The Great Depression had devastating effects during the 1930s, and in some places it took decades for families to recover. Yet, as with most challenging times, the Great Depression prompted ingenuity and creativity in households; especially when it came to home improvements. When every penny needs to go to food and shelter, there's nothing left over for decorating and home repairs. By working with neighbors, repurposing items already on hand, and insatiable bargain hunting, those living during the deepest depression of the 21^st century found ways to make their home feel fresh and comfortable. Utilize these same tips and ideas in your space today for budget-friendly home improvement projects.

Play with your layout. Moving your furniture and d̩cor around instantly freshens up your space, and the only thing it costs is a few hours of labor. In any room, move furniture away from walls, floating larger pieces. This gives the space a tailored, interesting appearance, eliminating the box-like effect created when every piece of furniture is against a wall. In the living room, create distinct spaces based on different functions. Situate seating so that the sofas and chairs face each other, creating dedicated conversation areas, and nestle a desk or chair off in a corner as a reading or work area. Update a bed that doesn't have a headboard by situating it in front of a window, using the view outside to create a visual frame, and move dressers into the closet to open up more floor space.

Update old furniture. Just because something's old and out of date doesn't mean you need to replace it. Paint instantly updates even the oldest furniture, including dressers, tables, wood chairs, and desks. Always sand and prime first, or use a primer meant for slick surfaces for laminate pieces, and then apply basic latex paint in a color of your choice. Switch out handles, knobs, and other hardware for a quick, cheap face-lift; an old oak dresser painted white and updated with slick pewter pulls instantly looks new for a fraction of the cost of new furniture. For smaller upholstered products, such as an ottoman, try your hand at recovering with fabric remnants from the craft store. In most cases, all you'll need are fabric, scissors, new batting, and a staple gun.

Repurpose on-hand items. Give your home an eclectic, designer look by throwing caution to the wind and reusing items you already have. A few glass vases hold cotton balls and swabs on the bathroom counter while adding an elegant, decorative touch. An old hand rake doubles as a necklace holder when hung on the wall, while mismatched antique china bowls double as tabletop d̩cor and an organizational tool, housing small jewelry on a dresser or keys in the foyer. Look around your space and pinpoint items that you're currently not using and go from there: you can give anything new life with a bit of creativity.

Upcycle free and cheap items. Take your creativity outside of your home and use it to upcycle free or low-cost items found elsewhere. Common during the depression era, reusing old materials adds new life to your home without making a dent in your budget. Old shutters transform beautifully into a headboard when hung on the wall while reclaimed barn siding makes for a unique tabletop when properly sealed with polyurethane. Contact local contractors and ask about scrap supplies, visit junk yards, and inspect furniture items left out for trash day. Even a free, badly worn night stand with an amazing set of pulls can be upcycled: remove the pulls, hang them along the wall near your front door, and you have a stunning coat rack for the cost of a few screws.

Find deals on furniture. No matter where you decide to shop for furniture, you can always find deals. Always shop around and do your research before making a major purchase, from perusing local ads to checking out furniture retailers. Avoid getting stuck in the rut of buying one large set. Oftentimes, single pieces from discontinued sets are infinitely cheaper, and when placed in a home with other unique finds, give your space a curated feel often lost with one large, matching set of living or bedroom furniture. Inspect each piece thoroughly before buying; while minor cosmetic damage is an easy fix, look for pieces that are sturdy and well-made.

Save money on remodels. When you can't DIY a project, all hope is not lost. During the depression era, homeowners often bartered services with others to reduce or eliminate the cost of home repairs. Tackle parts of a project yourself even when hiring a contractor. For example, do the demolition and clean-up for a bathroom remodel, hiring the contractor for the installation of the new pieces. Offer to allow the contractor to utilize your home as a storage site for materials, reducing the man hours needed to transport products back and forth and cutting your bill down. Truly take a page out of depression-era budgeting by bartering with friends and family; while you may not be able to lay tile, your brother-in-law may excel. Offer one of your skills in exchange for the tile laying for a win-win remodel.

Know your budget. Perhaps the greatest thing you can learn from the great depression is that money is a finite resource, especially when it comes to home improvements. In the 1930s, if someone could only afford $50 on furniture, they wouldn't spend a dollar over that, because the money simply wasn't there. Even if you have a little wiggle room in your budget, ensuring that you stay below it increases your return on investment, essentially making you money in the long-run. Before any project, from updating an old dresser to gutting your bathroom, create a hardline budget, factoring in at least 10% for unexpected circumstances, and never go above that, no matter how tempting the tile that's only a few extra cents per square foot may be.

What to look for

• Refinishing and Repairing Wood Furniture [PDF] ��� With patience and time, anyone can learn how to update wood furniture, and this guide provides all of the basics.
• On-Budget Home Improvement Ideas ��� These 25 projects are all under $150, yet the impact of each is impressive.
• Save on Your Remodel ��� Follow these tips to cut the cost of your next remodeling project.
• Free Home Makeover Ideas ��� You don't have to buy anything new. From dressing up your headboard to hiding cords with art, upgrade your space without opening your wallet.
• Interior Design on a Budget ��� Be creative with your home d̩cor, using items you already have on hand and cheap add-ons to upgrade your space.
• Inexpensive Decorating Ideas ��� The small touches don't have to be costly. These ideas give you a designer space on a depression-era budget.
• No-Cost Home Makeovers ��� You can do a lot with very little, from updating your furniture layout to paring down smaller decorative items.
• Upcycling Furniture ��� Make even the ugliest item look chic and high-end with these projects.
• Removing Wood Finishes [PDF] ��� Update older furniture by completely changing the color, starting by removing the existing finish.
• 9 Ways to Repurpose Old Furniture ��� Don't get stuck in a box. Your old dresser doubles as an eclectic bathroom vanity, while an old bookcase transforms quickly into a dry bar.
• Tips for Buying Furniture ��� Quality doesn't have to be expensive. Follow these basic tips when furniture shopping to save money while still getting a well-made piece you love.