Even do-it-yourselfers need a plan

A master plan is essential to the success of a do-it-yourselfdecorating project, especially if your budget is limited.

To get the most for your money, do your homework. It isimportant to know exactly where, what and how to buy.

Here are some helpful tips from Judy Pearl, Victoria Sermontiand Diana Valin of Lexington Management's rental staff. Set a dollar amount you are willing or able to spend.

"Once you have set the amount, be willing to invest some time inorder to save some money. We window-shopped around a lot in largediscount chains rather than small specialty shops, and we also lookedfor sales and moderately priced, good quality merchandise at largedepartment stores," Pearl said. When shopping for bargains, the women also paid attention to howstore professionals displayed the wares at various outlets.

An attractive J.C. Penney display inspired the bed treatment inthe master bedroom of the Astor model at Plum Grove VillageApartments.

A gray, beige and tan leaf print queen-size comforter purchasedat Marshall Field's was combined with two matching pillowcases andtwo beige pillowcases, all king size. The excess open ends of eachpillowcase were gathered and pulled through a gray plastic napkinring for visual interest.

The result is a bed treatment that has an expensive designerlook for a fraction of the cost. Tenants who move into a rental apartment with white walls are betteroff investing in colorful accessories they can take with them whenthey move rather then spending money on bright paint or wallcoveringthat has to be left behind when it is time to relocate. Buying dishes by the piece instead of by the place setting can be aless expensive way to achieve an attractive dinner table.