Kimberley, I know exactly how you feel. Before when I looked at my house, I just wanted to cry. I live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood, but felt like the poor trashy neighbor whenever I looked at my furniture. I was determined when we moved a couple months ago that I had to do something about it. Here is how I solved most of the problem for less than $500.00.

I have completely replaced my living room, family room and dining room furniture for less than $300.00. I bought my dining room set off ebay for $101.00, I also bought a foyer table with a matching mirror and lamp off ebay along with some other furniture which I ended up selling at my garage sale. The seller gave me a sofa bed, 2 end tables and a coffee table for free when I picked up the stuff. I only paid a total of $60 for all of it. At yard sales, I picked up a nice cream and goldish loveseat for $30 and a tan microfiber sofa for $50. The living room set was the most expensive, I got it off of craigslist for $200.00, but well worth it!. I sold my den furniture for $100.00, the free sofa bed for $50, and the other pieces of furniture for around $40. So the final cost of it all was only $250.00. I have since bought a few things at yard sales to help decorate the rooms, I picked up a small wood giraffe for $1, a large fake tree for $7.50 and 2 really nice urns from pier 1 for $10. Most of the things I already had in my living room work well with the new furniture, I would love to have some new artwork, but art is so expensive, I will just have to stick with what I have at least for now. I agree that you should try freecycle, people give away good sets all the time on freecycle because they are moving. After the success of the downstairs, my oldest daughter decided we had to something about my 2 younger girls rooms. We bought them matching twin beds off of craigslist for $100.00, sold their twin over full bunkbeds on craigslist for $75.00, then bought them nice comforters that matched($20 each). Not too bad for a total of $65 plus a few little extras, all in all to completely redo the room, it only cost about $100.00. The beds were VERY ugly and came with a matching nightstand, dresser and mirror but we aren't using those pieces and they will be sold at the next yardsale. My oldest daughter painted the headboards and they look good now. Now I just have to replace the furniture in my bedroom.

I, too, can feel overwhelmed with my home -- especially the decor. I watch HGTV and they make it all look so easy.

After reading this thread...I am feeling motivated to get my act together!!! Thanks for all of the great ideas.