluate your lighting. You can give a room a fresh look by just giving an old lamp a new shade.

• Mix in some fun throw pillows to make a sofa or chair pop. Change them seasonally for a lift throughout the year.

• Instead of buying a new chair to change a room, add some accessories and artwork. Either take some from another part of the house or buy new pieces to add some sparkle.

• Paint the walls. It's the icing on the cake. Just wait to do this last so you're not decorating around the color.

• Use down pillow inserts. For a few extra dollars, they add a bit of chic comfort to the couch.