Home Improvement Tips and Tricks: Hands-on Projects and Decorating Ideas on a Budget

by Christina Salway, Monica Pedersen (Foreword)

Step-by-Step Projects from a Successful and Sassy Interior Designer!

Searching for a house or apartment is difficult enough on its own; transforming it into your home is an entirely different story. Home Improvement Tips and Tricks aims to give you the knowhow to decorate while staying within your budget, all presented in an engaging and approachable way. Each project is accompanied by a list of tools and materials needed, along with step-by-step instructions.

Salway’s wit and playful personality shine through as she shares her tried-and-true advice to describe the journey of renovating and redecorating not only her two-bedroom Williamsburg apartment but also the upstate New York farmhouse bought as a major fixer-upper.

Some of Christina’s greatest lessons

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[Candace W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent tips, but nothing revolutionary unfortunately. I felt like there was a lot of attitude in this book as well. It seemed snotty at times.

[Emily Serven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic beginner’s guide to easy improvements in your first home

This book seems to be written for the recent college grad or a bachelor - someone who hasn’t put much thought to decorating and upgrading details around the apartment or doesn’t have experience decorating a house. She covers easy fixes like replacing lightbulbs for more pleasant tones of light, replacing contractor-grade hardware and door knobs to make things feel more sturdy and classic, ideal proportions for selecting a rug or hanging art over a sofa, etc. There are good principles that even veteran home owners might appreciate being reminded of. I noted the instructions for window treatments, recommendation for feather down pillows, admonition against accent walls, and tips about coordinating colors throughout the home without looking matchy. This is a very basic home decor book, but very good for its intended audience.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is misleading. It is geared toward brand new homeowners or apartment dwellers. One review found the author’s snarky tone to be off putting, but I found it to be humorous and on point for its target audience. I didn’t learn much here and the photos weren’t great. However, a worthwhile evening’s read (from the library of course) for a young person just starting out in their own place.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised after reading this to see how low it’s rated. It’s definitely geared towards the more first-apartment crowd, but I still found it interesting. I don’t know if I would ever do all the DIY stuff like retiling a floor that she describes, but I do like knowing how all that stuff works and she made some big jobs seem very accessible to do.

I am, however, sad to now view our new previously thought cool shower curtain in a new light, LOL.