We sympathise with the girls, so here are some simple tips to give your house a facelift, that too for cheap.

You paint it

Paint the house yourself. This is an inexpensive way to explore your creativity. "If the walls are levelled with lime and plaster, the rest of the painting doesn't require an expert," You'll only be spending money on the paint, which costs around Rs 60-70 per can. "A professional painter will charge you additional Rs 15-25 per square foot of painting,"

Cheap furniture

Wicker and cane furniture is cheap and homey. It also looks and is comfortable. "A cane or wicker sofa will cost you at least Rs 2,000. You can buy a pair of chairs with Rs 1,500," Vijaykar.

The turpentine

Your old furniture will shine like new with some polishing. Furniture polishing may seem like quite a task when you see a carpenter doing it. "You can use French polish on anything. It is easy to do at home. Cane or wicker furniture needs to be polished every four years. French polish is ideal for this,". You will only have to pay for the turpentine, which costs around Rs 40 a can. Hiring a carpenter will mean shelling out at least Rs 500.

Lamps and carpets

No, we don't mean expensive Kashmiri carpets. Go to a local flea market where you can pick up rugs and lamps for less. "I tell people to buy their carpets from Chor Bazaar in Mumbai. You get stuff that looks expensive within Rs 2000," says Vijaykar.

Cushion-carpet factor

"Many people believe getting curtains stitched will save them money. This is not true," Polyester, the cheapest material, costs around Rs 190 per metre. Then there is the tailoring cost," she explains.