SAY WHAT YOU WILL, but Pottery Barn has done a lot to make chic design affordable. Two pieces jumped out at me from their latest catalog. I totally dig the Benchwright Bookcase ($799), with its cast-iron frame and rustic wood shelves–just the thing to add an industrial kick to an otherwise-conventional interior. And their charming new Hadley Woven Bench ($499) features a woven-rush top that adds a  touch of country without the corn. (It’s a table or bench, giving you two functions in one.) Drawers open from either side, making it perfect for storing all that clutter that collects in a family room.

Photos: Pottery Barn

I’M ALL FOR SAVING MONEY, but there are a few areas of the home where you shouldn’t skimp. One of them is buying a sofa. It’s one of the costliest home purchases you’ll make, and one of the most enduring, so buy the best one you can afford. Some tips:

• Choose a sofa that fits your style: rolled arms, tufted backs and skirts for traditional interiors, angular lines and exposed legs for contemporary ones.
• Pillow-back sofas are generally more comfortable, but a tight-back sofa (above) requires less primping.
• Patterned fabrics will hide stains better than solids; neutral colors are more adaptable. (Introduce color and pattern with throw pillows.)
• To check quality, lift a sofa by the end—heavy is better than light. Sit on it and bounce around, paying attention to squeaks, pokes and shimmying. 
• Scale is critical. To test, mark out the sofa’s footprint with tape or newspapers, or consider “building” a mockup out of boxes and living with it for a few days.
• Before you buy, measure all the openings leading to the room, otherwise you may find yourself stuck with an expensive lawn ornament.

Photo courtesy Hickory Chair.

TRY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX when you’re decorating on a budget. For instance, I kept searching for a piece of art to hang over the fireplace in my vacation home, but could never find anything right—or reasonably priced. I really wanted an old artifact, but objects like vintage signs can be pricey. And a painting was out of the question. Then I spied an old wheel in an antiques mall. Crafted from iron, with graceful flourishes at the end of each spoke and a leather strap around the perimeter, it had just the graphic impact I needed. The price was $125, but I offered $100 and walked—err—rolled away with it. Someday, I may find something fancier. But for now, it gives the room just the punch it needed.

WHO SAYS a nightstand has to be … well, a nightstand? Nearly any table or chest of drawers will work beside a bed, as long as the top isn’t more than six inches higher than the mattress and the depth doesn’t prevent you from navigating your way under the covers. Using one of these other items will also help you save on space, since the piece can double as a desk or bureau. And don’t think you’ll need a matching item on the other side—that whole notion went out with Rob and Laura Petrie.

Photo courtesy Hickory Chair.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I interviewed renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly for a story in Metropolitan Home magazine. The ceiling of Chihuly’s living room was covered with accordions. When I asked why, he told me he just liked the way they looked. That’s as good a reason as any to collect something, I suppose, and was a great demonstration that nearly anything can look good if you display it properly. Candlesticks, old clocks, colored bottles and even vintage garden sprinklers can look great if you display them in a group. You don’t have to hang them from the ceiling like Chihuly, but try to avoid stashing collectibles in curio cabinets, which tend to look fussy and prevent you from interacting with your possessions. Cupboards bare? You don’t have to spend big to start a collection. Gather beach glass, shells, pinecones or stones on your next trip, then display them in a pretty glass bowl. Even a bare branch can look like a work of art if it’s allowed to shine. These items will look great, and will remind you of your travels every time you see them.

Photos courtesy Martha Stewart FLOR/Hickory Chair.

THEY SAY YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, but I’ve never understood why you have to pay so much for a bed. There’s not much to them, but the prices could make you weep. That’s why I was excited to see this piece in a roundup of upholstered headboards in the September 2009 issue of House Beautiful. Glancing at the page, I assumed it was a high-end designer item, until I spied the price: just $300! Covered in 100-percent-cotton velvet backed by polyester batting, this glam headboard from Urban Outfitters attaches to your bed frame and fits either a full- or queen-size bed. You can get it in four colors, but I’m partial to the aubergine (above), because it’s just so damn much fun.

Photo: Urban Outfitters

THE ADVENT OF AUTUMN calls to mind the burnished gold, flaming red and brilliant orange foliage of my native New England. The last of these has always been one of my favorite colors, although I’ll grant you it’s not one you see used very often in interiors. And that’s a shame, because orange just naturally energizes you and makes you feel good. The fact that you don’t expect to see it makes it doubly delightful when you do. Try it in a breakfast room, a dining room, a family room or a powder room. (Just don’t use it in a bedroom, since it doesn’t exactly promote calm.) If you’re afraid to paint the whole room orange, just cover a single wall. And remember the decorator’s mantra: It’s just paint. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it.

Photo courtesy Hickory Chair.

Nate Berkus' versatile ottoman for HSN sells for $395.95.

IF WE WERE TO SHARE the title of DecoratingGuru with anyone, it might be Nate Berkus, Oprah’s resident interior design expert. The blue-eyed hunk recently introduced his own home furnishings collection for HSN (formerly the Home Shopping Network). The selection includes bedding and a trio of furniture pieces, including the ottoman above. This versatile piece can serve as overflow seating, or double as a coffee table. (Add a tray on top for books, drinks, etc.) And the price point is appealing: just a nickel under 400 bucks.

When you're decorating on a budget, use variations of contrast, texture and pattern to add interest in lieu of fancy finishes. Photo courtesy Oly.

Hi. When this site launches, we’ll offer loads of inspiring ideas for creating the home of your dreams without breaking the bank. Stay tuned!